Keeping a close eye on the contents of my post bag and e-mail inbox also alerts me to issues that have suddenly affected a significant number of local people.

Post office closures are an obvious current example but over the last couple of weeks I have also received over a hundred letters and e-mails on police pay.

Many of our police officers and police support workers have felt compelled to put pen to paper to register their outrage over the Home Secretary's determination to renege on the commitment to abide by the Independent Police Arbitration Panel's decision on police pay: the panel recommended a 2.5 per cent pay rise but the Home Secretary decided to cut that to 1.9 per cent.

The arrangements for awarding police pay have been in existence since 1979 and I share the feeling of outrage that this Government has decided to ride roughshod over them.

As a society we value and rely upon the services of our policemen and women who routinely demonstrate real courage and bravery, particularly when tackling violent criminals.

So why has the Home Secretary acted in this way?

It all comes down to the fact that Gordon Brown as Chancellor spent and borrowed more than the economy could afford when times were good.

As a consequence, he is now having to be very tough with public finances, including the police pay award, to keep the economy on course at a time when the economic outlook is increasingly shaky.

The result of this is that over the last couple of weeks police morale has been severely affected.

The letters I have received contain many powerful points and I have taken these to discussions with my Shadow Cabinet colleagues.

We will continue to put pressure on the Government to reverse its decision and commit to treating policemen and women fairly, honestly and openly.

As always, I would like to hear from any County Times readers who have an opinion on this or indeed any other issue.