THREE nights of the Evening Press have brought "wonderful" news for the citizens of York.

On Monday, we were informed that the council tax rise would be 9.33 per cent. To offset this, residents over 60 will receive travel tokens worth £50 (whoopee - what about my bus pass?).

On Tuesday, we were told the North Yorkshire Police Authority had approved a 9.94 per cent hike in the police precept (after 76 per cent last year) but York would not get any more officers.

On Wednesday, the Chief Constable informed us she was considering introducing a premium rate phone number for routine calls to the police.

When I tried to contact the police on a routine matter I was kept waiting for 12 minutes before I gave up in disgust.

If Ms Canning gad gone ahead with this idea I can assure her that I, for one, would have used 999 service when I needed to contact the police.

And to cap it all - a self-confessed "crime addict" teenager cannot be identified because magistrates say it would not be "in the defendant's interest" to be named and shamed.

Magistrates - whoever you are, hiding behind anonymity - what about the interests of the victims of this low-life's behaviour?

A Dobinson,

Askham Lane,

Acomb, York.

...CONTRARY to Chief Constable Della Cannings' assertions, there has been little or no improvement in policing in this community since the large rise in the police precept last year.

It is Ms Cannings' duty to the tax payer to provide a means to maintain order, prevent and detect crime and offer a high level of personal security.

Zero tolerance should be introduced now, then perhaps we will be able to:

retrieve our footpaths from cyclists

enjoy litter-free community areas

eradicate intimidation by louts

investigate minor crime.

S Nicholson,

Briar Drive,

Huntington, York.

Updated: 10:07 Monday, February 16, 2004