THE Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire Mr Angus Macpherson has indicated that he would need an increase in the policing precept of around 1.9 per cent, around an extra £3.17 for a band D property in Wiltshire for the 2017-2018 financial year.
This seems to be more than acceptable to me in view of the demands on the police and pressures of funding from central Government.
Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner has a difficult task ahead for the next four years on how to prioritise his budget and to keep the people of our county reasonably safe from crime and disorder; not an easy task considering the financial restraints.
One of the worst crimes on society in my view is the drug dealers and those who want to make a fast buck on the import of class A drugs, and the awful effect it has on our young people and society as a whole, the misery drugs create for those hooked on illegal substances and the crimes they commit to feed their habit. 
Burglary, and many types of theft throughout Wiltshire, are as a direct result of the drugs trade, not to mention the social problems such as homelessness and the misery of families who have a loved one hooked on a illegal drug.
I think we all agree this should be an ongoing priority for our police, to stop the lowest form of crime, the drug importers and dealers.
DAVID POOLE
Rowden Hill
Chippenham