Having read an article in The Argus on December 12 I conclude that Sussex Police are not sure which way to go in the present financial climate.

Superintendent Lawrence Hobbs told the paper that the force was in discussions with a private security company with a view to using their staff to guard crime scenes, thus freeing up his officers to attend to pressing matters.

These new members of staff will, of course, have to be put on the payroll, thus increasing the annual costs of policing Sussex.

However the force’s Deputy Chief Constable, Olivia Pinkney, was reported as saying that it is inevitable that Sussex Police will employ fewer people as it needs to save about £55 million by 2020.

Mr Hobbs wants to spend and employ more. Ms Pinkney wants to save money and employ less.

It’s time these two officers sat down together and came up with a mutually agreed course of action because, as the saying goes, they cannot have their cake and eat it.

Eric Waters Ingleside Crescent, Lancing