Why, when the precept to Sussex Police Authority rose again by more than 30 per cent this year, does the service we receive from the police diminish year on year?

The new policy of "community support officers" demonstrates this admirably.

When I moved to Newhaven from Whitesmith in 1998, there were two community beat officers for Newhaven, who patrolled on foot and made valuable links with the community.

They liased with people on the street, found out what the local problems were and dealt with them speedily and effectively.

What have we got now? Two community support officers (CSOs) who patrol an area from Saltdean to Seaford!

I have been told the Seahaven police area often has just three police officers, all in patrol cars, to cover the duties required of Sussex Police.

Sussex Police state on their web site: "Increased opening hours at police stations mean you can now visit front counters later in the day.

"It all adds up to a reassuring police presence in each of Sussex's neighbourhoods."

But does it? When I was assaulted last week in Newhaven, where the chairman for the Sussex Police Authority lives, I phoned 999 and when I pressed the operator as to how long I would have to wait for police attendance, I was told: "How long is piece of string?"

It would appear from that comment that Sussex Police are woefully undermanned and hardly able to offer a "reassuring police presence" in this neighbourhood.

You could be forgiven for thinking this incident was isolated and only applied to me. If only that were the case.

The management of Somerfield, the supermarket in Newhaven town centre, feel they are under siege at times.

So bad has vandalism and harassment got that they are to have two security guards.

The manager of Woolworths is equally fed up with smashed windows and visible crime in his store.

Recently he had to close the store because a group of youths fought him on the shop floor.

My discussions with police officers also led to the inevitable statement that magistrates do not deal with offenders in a way which would prevent them from reoffending.

For example, a youth who has repeatedly broken his bail conditions will still be bailed again by the youth courts.

Why are they doing this? Invariably police officers tire of rounding up such offenders only for them to be back on the streets the next day committing more misdemeanours.

Surely it is time we got the police service we are paying for?

-Henry Page, Newhaven