I had occasion to contact Sussex Police on a matter which I considered to be serious and potentially life threatening but not necessarily worthy of a 999 call.

I therefore followed their advice and sent an e-mail on April 29.

I received a reply on May 14, which stated they could not deal with my message until May 27 as the officer concerned was out of the office.

Perhaps the response time of one month will improve now that they have received an extra 40 per cent in this year's rip-off council tax.

-Tony Booker, Brighton