I am a serving police officer and have regular contact with members of Sussex Ambulance Service.

I am continually astounded by the dedication of Sussex's paramedics in an atmosphere of very poor pay and conditions.

They are the most skilled operatives of the emergency workers, the worst paid and in the most danger.

They have little back-up from their managers if they defend themselves when they are attacked, which is far too often these days, and are given no protective equipment.

They deal with more unpredictable situations than do police officers - drunks, assaults, drug overdoses, suicide attempts - yet have not even been issued with anti-stab vests.

It is about time the NHS realised paramedics are worth protecting and investing in.

-David Deuchar, Shotters, Burgess Hill