Now that the council tax demands have plopped through the letterbox, the accompanying literature, when read together, shows clearly who are the villains of the piece as far as people on fixed incomes are concerned.

In announcing a 6.25 per cent increase, a message from Oxfordshire County Council leader Keith Mitchell and deputy Margaret Godden blithely says: "We could have set a slightly lower tax increase. . ."

Encouraging words, you might think, to those who are stuck with a 2.8 per cent increase in their income.

We can deal with the likes of Mr Mitchell at any forthcoming election.

But the real villains are the Thames Valley Police Authority.

They mugged the public for a 44 per cent increase last year and almost 20 per cent this year, with a caution that there are large increases to come.

The problem is that members of the police authority are not directly elected, but perhaps they ought to be.

Would the Chief Constable like to tell us whether his officers managed a comparable increase in successful prosecutions for serious crime to match the punitive increases?

Dream on. Most of the increased tax is going on salaries and pensions.

It is becoming clear that our public officials are treating the people with contempt.

Elected and non-elected bodies are comparing local taxes with Band D housing, which in South Oxfordshire is £66,000-£88,000. When did anyone last see a house for sale at this price?

The real comparison is more like Band F which, in South Oxfordshire, is between £120,000 and £160,000.

People on fixed income represent about 50 per cent of the voting public in Oxfordshire.

They should stand up and vote in protest at the ruling parties in their local authorities to teach them a lesson. The politicians will soon get the message.

EDDIE DULLER

Cuxham