WHAT a shocking waste of public money the appointment of a Police and Crime Commissioner is turning out to be, as highlighted by Philip Pearce-Smith (Letters, January 17).

Its inception was seen by many as another wasteful tier of administration and if, as given to Mr Pearce-Smith, staffing levels are 50, even if part-time at £200 per week (almost certainly a conservative estimate), it adds up to £520,000 per year, added to which is the commissioner’s salary, the administration costs of running the department, ie computers, paperwork, lighting, heating, insurance and other benefits to staff.

It would not be difficult to arrive at a figure of £1,500,000, yet at the same time frontline police are |being axed. So we have a situation where 50 people sit at desks creating paperwork to circulate among themselves at the expense of police who will actually solve crime.

However, at that point the logic of Mr Pearce-Smith’s argument is lost, as he then goes on to hope the next government will be a Conservative one which overlooks the fact that it was this present Conservative administration that appointed crime commissioners, against profound opposition from many quarters.

Certainly the Labour Party will do away with the position if elected. The Tories are two faced in their attitude to public services, while condemning them and destroying them and sacking staff at lower levels, they are very adept at appointing high-paid administrators who will most likely be their supporters.

The Health Service and Armed Forces are two other illustrations.

D R SMITH, Southampton.