THE headline of the Malvern Gazette (February 3) was well worth my 55p and a neat bit of journalistic contrast.

When former Chief Supt. Adams has been a few weeks in his new post, I shall exercise my rights as a taxpayer and test his "creating links between local government and the community" by sending him a letter asking for information on those posts paid £50,000 per annum or more, including his own salary - all of which I contribute to.

For many years, I worked daily as a technician alongside the Hampshire police force in their HQ, until 1980. It never surprised me to see Chief Inspectors, one or two newly promoted, "retire" into paid civilian sinecures.

From travels abroad, I am certain we have the best police force on the planet. I fail to see why someone could not have been promoted, on a lower salary scale to what I consider an unnecessary post.

Meanwhile, my pension increases by less than two per cent per annum, and again my Council Tax for a single man is projected at nearly double that.

PERCIVAL D OWEN, Hanley Castle.