THE Police authority has once again regurgitated its regular statements for increasing the council tax precept on the local authorities by well over the cost of living, to pay for more officers on the street in neighbourhood teams, (Oxford Mail, February 20).

Practically every year the same statement has been made to justify an increase.

The Oxfordshire command has some 950 officers – which is almost three times the number it had 40 years ago. Yet there is little evidence that there has been an increase in the number of officers on the streets.

In fact, Kidlington has had a decrease.

Forty years ago, there was a sergeant and four officers in the village, and the station was open from 6am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, so that you could call in on your way to or from work and speak to an officer.

Between 9am and 5pm there was a civilian behind the counter.

Now, according to the website, there is a sergeant and three officers covering a far greater area.

The police station is open only for office hours, from Monday to Friday.

Forty years ago the force was in the same position as it is now, having one of the lowest population-to-police officer ratios in the country. But police stations that are now on restricted hours were open 24 hours a day, seven days a week – such as Henley, Cowley and Witney.

It is all very well listening to what people want. But taking action to have more local coppers on the beat is what really matters.

COLIN BAIRSTOW, The Moors, Kidlington