SIR – Paul Windle (Letters, February 12) claims the police are telling porkies when they say crime is going down, so that they can ask for a large increase on the rates.

He obviously doesn’t know that a whopping four-fifths (80 per cent) of their expenditure is paid for with Government grants.

And if he thinks the Fire Brigade is not getting enough money, why did they levy the lowest-ever precept rise last year?

Also, I would willingly pay rates for the air ambulances, mountain rescue and RNLI (T&A, March 2) if they were not financed by voluntary contributions.

Would you, Mr Windle?

D Rhodes, Croscombe Walk, Bradford