Letters to the Editor

When I read this, it conveyed the same warmth and comfort to me as the crew of the Titanic must have felt when they saw the iceberg.

Let's take the spin out of this amazing confession, and re-write it thus: "The Home Secretary admitted that this Government, since coming to power, had done absolutely nothing to stem the most rapid rise in anti-social behaviour and criminal lawlessness in our history".

By what miracle is he going to "reclaim the streets"?

The police cannot and will not help "back-stabber David". They hold his party responsible, and rightly so, for turning them into The Keystone Cops. As for the judiciary, no help here. They have alienated themselves from everyone except the criminals.

The truth is, Mr Blunkett, your Government has virtually ripped the heart out of our people, and they will never forgive you, or believe anything you say again.

Gary Lorriman, North Walk, Long Lane, Harden.

SIR - Surprising as it might seem at this time of the year, I agree with Tony Blair. During Prime Minister's Questions on March 13 he said: "The vast majority of police in this country do a superb job".

Clearly they do, despite the restrictions placed upon them, the effects of which we regularly see on the streets of Birstall and Birkenshaw.

But, in the same five-minute period he went on to say: "There are more police officers - 1,000 in the last year" and "This country has the highest number of police officers than we have ever had" and later "Today we have the highest number of police officers than we have ever had".

If that is the case nationally, why do figures show that in this area there were 5,209 officers in April 1997 yet by April 2001 this had been reduced by 400 to 4,809?

That reduction has been reflected by the loss of community-based officers in our local village centres and the extended response time that so frustrates all those who are continually questioning the value of our local policing.

But all is not lost. In the same five minutes I found other statements from Mr Blair with which I could agree: "Since we came to office ... it is true that street crime has gone up" and "We need extra police officers". How right he is!

Councillor Andrew L Palfreeman (Con., Birstall & Birkenshaw), Brownhill Drive, Birkenshaw.

SIR - Re L Hobsbaum's letter of March 19. When your correspondent refers to the case of the off-duty policeman damaging a car by hitting the bonnet with his bicycle, he correctly states that compensation is to cover financial loss, in this case £100, and that the insurance company will pay the balance.

I believe that this is patently unjust.

In my opinion, the court should look to compensate the motorist for the full cost so that he can reimburse his insurance company, thereby protecting his no-claims bonus and every other insured motorist who ultimately pays for these clearly inequitable judgements.

Why should a person, found guilty of criminal damage, be able to escape with a punishment which bears no resemblance to the crime? It is plainly madness.

I have limited sympathy with the notion that it is pointless to impose a fine, or compensation order which the guilty party cannot pay, in which case the insurance company would cover the shortfall.

However, initially the court should look to recover the full cost.

The fact that he is/was a policeman is irrelevant other than to indicate his ability to pay.

P N Cragg, Bolton Road, Bradford 2

SIR - I am a Bulls supporter and I for one am grateful we can play our games at Valley Parade.

I have never ever heard anyone complain of the superb facilities at the B&B stadium. On the contrary I have heard nothing but praise.

Having said that it is not our home and we know we are only lodgers.

The only upsetting thing is that over the years at Odsal one built up a circle of friends around oneself. With the ticket arrangements as they are, one is now sat among strangers.

But of course people being what they are, we are now making new friends.

Some City supporters have conveniently short memories. Not so long ago it was Bradford Northern who offered their assistance during the tragedy of the fire and indeed many people got involved with fundraising etc. for the cause.

I was a solo artist at one time and the request to participate in the many events was overwhelming but we did what we could. I wish City all the best. Thank you.

John Coulton, Lidget Place, Bradford 7.

SIR - Re the letter from Mr Dine (March 15). Mr Morrison built his supermarkets, filled them with food at a price which we were pleased with (and still are).

Was Mr Dine concerned about corner shops up to this Odsal nonsense? Bradford Bulls are getting enough as far as I'm aware.

By the way I think the city has enough supermarkets already.

A Gray, Warburton Place, Wibsey.

SIR - I felt I must respond to the report "Clean up this mess"(T&A, March 20). The Council cannot be held responsible for cleaning up after residents. In many areas around Bradford people seem to think that waste can be dumped anywhere.

Many people do not take pride in their area and believe that it is someone else's job to clear away their waste. I know this for a fact because every week my husband has to clear up an area surrounding his elderly father's home.

He lives in Bradford Moor and each weekend my husband clears away bags of rubbish which could have easily gone into the bin. This rubbish has not been delivered to the area by outsiders. It has been left by people who live in the area.

Surely it would be wiser idea for the Council to educate the people who live in the areas rather than running around and cleaning up after them. This only leads to people thinking that the Council is responsible. They then sit back and let the rubbish pile up around them.

J Gill, Leafield Drive, Bradford 2

SIR - Tonight we have been to see The Borrowers at the Alhambra Theatre, a prize my son Alexander won in one of your Press Gang competitions.

I would just like to say a very big thank you from all four us. We had an excellent evening and the production was brilliant.

Mrs Karen Hunt, Branksome Grove, Nab Wood, Shipley.