Letters to the Editor

SIR - I thought it might be helpful to address the issues raised by Malcolm Ridley (T&A, November 17).

Bradford Grammar School ('boys' has never been in our title) has welcomed girls into the sixth form for more than 20 years and at all levels (from the age of six) since 1999.

Currently, more than 300 girls are members of the school community, which accounts for about one third of our pupils and the proportion is rising year on year.

Our philosophy is that bright boys and bright girls flourish alongside one another, a principle which is undoubtedly successful in every aspect of school life, particularly the rich sporting, creative and musical culture of which we are extremely proud.

In terms of public examination results, there is very little difference between the results of our boys and girls, who on average gained better than nine grade As at GCSE and two As and one B at A-level last summer.

Such conclusions are entirely consistent with findings in other selective independent co-educational schools - our boys and girls bring out the best in each other, both academically and personally.

Stephen Davidson, Headmaster, Bradford Grammar School, Keighley Road, Bradford.

Bring back hanging

SIR - In view of the murder of WPC Beshenivsky and other murders, especially of children, surely the time has come to bring back capital punishment.

I wrote to my MP Terry Rooney who said we cannot do so because we have signed European laws stopping it.

Instead of spending months debating and passing a bill like fox hunting, MPs should be looking at passing a bill or having a referendum on bringing back capital punishment which, whatever MPs or Europe says, 99 per cent of the British public want.

So come on you citizens, lobby your MPs.

Mr Rooney stated that capital punishment is barbaric. What does he call depriving children of their mother and the parents of Sharon of a daughter?

My deepest condolences to all Sharon's family.

Michael Breen, Bolton Hall Road, Wrose.

Give police guns

SIR - We need to have stronger laws - most violent crimes have increased, including the shooting of police officers. Where will it end?

Give the police guns. If they can't defend themselves, how do we expect them to protect us?

Joe Boyd, Thornton Road, Thornton.

Lives at risk

SIR - While I do not condone despicable acts like the shooting of PC Beshenivsky, I am concerned that the media and other interested parties are using this incident as a vehicle to force through the arming of Britain's police forces. Where will this end?

Are the "Specials" going to carry arms as well?

In general, we have a relatively young police force on our streets and only years of experience can give police officers the wisdom and judgement needed at times of great crisis.

My fear is that weapons in the hands of such "inexperienced" police officers might put innocent people's lives at risk.

Paul Cowsill, Suffolk Place, Bradford.

Christians abused

SIR - On November 12, a mob of 3,000 Muslim extremists and terrorists attacked and destroyed three churches, a convent, girl's hostel and Pastor's house at Sangla Hill some 40 miles from Faisalabad in Pakistan.

Reports say the incident was motivated by the settling of personal scores regarding money disputes.

The attack seems to have been well planned, as the attackers were brought to the site in buses.

According to witnesses 450 Christian families have left their homes, and are on run.

Reports are that the local police seem to be a party to this act of terror, using religion for hatred against the religious minorities.

This comes in the wake of the earthquake tragedy when Asian Christians, UK citizens, church leaders and the international community are participating in the relief activities.

The justice system of Pakistan collapsed under the blasphemy, religious extremism and terrorism. Christians have lost their security, dignity, religious identity and been dishonoured in their own homeland.

The Christian faith is under fire in Pakistan.

We urge the Government of Pakistan to reconsider and abolish the blasphemy laws as they are oppressive and strongly contravene international standards of justice and human rights.

G Dutt, chairman, Pakistan Asian Christian Welfare Organisation, Armidale Way, Bradford.

When will it end?

SIR - Am I adrift with my calendar? I thought Bonfire Night was November 5. Today is November 19 and we are being bombarded with fireworks!

What anyone can find to celebrate after the events of this weekend is beyond me, but then again anyone who thinks the legislation supported by Mr Sutcliffe is working is someone who does not have to endure this upset and distress.

Mrs Hellmich (T&A, November 18) says she wants to wait another year before making up her mind.

I said last year this new law was too little too late and because they base their reasoning on accident figures it doesn't help the rest of us who have to pacify frantic animals driven mad by the noise.

Fireworks should not go on sale before November 4 and be legal to use only on November 5 by licensed officials, not by any Tom, Dick or Harry bent on making as much noise as possible.

Mrs J M Cordingley, Escroft Close, Wyke.

What a shower!

SIR - I was puzzled by the Council spokesman's reply in your story on November 16 that plans for the J C Decau advertising signs "were advertised".

When I telephoned Mr W Sampson (acting assistant chief executive) re this advertising monstrosity, I was informed that this site, as well as any others for this purpose, do not have to be advertised.

May I humbly suggest that the left hand lets the right hand know what is going on. The officers either have not got a grip on what is happening or "porkies" are being told.

In the same vein was the figure of 650,000 people (almost one and a half times the total population of the metropolitan district of Bradford) visiting "for the purpose of last summer's market" accurate? Or the wishful thinking of a person with a lot more on his mind?

I really think that Bradfordians deserve better than the shower we have running our city.

Jeffrey A Frankel, Sydneys The Jewellers, Fowler & Oldfield The Jewellers, Rawson Road, Bradford.

Why not cheerful?

SIR - What is it with the jobsworths who are supposed to be overseeing the redevelopment of our city?

The regeneration lobby wants to flood our city centre and inflict a lake on us, which will be of no earthly use to either man or beast.

Now the planning lobby, which nearly sabotaged the superb redevelopment planned for the old Yorkshire Building Society building, have succeeded in scuppering another most impressive development in Little Germany.

Poor old Bradford. We already have to suffer John Prescott blocking projects left, right and centre, and now our own planners are doing the same.

They say the building is too cheap and cheerful. If they want to see cheap they only have to look at the two-storey rabbit hutch they have allowed to be built in the most prestigious site in the city opposite City Hall, and the building just up the road which has been clad in scaffolding ever since it opened.

And anyhow, what's wrong with cheerful?

How smugly satisfied they must be that they have asserted their authority and the developers have taken their money to Huddersfield!

Malcolm Wood, Westercroft View, Northowram