COUNTY councillors say they are fed up with the lack of co-operation they get from Thames Valley Police Authority.

Members want to know what is going on, so that when their voters ask them about crime and police resources they can give informed answers.

But Buckinghamshire County Council has only one member on the police authority and isn't invited to the private consultative meetings held quarterly in each police area by the area commander.

Now the chairman and leader of the council are to write to police authority chairman Glenn Maybury, asking him what he's going to do about it.

Conservative councillor Mark Greenburgh, who raised the subject at Thursday's full meeting of the county council, said: "This is about the council and it links with the police authority.

"It is very important for county councillors to be aware of policing issues.

"We have a responsibility under community safety legislation to engage with the police.

He added: "But members are being kept at arms length."

Thames Valley Police Authority, which is responsible for the annual budget, includes only one councillor from each unitary or county council in three counties Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire.

Thames Valley Police Authority spokesman Mike Byfield said yesterday: "Until we have seen the content of the letter we cannot comment on it.

"We will respond appropriately when we receive an official letter from the council stating the problems."