I lived in Blackbird Leys from 1993-2004. Previously I had lived and worked as a police officer in many deprived areas of London.

Your correspondent (Oxford Mail, September 26) and the Daily Mail article (September 18) were correct - it is a grim place to have to live.

I know lots of good, honest, hard-working people who live in Blackbird Leys. Unfortunately for them, they are the minority, so they keep their heads down and get on with it. The police do as well as they can. Unfortunately, they cannot be there 24/7.

However, to think that young female Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) can make a difference is, at best, a propaganda exercise and, at worse, a disaster waiting to happen.

I only hope that a regular police officer does not get injured having to bail them out when they get into trouble.

PETER BARTLETT Anchor Court York Place Oxford