30/12/03

In fact, they show why they would be useless. Ian Huntley was able to get a job in a school because police did not have the training and resources to use the information systems they already had.

Huntley's other name, Ian Nixon, was already known to police. They knew exactly who he was but not about the string of allegations of underage sex and sexual assault.

ID cards wouldn't have changed that. Spending some of the nearly £3bn that Lord Mackenzie wants to spend on the ID card gimmick on making sure police and social services can understand the systems they already have will hopefully prevent such awful tragedies happening in future. - Paul Leake, Durham.

MOST of us would prefer to live in a world without paedophiles or murderers. On this, I suppose I am in agreement with Mr Kelly (HAS, Dec 26).

I would also prefer to live in a world where we do not have crazy people who wish other human beings to be tortured to death in public. I live in the same town as this person and hope the outside world will not assume we are all equally deranged.

I would also prefer my local newspaper not to be propagating such crazy views. - Rev HW Heslop, Crook.

THE letter by Mr Kelly (HAS, Dec 26) left me somewhat confused.

Whilst he, like many others, clearly has strong feelings on the Soham murder trial and Ian Huntley, I found the views expressed to be both shocking and contradictory.

It is clear that Huntley must be punished for his crimes. However, the solutions proposed by Mr Kelly ("excrutiating and entertaining execution") show this person up to be no better than those that he compares to "something from outer space" and whom he seeks to punish. - WJ Booth, Bishop Auckland.

ROAD SAFETY

I AM wondering when the council and the police are going to crack down on adults who ride their bikes on the pavements, sometimes at great speeds. Yes, I do mean adults!

I walk into Darlington regularly from Yarm Road and have to dodge many bikes on my travels.

Most riders glare at you if you don't move quickly as if it's you who is doing something wrong.

It's only a matter of time before a pensioner or a child is badly injured.

The problem is not just the Yarm Road area: in the town centre it is just as bad, especially around the market area or in Skinnergate.

We have uniformed wardens and CCTV. Isn't it about time something was done? - John Briggs, Darlington.

LOCAL DEMOCRACY

IS it unreasonable to expect our elected politicians to be fully acquainted with the structure of the proposed North-East Assembly, less than a year before the referendum which will determine whether or not it is created? I don't think so.

However Councillor Charles Johnson (HAS, Dec 23) is clearly ignorant of the facts when he refers to "Labour's new quango of unelected people". The new elected assembly will be precisely that. Elected. And it will be elected by proportional representation, not the archaic first-past-the-post system that has saddled the North-East with a never-ending succession of Labour MPs who have done precisely nothing in Westminster to further the interests of the region.

To those who are against the elected assembly I would pose the following questions:

Does the North-East get a fair deal? If not, how will retaining the status quo achieve a change in government policy (Barnett Formula etc)?

I fully understand the genuine concern that some people have about real democracy, extra layers of government and additional costs. These fears must be addressed by the "yes" campaign.

However, does anyone really believe that we can simply leave things as they are for another 50 years and pretend that this or any future UK government will address the issues that blight our region?

So to those of you who are against the elected assembly, can I ask that you drop your negative attitude to change per se and come up with a better solution than that proposed - and preferably one that places the destiny of the North-East where it belongs - in the hands of the people. - David Lacey, Newton Hall, Durham.

PETER MULLEN

I AM writing to register my absolute support for what Peter Mullen said in his column (Echo, Dec 23).

He said everything I have been thinking and voicing for years. I despair at the state of our society which, I believe, is fast on its way to total disintegration.

I have taught for 35 years and feel that schools, if they were given the support they deserve from all sections of society, could lead the way to ensuring a moral and civilised society in the future. No other institution has the means to positively influence and mould the minds and thoughts of our future citizens.

Unfortunately, sub-standard parenting, spineless government and the examples from "role models" drawn from the world of TV soaps and football must all take the collective blame for condemning our children to a hell that will be inescapable. In their own way, these "role models" are as dangerous as paedophiles who prey upon our children. Both destroy our children's innocence. - D Brearley, Middlesbrough.

HMS COLLINGWOOD

I WONDER if any of your readers spent Christmas at the huge Royal Navy Shore establishment just outside Portsmouth called HMS Collingwood. There have been a lot of Christmases since it opened its gates on January 10, 1940. This is when hundreds of men volunteered for serving in the Royal Navy "for the duration of the present conflict", which is how "Hostilities Only" ratings were termed. We have lots of "HOs" in the association who have met at reunions and compared times up to the present.

We also have lots of Electrical, Radio and Radar Ratings as well and could welcome any story relating to Christmas spent at HMS Collingwood for inclusion in our association newsletter.

Even if you didn't serve at HMS Collingwood at Christmas, we would like to welcome you into the Association and join us at our reunions. HMS Collingwood is still there at Fareham and we would welcome anyone who has served there at any time, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. Ratings, Wrens, Staff, Naffi staff and to give you an example of how we welcome membership, we have a civilian who used to maintain the boilers and steam plants.

For details of the association and our next reunion in May, send a couple of second class stamps (to help the Association funds) to Mike Crowe, Membership Secretary, HMS Collingwood Association, 7 Heath Road, Lake, Sandown, Isle of Wight, PO36 8PG. Please, if you are sending self adhesive stamps, leave them on the backing paper and do not stick them onto your letter, as they cannot be removed. - Michael (Mike) Crowe, Isle of Wight.