Letters to the Editor

I have the T&A delivered daily, and read it widely from cover to cover (perhaps with the exception of the Sports page, but then that will appeal to some of your readers).

I enjoy the way the news is presented in a fair and unbiased way, also the crossword (keeps the "grey matter" going) and Mike Priestley's column, which we (over 50s) can relate to.

I feel Mr Firth "doth protest too much". I wonder if in his dim and distant past he perhaps applied unsuccessfully for the position of the Editor of T&A. Did he then apply to become an officer of the law but unfortunately his qualifications were not up to standard, as these jibs seemed to come from someone spurned?

It would be interesting to see what Mr Firth has put into the community because he obviously feels he has more than a right to voice his opinions. Perhaps his sole contribution is "after dinner speeches".

To you and your team, and to Chief Supt Read and his officers - well done, and keep up the good work.

Mrs Kathleen Hudson, Eastbury Avenue, Horton Bank Top.

SIR - I read with some concern comments made by a Mike Firth at a recent Business Convention and reported in your article of July 11.

West Yorkshire Police have beyond doubt been key players in attempts to form some regeneration strategy for the city. They have shown a willingness to become involved in communities, business and the public sector.

As I, above all, am fully aware of the shortcomings of the regeneration protocol in this city, it would be helpful if the private sector was more securely partnered with the public sector (as can be demonstrated in other cities). We really do need to see some strong civic leadership and clear regeneration strategy to avoid such negative comments surfacing.

D Scougall, Goitside, Bradford 1.

SIR - I have a fair-sized circle of friends and working colleagues and among many of them there is a perception that the T&A and the police are often in cahoots in burying stories concerning law and order in Bradford.

I personally think it is the police who hide certain "sensitive" issues from the T&A, but I wish the Editor would be more zealous in finding them.

Often there is strong anecdotal evidence of trends of street crime, and sinister disturbances that do not get reported in the Telegraph & Argus. I look out for them not out of morbid curiosity but of information value that can help me steer clear of danger!

It stands to reason that if there is a particular crime being committed or a type of location that makes an individual vulnerable, it is surely sensible to tell them about it!

Chief Supt Read can spin his crime detection figures until he is blue in the face but the general public will not be too impressed until we hear the whole truth about what is going on today in this far-from-fair city.

D J Ledgard, Bolton Road, Bradford 2.

l EDITOR'S NOTE: I can assure you we're not "in cahoots" with anybody. We do challenge police figures and it is true that the police are often very guarded about the information they release but we do have a responsibility to help them fight crime rather than simply berate them for failing to do so.

SIR - Around two and a half years ago I wrote to the Toller Lane Police Station to complain about the parking situation on Duckworth Lane during the day. An Inspector Read replied and said, basically, that he was aware. I wrote again and eventually I wrote to the Chief Constable. He passed my letter on to Inspector Read who hoped it would be the end of the matter.

My job moved out of Girlington and I now only pass through occasionally. However, the situation has not changed. Cars were parked on double yellows outside the bank last week.

Instead of only replying to my letter, perhaps Inspector (now Chief Supt) Read could spend the time personally handing out a few tickets instead.

Philip Hartley, Tunwell Lane, Eccleshill.

SIR - Figures released by the police show that recorded crime has gone up by more than 374,000 incidents in the last year.

Rape figures were up 27 per cent and violent crime up 22 per cent, which includes child abductions up 45 per cent. People killed by joy riders rose by 57 per cent, cruelty and neglect of children 34 per cent, assault on police officers 12 per cent, and indecent assaults on women 14 per cent.

However, the Home Office, as every year, has turned these figures into a three per cent overall drop in crime.

They say the police are using new methods to record crimes and that the figures are "skewed," or should that be "screwed?"

Home Secretary David Blunkett says the figures are encouraging, and that today we are less likely to be a victim than anytime in the last 20 years. What a load of xxxxxxxx!

Gary Lorriman, North Walk, Long Lane, Halifax.

SIR - Despite all the bad publicity pet shops have had over the last year, people are still purchasing puppies and kittens from them. Why?

All books printed over the last ten years advise against acquiring a kitten or puppy this way.

The reasons are simple: the prices, which can range from £30 to £50, do not include vaccinations or even help with neutering.

The pet shop owners or even the people who pass them on to the shops have no idea whether or not the mother or in fact any of the fathers have FIV (Cat Aids) or FELV (Cat leukaemia) and you try taking the kitten back if it doesn't settle in. You'd be lucky if any pet shop would accept it when it's over three months.

Animal lovers should boycott the shops that sell these animals and maybe then they might stop the trade that causes all the animal organisations so much work.

Every sanctuary in West Yorkshire is full to capacity with unwanted litters and adults needing good homes.

Help them and you'll get a lot more for your money, not only in advice but in a healthy pet.

Jenny Sampson, Cat Watch/Rescue, Rossmore Drive, Allerton.

SIR - In response to a letter from Councillor Grahame Thornton (T&A, July 21), why does he seem to feel it is essential that he resorts to attacks on the personal opinions of members of the community? Does he really feel that bad about himself and his actions?

If he had bothered to read my previous letter in the right context, he would have seen that I was in fact asking for clarification and a better understanding on the matter of the move from a council-run home (Meadowcroft) to a privately-owned organisation, which he feels to be such a sound idea.

This is the second time that Mr Thornton has made such an attack on my opinions, the first being in an Executive meeting in full view of local people where once again he tried to publicly humiliate me for speaking my own mind and defending those within our city who are unable to defend themselves.

Maybe I will reconsider my current career and become a care assistant because I know that Mr Thornton will eventually need the loving care, support and help from the people whose lives he is having such a huge impact on at the moment.

Sarah Firth, Mount Pleasant, Halifax Road, Bradford.

SIR - I have recently corresponded with Oliver Letwin MP, the Conservative Shadow Home Secretary regarding police and asylum.

The Conservatives will scrap the current failed asylum policies and withdraw from international agreements that currently operate. We will replace these with a quota system for genuine refugees. The savings will allow us to recruit an extra 8,000 police officers in each year of the next Conservative Government - 40,000 extra police officers in total!

I fully support the new policy whereby bringing the asylum system under control will mean a substantial reduction in bogus asylum seekers and associated cost savings, therefore allowing us to spend this money on substantially increasing police numbers - a fair deal for the public!

Councillor Andrew Smith (Con, Queensbury), Chapel Street, Queensbury.

SIR - I read that Cherie Blair bought a suit for £5,000 to go to America. Good luck to her. She probably can afford it on her salary. On my salary it's Oxfam.

Pensioners' cost of living is going up faster than an express elevator to bring us into line with Europe.

The only way Tony can ensure pensioners do not suffer his and Gordon's inflation is to restore the link. We are about 30 per cent below the cost of living standard, but he's telling us we should not be on less than £120 per week.

And why are Yorkshire men and women discriminated against regarding free travel?

London has free travel, Liverpool has free travel, Wales and Scotland have free travel as does Northern Ireland. What about us Yorkshire folk? It's time to renew index-linked pensions and give us free travel.

A Waters, Howard Street, Pellon Lane, Halifax.