There is widespread relief in the villages of my constituency at the recent appointment of Community Police Officers. “The village bobby is back – and what a relief”, is typical of the reaction of many of my constituents. And although this is a rather different sort of “village bobby” the fact that there is now a specific police officer with whom each community can identify is greatly to be welcomed.

I have no doubt that both public, and police morale has been given a real boost because there can be few reading this who have not been concerned, and indeed alarmed, at the incidents of rural crime in general, and village nuisance crime in particular, over recent years.

In the face of very real difficulties our Staffordshire Police force has given us a good service and we have much to thank the Chief Constable and his colleagues for as they have struggled against the very considerable difficulties placed upon them by restrictions in funding.

As I write this, the Government is contemplating changes to the way in which local government, and Police Authorities, are financed. We in Staffordshire know what it is when the formula is not right – as it has not been in education for many years. What is somewhat worrying is that a number of the options at present being considered for the funding of Police Authorities could jeopardise the very welcome progress that has recently been made. That is why I have arranged for the Staffordshire Members of Parliament to see the Police Minister so that we can impress upon him the need to do nothing that would put at risk these welcome advances.

What is very much at risk, and at risk in the short term – is the effective cover provided for us by our Fire Service. There is a very real threat of an all-out strike followed by sporadic action. I have no doubt that should we be faced with a local catastrophe or emergency, such as a train crash or a hospital fire, strike action would be immediately suspended. Those who man our fire stations are far too responsible to remain indifferent to a disaster.

However, each single fire is a disaster, or a potential disaster, to those it effects and I do hope that our firemen and women will think very carefully indeed before putting anyone at risk.

What I would like to see, assuming the ballot goes in favour of a strike, is for a responsible declaration by the union leaders that they will not put the public at risk; an agreement by both sides to go to independent arbitration and to be bound by the result; and for any future pay agreement to include a binding no-strike clause. We depend very heavily upon those who man the emergency services. We owe them a great deal. It is important that what they do for us should be adequately recognised. But equally, those who pursue careers in the Emergency Services do so because that is what they have chosen. A young man or woman going into the Police Force or one of the armed forces knows that, whatever happens, striking is not an option. Nor should it be in the Fire Service.