I AGREE with the correspondent writing recently about their concerns for a Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner (Dep PCC) being appointed following the PCC election in May next year.

According to Martyn Underhill, our current PCC, he intends to retain the incumbent but change the basis from voluntary into a paid position. The PCC also tells us we have the only voluntary Deputy PCC in the country – but doesn’t mention that not all PCCs in the country have a Deputy.

Your correspondent asked whether the deputy’s post would be advertised, but from their website, it is a PCC appointment so Mr Underhill can appoint whoever he wishes, after consulting the Police and Crime committee.

We’ve seen savage cutbacks in the police force and Mr Underhill has given us his word that he will fight to keep the front line as best he can but maybe just remember when the new financial year comes along and the police ask for a few more pence in their share of tax-raising it will probably go towards another non-frontline person.

It will be a comforting thought to the bobby on the street knowing that the PCC will have someone by his side, even though he probably won’t have one himself.

Roger Lovell

Coombe Avenue

Weymouth