Cllr Gordon Hook, of Forde Park, Newton Abbot, writes:

So reported crime is down by ten per cent (MDA 8/5/15). The police are delighted, and aren't we all? Well, yes of course, except that I don't actually believe it.

Last year, the front desk at Newton Abbot Police Station (and many others around the county) was closed down.

We are told to use 101 instead.

Campaigning over recent weeks this was an issue on the doorstep. I had residents tell me various tales of their inability to get through on 101 and consequently they simply and eventually gave up... another crime not reported.

Okay, so these were probably not murder, rape or equivalent, but they were crimes, nevertheless.

Along with others I predicted exactly this scenario of falling crime rates when the police and crime commissioner announced this cut, and, hey presto, so it has come to pass.

We now face another five years of unpopular budget cuts. One popular cut would be the removal of police and cime commissioners and many £100,000s of cash thus saved invested in some real police work!