I have just received my Council Tax bill. Over the last 10 years it has increased by 140 per cent.

Its two main components, the West Mercia Police Authority and Worcestershire County Council, including the Fire Authority, have seen increases of 206 per cent and 109 per cent respectively.

The Police Authority should be ashamed of itself. Over 10 years the number of Police officers has only gone up by 18 per cent and civilian support staff by 55 per cent.

In its report, which is awash with financial figures, there is no mention of the growth in crime rates and no mention of how many investigations led to an arrest.

My recommendation is that the politicians and their placemen on the authority should resign en bloc and we should co-opt representatives from smaller parties, such as UKIP, the Greens and pensioners associations, who are much closer to the real worries of people like myself.

Mark Starr, Nash Green, Leigh Sinton.