JUST what is happening with our police service, or in time will it actually be a service, as there will be no one left?

We now hear 248 jobs could be axed by Dorset Police in the next year.

I went to a meeting and was told that the rank of Chief Inspector was going and that the shift patterns were changing from April 2011, which will mean less officers during the day and more on duty in the evenings and weekends, placing physical and mental demands on the officers who already are short of resources.

So central government implements the funding cuts. There has been no consultation locally and most of all our elected members to the House Of Commons, Tobias Ellwood, Bournemouth East and Conor Burns, Bournemouth West, have said ‘nothing’.

Having looked at Tobias Ellwood’s website the top issue is ‘Time To Change The Clocks’ and the last e-news in which you have to email in is dated January 2011.

Conor Burns’ headline on his website is ‘Concerns With Local Area Codes’.

Well, gentlemen, that is a pretty poor display and you should be fighting to ‘Save Our Bobbies On The Beat’ or dismiss your public relations team immediately.

Remember, it’s your party that is cutting the funding and also pledging not to cut frontline services.

It seems the Chief Constable of Dorset Police has been put in a position which quite frankly sits rather uncomfortably with the law-abiding citizen.

Regardless of the political whip, stand up and defend a service which should not be subject to economic restraints.

I am a great supporter of the men and women of Dorset Police and the commitment they give but it seems that from the politicians’ point of view it is just lip service.

NIGEL GILLESPIE, Windham Road, Bournemouth,