18/08/03

The criminal justice system has clearly failed to protect children from Hope, as less than three years later he faces another 18 months imprisonment for similar offences. It would not at all surprise me if in another 18 months time he is on trial for more sex offences.

How many more children will be put at risk before the courts change their stance on how they pass sentence to persistent offenders?

The solution is simple: if an offender shows no signs of rehabilitation, they should be detailed indefinitely. Instead of concentrating on protecting the offender's right to privacy, the courts should be focusing their attentions to protecting the public and administering tougher sentences for sex offenders. The need of the authorities to protect children greatly outweighs Hope's need to protect his reputation.

As an ex-pupil of Framwellgate School in Durham, where Hope used to occasionally work as a supply teacher, it is now obvious what his intentions were for working with children. It is only by sheer good fortune that his sinister traits have been revealed before he has had the chance to assault a child. - Marc Krajewski, Durham City.

ROYALTY

WHAT is Prince William thinking of, getting his kicks from killing an antelope in cold blood (Echo, Aug 11)? Doesn't he realise that this will give a free hand to every teenage misfit who ever fancied himself as a hunter? There is enough animal cruelty in our society without inciting more. - Aled Jones, Bridlington.

I READ with utter contempt that Prince William bravely attacked and killed a 14-inch high dik-dik antelope with a seven inch long spear.

I would imagine that he would have had bodyguards with rifles at the ready in case this beautiful little animal attacked him first.

This isn't the first time he has been in the news with this kind of report, and given his father's love of blood sports, he would have been well versed in such matters.

I feel it is about time these pompous, useless, indefensible individuals were brought to task. They are a huge drain on the taxpayers of this country, but at least we now know how some of it is spent. - D Harrison, Darlington.

I AGREE with Anne Jones about the £4.5m that we, the taxpayer, have paid for Clarence House to be upgraded to suit Prince Charles and his mistress, despite Prince Charles being one of the richest people in this country (HAS, Aug 13). I think it is disgusting that he should take our money to benefit himself and his lover. He has been a millionaire since the age of two when he inherited the Duchy of Cornwall. - D Tuff, Darlington.

SPEEDING COPS

CONCURRENT with the avoidance of speeding penalties in Cleveland by police officers (Echo, Aug 13 and 14), I received my annual motor insurance renewal.

I thought it was reasonable enough until I phoned in the fact that a named driver had just received a speeding conviction (35 mph) in an urban area of Stockton, resulting in an endorsement and three points on the driver's licence.

As a result of my disclosure, my insurance company has increased our premium by £18 and indicated that this will be charged for the next five years, notwithstanding that this was a first offence by a mature driver with nearly 40 years experience. This, then, is an extra penalty of £90 on top of the £60 fine already paid.

Are certain crafty police officers and even a chief superintendent of convenient memory loss laughing at the rest of us? - B Johnston, Eaglescliffe.

SO Councillor Ken Walker, chair of Cleveland Police Authority, is "furious" that the case against two policemen was not proceeded with because of a technicality in the evidence against them.

Funny, I don't remember him being "furious" when another policeman's case (theft of a boiler from the police stores) was not proceeded with due to a technicality the day before the trial costing the taxpayer thousands of pounds. Could it be that the said police officer was the main witness against Ray Mallon during the costly time-wasting Operation Lancet fiasco?

As chair of the police authority, Coun Walker should restrict his comments to administrative matters. The law should be left to people who know what they are talking about because I am furious at the waste of millions of pounds on an inquiry that came to nothing. - R Young, Thornaby.

I READ that the chief executive of Cleveland and Redcar council wants North Yorkshire police to discipline the officers about their alleged speeding (Echo, Aug 14). What does he want them disciplined for? Not being found guilty of a speeding offence? If he wants action taken I suggest he looks at his own department which erected the illegal signs in the first place. And who is in charge of this department? - Name supplied, Co Durham.