I am very surprised to read that, with the Government's supposed commitment to law and order and policing, Sussex Police are facing a £1.7 million shortfall in their budget (The Argus, November 5).
This is due to cuts in Government grants. If extra funding cannot be found, Sussex Police will have to go cap-in-hand to local taxpayers.
The average cost per household for policing has now broken the £100 barrier, although charges in Sussex are currently below-average for England and Wales.
The authority needs at least a 5.7 per cent increase in funding from the Home Office just to stand still. The indications are that funding will only increase by three per cent for 2005/6.
Clearly, the Government will have to either provide extra funds or relax the rules on council tax-capping.
If this is not done, all the good work done by Sussex police will be undone. This cannot be allowed to happen.
-Steve Fuller, Hove
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