There will always be people who claim we need more police. What we need is more effective policing.
The claimed police budget shortfall soon turned into an in increase in manpower.
I am not convinced that there was any shortage of manpower, police numbers and clerical support staff is at record levels.
In 2003 there were 1,150 police and 531 officers. Today there are 1,228 police, 784 office staff and at least 149 community support officers.
There have even been additions to these. This is about 500 extra staff in eight years.
If Ms Crowe claims this to be a reduction, I can only wonder at her method of calculation.
The present 26 percent increase in funding could set a precedent for more of the same.
It will be automatically included in the 2009 charges and I suspect there will be another try to increase it.
Why should rate payers be expected to fund regular increases on this scale for financing police early retirement, senior officer bonus incentives or pension fund shortfalls?
The last thing we want is a situation where police can decide (with LCC collusion) how much of our money they wish to pocket – bad enough MPs doing it.
Furthermore will there be any guarantee that increased funding is likely to result in crime reduction or more general police efficiency?
Public feeling is that there is already a lack of commitment and value for money.

P Howard
Horncastle