SIR – Can someone please explain to me the reason the overpaid PCC, especially Bill Longmore, requires an increase of two per cent on the police portion of the household bill? (Worcester News, January 7).
In the not-too-distant past Mr Longmore was announcing he had a £50 million saving for the department.
Why is that not being used by the PCC?
Equally, should his department not reduce the cost of running it, including the ridiculous pay he and his stall draw, then the burden would not fall upon the bill payers?
In a recent questionnaire online by Longmore he requested the views of the public on this argument. Where are the results of this questionnaire, Mr Longmore?
The old proverb “power corrupts and absolute power absolutely corrupts”, is shown to be rife throughout politics and controllers.
Let’s put an end to it.
JOHN KNOWLES
Worcester

It’s a disgrace to those fighting for Britain
SIR – As a grandmother of a British soldier I am appalled at what I have heard. That they are trying to dig up dirt on our troops to prosecute them for war crimes, trying to prove our boys tortured Afghans. They say 20 were murdered in 2004.
This is a disgrace to our boys who went out to Iraq, Basra, Afghanistan and risked their lives. There were 100 British soldiers who lost their lives. A Colonel Bob Steward was saying recently the men and women are affected by these allegations.
I think there will be less men and women signing up in the Army if that’s what is going to happen when they are sent to fight for their country. They will be frightened to fire their gun just in case they get accused of cruelty and face criminal court.
These days no one wants to hear of any human being tortured, it’s barbaric.
We send our soldiers to do a fab job and they do. They should stop this nonsense.
CAROLE ROBERTS
Worcester

Flashing sign will not slow speeders down
SIR – I’ve just read your piece about the speed on Comer Road. I live on Comer Road, and that new flashing sign that’s been fitted, in my eyes, is at the wrong end. 
It needs to be from the junction of Laugherne Road and Comer Road down towards Oldbury Road. 
Most nights and days they put their foot down and speed down Comer road, and one day, and it has happened, someone is going to have a really bad accident. It does not need a flashing sign when you go over the limit. It needs speed humps or something in the road to slow them down. Nobody is going to slow down for a sign, are they?
JONATHAN GILL
St John’s, Worcester

Decision on EU needs to be based on reality
SIR – Wendy Hands’ latest (January 6) serves only to demonstrate, alas, that she is a difficult person with whom to hold reasonable discourse. My earlier letter did, indeed, contain brief mention of the falsity of claims about alleged EU domination of our legislative process and outcomes. Clearly, Ms Hands didn’t read that bit.
I feel entitled to use the word “obsessions” about the presence on this page of a small group of “usual suspects” which, pro-actively and unprompted, issues a continuous stream of anti-EU propaganda. I have never written other than re-actively and in response to this. The reason is that, whatever decision we take in the forthcoming referendum should surely be taken in the light of as much reality and fact as can be brought to bear; and some contributors have been a little economical with the verity.
We will, on the other hand, have to agree to disagree about Winston Churchill’s real views, because, during the past 50 years, he has not been available for further amplification.
DAVID BARLOW
Worcester

Bring your ‘A’ game to help support hospice
SIR – On behalf of everyone at Acorns Children’s Hospice, I would like to wish all your readers a very happy New Year. 
I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to every individual, business and volunteer who helped give their support to our work in 2015. 
As I look ahead to the New Year, I am acutely aware of the many challenges our organisation faces. It is a sobering reality that there are a growing number of children in our region with increasingly complex health and social care needs and we are finding more and more families coming to Acorns for support.
If we are to continue providing the medical, physical and emotional care these families rely on, we need your help.  
As we enter another year, Acorns is asking local people to “Bring Your ‘A’ Game” and make a commitment to support our work. 
I would like to turn your readers’ attention to our website where there is a host of ideas to help support us, whatever your abilities or interests; whether it is fundraising, volunteering or joining an event. 
Where New Year’s resolutions fail I hope that Acorns can provide a more meaningful and achievable alternative, and at the same time you can help make a real difference to local life-limited children and their families.   
DAVID STRUDLEY, 
Chief Executive, Acorns Children’s Hospice

Radio trumps the TV
SIR – I spent most of the past (very wet) two days, peacefully listening to my radio. TV got a “look-in” occasionally.
GEORGE COWLEY
Worcester