BY disbanding our defence forces, throwing them on the scrapheap after their service risking their lives in desolate places and climates like Afghanistan, our Government neglects our country’s security.

The British public does not begrudge supporting ex-defence forces and their families on benefits until they do, or do not, find jobs. It costs taxpayers millions to train and equip our defence forces. As reservists, they are vital if needed to defend this country, but the Government is squandering valuable resources and creating angry, disillusioned people.

The ex-defence personnel should be re-employed as police, border security, customs and excise and social security staff. The Government has reduced staff in these services to dangerously low levels.

The personnel would quickly pay for themselves by preventing illegal immigrants from entering the country, reducing crime and increasing public security, and discovering benefit fraud early.

Detected cases take up to four years to bring to court and dishonest claimants slip through the net. The BBC programme Saints And Scroungers illustrates how quickly and cleverly people learn to defraud the system.

R Smith, Dodsworth Avenue, York.