I refer to “More civilians join the force” (The Press, May 17) and the assertions from the North Yorkshire Police Federation representative that this is a retrograde step and something which is in need of an urgent review.

However, I would ask the federation who would ultimately be doing these jobs if the civilian posts were not filled – I can tell you immediately it would be either serving police officers or not done at all. If I had a choice of where I want to see police officers working it has to be at the sharp end, and not sitting in an office environment, wasting a valuable and very expensive resource.

The civilians do a magnificent job and are a very committed bunch of individuals who have pride in their work and in their communities and I think it is a gross injustice to suggest that their appointment is something that is to be criticised.

I would like to think I know what I am talking about, having spent the last nine years in one of those "civilian posts", following 34 years as an operational police officer, and my daughter is a police community support officer.

Malcolm Smith, Newby, Scarborough.