10/06/05

The police cannot cope with everyday anti-social behaviour with villains breaking the law and they have a very poor response in coping with complaints from council tax payers.

The police system needs a good overhaul. If it recruited people like the SAS it would need less manpower and would get results which would bring confidence and safety back like it was years ago.

There is too much hierarchy in the service, with people who could not care less or be bothered about the victims of crime.

The Labour manifesto talked about being tough on crime. After eight years the Government must make the villains pay. All talk and no action does not get results.

To give the police more powers on the football field is crazy. Just let them enjoy the match for free and, instead, look at affairs off the field of play and keep law and order for the fans. - N Tate, Darlington.

ANOTHER slow day on the sports scene. So the photo of Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer is trotted out again, with an article on possible action by whoever.

For goodness sake, let the clubs deal with these incidents with fines, etc. I'm sure these two players will not repeat their nasty squabble. Let them get on with playing football and not have to worry about this storm in a teacup. - Fred M Atkinson, Shincliffe.

I DO not think that Lee Bowyer should be charged with fighting with Kieron Dyer. We see many fights on a sports field, mainly during games of rugby, and this scrap is nothing more serious than what we often view on the TV at Twickenham. - Christopher Wardell, Darlington.

AIRPORT NAME

I think Jim Tague's comments (HAS, Jun 7) are borne out of a sense of despair and deep disappointment at a third election victory for the Labour Party.

It is risible that he thinks introducing the name Durham into the region's second airport is objectionable.

The name Teesside conjures up an image of an industrial conglomerate to visitors, while Durham means a wonderful cathedral, a historical heritage of the Land of the Prince Bishops and a beautiful setting along the river Wear.

The objections to being ruled by an unelected aristocracy are justified and understandable. But Jim, you say it is a funny democracy and there I agree with you.

The problem with democracy is precisely the fact that it does sometimes produce awful decisions - too many people all wanting their say and sometimes those who shout the loudest get their way.

Cheer up Jim, your beloved Tory Party only need to win another 160 seats to get elected. - Hugh Pender, Darlington.

NERD WORD

I HAVE just read a letter from an 'adult' moaning about Nerd (North-East Really Delivers) and what it means. I happen to think it's quite cool.

It is about us and not aimed at people over 50. I think adults need to realise that Nerd adverts are about young people and are not aimed at people like him.

It's really nice to get something that is only about us for a change and talks about things that are important to us and in our language.

I think it's going to be a big success and I, for one, will be looking to get involved in any way I can. - Hayleigh Watson, Hartlepool.

LOVING DAUGHTER

MAY I say a big thank you to my daughter and family from Middleton in Teesdale.

A month ago I was really ill and taken to Bishop Auckland Hospital.

Despite having four children and a part-time job, not once did my daughter or the grandchildren miss a visit. She is kind and loving to everyone.

Also, a big thank you to all the staff in Ward Two and Ward Five. They are kind and nothing is a bother to them. - AM Cowan, Shildon.

WAITING GAME

I READ in a national newspaper that Arriva is to spend £84m on new buses this year. Evidently 600 vehicles have been ordered.

Would it be too much to hope for two of these buses to be deployed on the 30/31 Mowden Circular routes?

Passengers on this half-hourly service are often left waiting for 40 minutes and more because of breakdowns.

The vehicles being used on these routes are well past their use-by date and are totally unreliable.

When will something be done to improve a situation which has gone on for far too long? - JP Gallon, Darlington.

BIG BROTHER

HAS Big Brother arrived? I wonder if the people in this country who voted for and elected a Labour Government realised what they were doing.

We have a proposal for "pay by mile" motoring which will hit the lower paid, but not be a problem to the well off.

It was never in Labour's election manifesto. Now we hear that as two countries have voted against the European Constitution, and not daring to have a referendum in this country, the Government is considering introducing sections, without asking the electorate.

Big Brother has arrived. You will do what we say. We will not do what you want. - Lancelot Howard Barron, Middlesbrough.

OTIS FERRY

ANARCHISTS or not (HAS, June 7), Otis Ferry and his compatriots invaded Parliament and got a slap on the wrist.

If they had been "real" anarchists they would probably now be sampling a spell in one of HM prisons.

The legislation to outlaw hunting with dogs was voted on in the general election of 1997, in which the electorate gave a massive mandate to the "New" Labour Party.

Some of the privileged classes to which Mr Ferry thinks he now belongs have apparently chosen to disobey that law.

Otis Ferry has joined the privileged classes on the back of his talented father's resources, otherwise he would probably still be living on South Tyneside with different aspirations and likely with a Christian name more like his father's. - Harry Watson, Darlington.

SO THE pro-hunt protestors who broke into the chamber of the House of Commons have got off with a conditional discharge.

Of course they would: they are toffs with friends in very high places.

Had they been animal rights protestors they would very likely have been charged with disturbing the peace and jailed.

We still live in a country with a privileged few not perhaps above, but somewhat to the side of, the law.

The case of the illegal snares (HAS, May 23) is the same. Many are on large estates owned by the rich. They do indeed belong to a barbaric age and the law should be enforced. - R Brown, Newton Aycliffe.

TAPS TIP

IT is now about time that all washing taps in toilets should be foot operated.

At present, a filthy hand turns on the tap, putting filth on to the tap. After washing, if the tap is turned off, the dirt is transferred from the dirty tap onto the clean hand. Foot operated taps would ensure all filth went down the sink. - E Reynolds, Wheatley Hill.