IT'S not just York that has a poor police response time (June 30), it's the same all over.

My family in York have the same problem as my friends and I have living in Hartlepool.

When you complain, you get the same old tired but correct answer, "it's down to manpower and resources" which we know are lacking.

Why, however, are they lacking? Simple, lack of money to fund these services.

Since 1979, when a certain political party was elected with the cry, "Vote for us, and we'll cut taxes", every election has returned a government that promises to cut or not increase taxes.

Where on earth do the electorate think that money for police, education and healthcare comes from?

Every taxpayer wants a policeman on guard outside his home, a doctor in his medicine cabinet and a hospital bed waiting, just in case he needs one next week; oh aye, and a teacher in his living room for his children.

But no one wants to pay for these things.

It gets right up my nose when people complain about these services being poor; for if a political party said it would put up taxes to give an efficient police, education and health service, you would hear the howls of protest at the North Pole.

When will people wake up to the fact, you only get the service you are prepared to pay for?

W Elliott,

Kinbrace Road,

Hartlepool.

...I WONDER if the answer as to why the police failed to answer distress calls from the public (page one, June 30) lies on page three of the same edition?

North Yorkshire Police are paying for officers to attend a gay pride march in London.

They also have a diversity officer who promotes gay rights and a staff helpline and training for gay officers.

The march raises a number of questions.

How much money is being spent? Are the officers on duty and are they being paid? What will they do if a member of the public asks for help?

Carnivals often involve crime - what will they do if they see something illegal happening?

With a limited budget, paid for by York council taxpayers, the people of Huntington might wonder if the police would be better used answering calls in York than attending gay pride marches in London.

Paul Atkin,

Danum Road,

York.

Updated: 11:43 Wednesday, July 02, 2003