Coppers cost more than small change (From Bournemouth Echo)

Coppers cost more than small change

8:10am Friday 19th March 2010 in

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Having just studied my 2010 council tax bill I notice that once again the Dorset Police part of the bill has risen well above the rate of inflation.

Are the police not restricted by the same restraints as all of us? We are going through a period of severe economic difficulty and the police should be subject to restrictions on spending in the same way as every household in the UK. But it would appear not.

This is not the first time that the police part of the rates increase has been higher than inflation, and it is over 25 per cent more than the council.

I would not mind if we could see a benefit from the increase.

The police are very rarely seen in my area of Southbourne. We should see a police officer walk or cycle down every street in Bournemouth at least once a week, and probably once in daylight and once during night hours.

Perhaps if we start electing the Dorset Police Authority and the Chief Constable we may start getting the value for money we do not see at present.

John Butcher, Inverleigh Road, Bournemouth