I don’t envy the tasks of Police and Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill and Chief Constable James Vaughan in funding the Dorset force when they are faced with carrying out further cuts to services following £25million being cut from its budget since the start of the austerity programme.

That has meant losing some 500 officers and staff. With a £5million hole in next year’s budget, equivalent to 150 to 200 officers, it means that there could be a further fall in headcount.

Unless the force gets financial relief from central government it could well mean a rise in crime, says the Chief Constable, and the police may only be able to provide “the most basic services”.

Mr Underhill says that he now struggles to look people in the face and say that the police can keep people safe, “because I don’t think they can”.

Frightening comments. It’s about time that the Government recognised the financial problems facing our forces of law and order.

There is no doubt that we should be correctly funding our police forces, one of the pillars of British society, to benefit people and businesses.

Much has been written about the shortage of police personnel right across the country due to financial cutbacks.

There should be adequate funds provided for chief constables to be able to keep people, their homes and businesses safe.

Get the violins out now – for there was a time when you knew your local bobby on the beat and when we had police stations open 24 hours a day.

Today, forces are being stretched to the limit in trying to provide the services of yore.

We not only need to safeguard people from burglaries and violent people. Funds should be increased to guard against vandals who break into business premises.

That doesn’t apply just to companies; it must be heart-breaking to find that your shop or cafe has been smashed into by mindless morons.

In Dorset there is a determined effort to combat rural crime.

Again, there should be sufficient funds available to back such an objective.

It seems incredible today that our police force has to guard against sheep rustlers and thieves driving off with farm equipment.

And who is to foot the bill?

If we can afford to dish out some £13billion on foreign aid every year I am positive that the Prime Minister could open the national purse to fund the people who often risk life and limb to keep us safe in our beds.

RON KIRBY

Dorchester