CALLS have been made for Sussex Police to increase its share of council tax after it was revealed the force will not respond to all non-emergency calls.

In an open letter to Sussex police and crime commissioner Katy Bourne, Police Federation chairman Paul Sellings said the force, which has lost 300 officers since 2010, should increase council tax by £25 a year as it struggles to find £52m in savings by 2015.

Sussex Police currently receives £141 a year council tax from residents living in a Band D property. The force is already proposing to increase it by 1.98% – or £2.79 a year – in 2015/16.

Det Sgt Selling’s letter came on the back of a Sussex Police report stating it will not respond to every non-emergency call in a bid to save money.

Det Sgt Sellings said: “Those who are left behind are facing an ever increasing workload and are being asked to do more with less.”

Ms Bourne said Det Sgt Selling’s comments were a “huge disservice to police officers who work very hard and are highly regarded by colleagues and the public.”

She added: "We are not just looking at how we can shrink and cut - we are actually looking at how we deliver services.”

Deputy chief constable Olivia Pinkney said Sussex Police was aiming to deliver its service more efficiently through “embracing new technology” and “multi-agency working” – including partnerships with Surrey Police.

She said: “Sussex Police was acknowledged last week by the HMIC for running a tight ship and collaborating with partners.

"The public can be reassured that with efficiencies already made overall crime has reduced in the last three years making Sussex Police one of the safest forces nationally.”

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