SIR - Your article headlined “Force has lost 130 frontline officers” (T&A, February 9) reminded me of an election leaflet I received in 2005 from the Conservative party in which they argued that the only way to reduce crime is more police and that a Conservative Government would increase the number of police officers by 5,000 in each year of being in government.

The reality is that the Tory/Lib Dem coalition has reduced the number of police in England and Wales by almost 5,000. Is it any wonder why the general public is cynical of this Government?

John Appleyard, Firthcliffe Parade, Liversedge