SAMUEL BOYD has it right, (Letters, Monday, July 30). Politicians must not be allowed to elect a police commissioner whether from within the upper echelons of the force or from any other background, they should be scrupulously politically independent.

Police officers, whatever their rank, are simply members of society, some with a humane sympathy in their nature and others, usually from the political right of the spectrum, totally without it.

That’s why, as a society, we should always make them understand that they are our servants and not vice versa.

We need a sound police force to keep the peace for us, but in an apolitical manner. Anything other than that is a threat to our precious democracy.

I saw savage policing in Barnsley during the miners’ strike, it was truly sickening.

Walt Jackson, Llantrisant, Usk