I am writing in response to the letter by J Pearce (Letters, July 22), one of the street representatives from the North Laine Community Association, regarding Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs).

PCSOs have not vanished and I am surprised Mr Pearce has not seen them in the North Laine area.

There are currenly 18 PCSOs working in Central District (of which the North Laine is a part) in Brighton and this number will soon be increased to 22. The main role of the PCSO is to provide reassurance and a visible presence on the streets and to build links between the police and the community.

They carry out these core functions in the North Laine as well as all other areas of the city.

PCSOs spend time each week carrying out high-visibility patrols in the North Laine area as well as providing a response to calls to deal with, for example, street drinking and anti-social behaviour.

The PCSOs on central district carry out many of the functions previously performed by Community Beat Officers.

This means that, as well as patrolling the streets, they attend community meetings and work closely with other agencies and with local action teams.

PCSOs have attended and spoken at North Laine Community Association meetings.

As well as continuing with their high visibility patrols of the North Laine area and engagement with the North Laine residents' and traders' communities, the central district PCSOs have been involved in setting up a local action team which will provide a multi-agency approach to problem solving in the area.

Sussex Police is constantly assessing the role and work of the PCSOs but I am happy to say I firmly believe they are value for money in the work of Sussex Police in the city centre of Brighton.

I wonder if Mr Pearce is aware Special Constables are unpaid volunteers who are therefore not able to provide so great a presence in the city centre as the 18 PCSOs whose shifts are from 8am to midnight?

-Acting Sergeant Matt Ebeling, PCSO Supervisor, Brighton Police Station, Central District