Sir - The latest council tax 'demands', ask us to pay an increased amount for the 'police precept', at a time when there is little visible evidence of constables on our streets.

Indeed, the 'police service' itself has stated, that it is slipping into the role of responding to emergencies only 'after' an event, instead of the traditional 'preventative role' that we expect and pay for.

While CCTV cameras are useful, they cannot provide the physical 'deterrent presence' of officers and are generally used retrospectively.

Am I alone in thinking that something is out of balance here?

The lack of adequate funding from central government could not be connected to the vast sums of £60 million, each and every day, which we send to the EU by any chance, could it?

Stanley Parr

Pershore