I have just read about Bristol City Council providing £1.2 million to fund 40 new police community support officers (PCSOs) – if my maths are correct that's a salary of £30,000 each per year – wow – and I thought we were broke.

So what will these "plastic policemen" actually do or contribute to crime fighting or citizen security in this great city of ours?

Very little, if anything, according to my brother who is a serving police constable.

He could not write this himself, so I am on his behalf.

Firstly, these PCSOs, or pis*cos as they are known in the "trade", actually only earn a few grand less than a "real" police officer, but can do virtually nothing that a real police officer can – no powers of arrest.

They were created by one Mr Blunkett when he was Home Secretary and are another classic example of political spin over substance – so much so that another well known nickname for them is Blunkett's Blunders.

I would be very interested to know the details of the measuring system that compares a PCSOs performance with that of a real police officer in fighting crime – but I won't hold my breath.

What a total and utter waste of money – again.

Cliff Vivien, by email.