A LEAFLET from Sussex Police has just come through my letterbox, claiming that the extra money I have got to pay towards the police part of my council tax bill will provide 250 more police officers by March 2023.

On top of that number it also states that there will be 129 more police officers funded by the Government’s national recruitment campaign.

So, that means 250 more police officers, paid for through our council tax, plus 129 more police officers, paid for by central Government, equalling 379 more police officers in Sussex.

Right? Wrong. In case you have haven’t noticed the force used the word “more” three times in the pamphlet which, in my opinion, is a gross exaggeration.

While it was quite content to speak about “250 more” and “129 more” and “379 more” it totally neglected to tell us how many officers, for reasons such as retirement and resignation, will leave the force at the same time as all the “mores” are being recruited and trained.

In other words, there will be nothing like hundreds of extra policemen and women pounding their beats throughout our county at some time in the future. Instead there will be hundreds of new ones, something completely different, as a very large number of them will simply be replacing the old ones who have left.

It also stated that the public had told them that they wanted more PCSOs [police community support officers] who know the area and local issues. Actually, given the choice, I for one would prefer to have more warranted policemen and women who, on top of knowing the area and local issues, also have far more powers and training than any community support officers.

Eric Waters, Lancing