Whatever the arguments about the Lincolnshire police precept fiasco, one way or the other, the final result will be that Lincolnshire tax payers are certain to see a demand for more without a single additional policeman on duty in our county.
This is another regrettable example of public sector incompetence.
An unelected body, the Lincolnshire Police Authority imposes on hard working county tax payers a 78.9 per cent hike because they have no regard for democratic principles and even
less regard for the people paying the bills.
Finally, a weak and ineffectual government has capped the rise at 26 per cent and the council taxes will now be re-calculated to accommodate a rebate that will also involve costs to Lincolnshire taxpayers of £500,000 upwards.
Without a shred of public decency Angela Crowe and her sorry colleagues refuse to resign and unfortunately we cannot vote them out.
How much higher does taxation have to be and how much more does a bankrupt government have to borrow and pump into underperforming public authorities before we can all finally agree and be sure that they are not underfunded?
I quote MP and former Shadow Home Secretary David Davies: "The council taxpayer has been fleeced by the police precept. Its increase has more than paid for the increase in officers and, to add further insult, these officers spend less than 20 per cent of their time on the beat" ( Daily Mail, May 27).
David Turp
Address supplied
The full article contains 253 words and appears in Lincolnshire Free Press newspaper.
