I AM amazed that Mr Smith (LT, May 7) cannot work out and answer his own question.

I don’t think the Chief Constable of Manchester ever wanted to upgrade PCSOs, but it is understandable given the difficulty in recruiting full-time officers given the gun, knife and drug gangs in Manchester and the likes of Moss Side, and the financial constraints in attracting full-time officers.

If Mr Smith can’t see the differences between policing East Lancashire and policing Manchester, he needs to think deeper about the above.

He almost answers his own question by pointing out that Manchester is the only force in the entire country that has upgraded PCSOs or felt the need and the pressure to do so.

Don’t you think that speaks volumes?

D Pratt Accrington.