Steve Fuller suggests a 5.7 per cent shortfall in the Sussex police budget will be met by the police having to go "cap in hand" to local taxpayers (Letters, November 23).

Would it were so.

The fact is they will come "demanding money with menaces" with the ultimate threat of prison for anyone who refuses to pay.

Yet again, pensioners and others on fixed incomes will be lucky to get even around a two per cent increase but will be faced with these extravagant local tax demands.

The police precept has already increased by 103 per cent since New Labour came to government.

My total council tax for all services has increased by 86 per cent in the same period.

I am sure all of us are fed up with local and national politicians blaming one another for these rises but when, if ever, are they going to stop?

Why can't the increases be strictly limited to the cost of living change, like pensions?

I suppose it is too much to expect the third-raters who get elected to govern us to take responsibility for actually doing something?

As for the police, they will of course get their pound of flesh, whether or not we can afford it, so that Brighton and Gatwick can be fully policed.

Meanwhile, I will add another year to the 37 I have counted so far where I haven't seen a police constable or community policing officer on foot or bike in my street.

-Tony Sturley, Telscombe Cliffs, Peacehaven