I NEARLY choked on my tea when I read that council tax for Hambleton District is to rise by 9.75 per cent (February 26).

A little later I nearly brought it back up when I read elsewhere that figures obtained by Conservative MPs in Parliament stated that only 1.4 per cent of burglars across North Yorkshire were jailed.

Out of 11,595 burglaries across North Yorkshire last year, only 300 were brought to justice. Out of that only 162 were jailed for their crimes. I assume as MP for the Vale of York Anne Macintosh is aware of these figures.

If they are true, this is a disgrace on whoever is supposed to be running North Yorkshire Police and an insult to the people of North Yorkshire.

How dare these faceless people ask for more of our money when so little seems to be done to keep our streets safe?

These councils don't give a damn about what ordinary working men or women think. Instead, they do what they want with impunity.

Graham Allinson,

The Green,

Raskelf,

York.

Updated: 11:55 Tuesday, March 02, 2004