I have refused to pay the police part of our council tax on the grounds I think the 18.1 per cent increase is disgusting, especially as I, and most people I know who are working, have had a salary increase of 0.0 per cent.

How on Earth do the council and the police come up with this figure?

The other reason is the police almost blatantly refuse to help the public anymore, especially in this day and age of computers, forensics, DNA testing, mobile phones and cars.

How on earth can they justify having a worse clear-up rate than when they had just whistles and primitive radios?

Their popularity and good standing in the community is non-existent, all of which is down to the police force itself and the severe lack of bobbies on the beat.

I live in Hove and, other than two policemen on their custom-made mountain bikes and another two who were shopping for Mothers' Day cards while on duty, I cannot remember the last time I saw a police officer in his car or on foot.

So, as we don't see them, I'm not going to pay for them.

I've never yet seen a ghost and I don't have to pay council tax for them. Please tell me what the police actually do.

-Graham Chamberlain, Shelley Road, Hove