IN 30 YEARS service within Gloucestershire as a police officer, I never was involved in or witnessed a situation within the county where police horses would have been deployed in any circumstances of public order.

We do not have big city football clubs, we simply do not have the scale of public order situations where deployment of horses is justified.

The fact that Gloucestershire has not had police horses since the Second World War blatantly suggests we do not need them.

I keep in touch with many serving officers and not one supports this latest decision by PCC Martin Surl to acquire such a resource at public expense of £195k.

The officer who did speak out in the press recently against this needs to be supported, he/she had to remain anonymous as that is how the force works.

Nobody is allowed to speak out in public against the establishment without the risk of being “summoned” to the offices of the chief officers.

The horses will attract an interest, they are lovely creatures, members of the public will approach them, will it be to discuss matters of concern, will the riders be deployed to deal with incidents – don’t think so.

The decision to have horses within the force is of no more than novelty value, a complete waste of money.

Had this government not decided to scrap the broad based representation of the police authority this would never have happened.

What is next, patrols in ice cream vans?

As the serving officer said it’s a ludicrous decision, how correct is that statement.

A view I’m sure is supported by many other serving police officers.

Sadly, there is only political opposition standing against Mr Surl in the elections, another opportunity to have politically motivated individuals in charge of a non-political, essential service organisation – this can’t be right.

Mark Peer

Minchinhampton