Why on earth does the Government and Brighton and Hove Council treat us like idiots?

It is glaringly obvious to anyone who has lived in Brighton for the last five years that there are far fewer policemen about.

The only time a policeman is seen, like the other emergency services - the fire brigade and ambulance service - is when there is an incident or accident.

It has been widely stated by Sussex Police that resources are so stretched patrolling bobbies are a thing of the past and a waste of time as far as results go.

Surely it is not beyond the capability of a computer operator to press a button to show the exact strength of Britain's police force as of now and the exact figure in May 1997 - surely the public and electorate has a right to know whose figures to believe.

I would even suggest to the Sussex Chief Constable he should publish these figures as a starter and like schools have league tables of every county in Britain and show their own gains and losses in police recruitment.

The public has the right to know.

-Gordon McPhee, Bennett Road, Kemp Town