RAY MALLON

STUART Bell's comments (Echo, Mar 2) reflect his privileged position as an MP, but whether his words of wisdom have substance is another matter.

He wishes to assert the Lancet inquiry as being a waste of taxpayers' resources, yet, at the same time, suggests the blame lies at the door of Ray Mallon and a few police officers.

That is the same sort of excuse that started this fiasco - at great expense to the citizens and an excuse for the establishment to purge itself of blame.

Parliament no longer cares for the rights of individuals to live their lives within the law of social justice, but a justice called freedom of the individual to impose their will whether we like it or not.

The law of the land is an insult because it allows thugs and those who impose their evil on us to do so with impunity, and representatives of Parliament and the Law Society to make a living far above the likes of the majority.

Whether Stuart Bell justifies his position is one thing, if he wanted my vote he would have to come up with a better argument than the one he has at the moment. - John Young, Crook.

ALAN McKimm opens his remarks (HAS, Mar 1) with a sweeping statement, which he apparently feels under no obligation to substantiate, and ends with a personal reference to Ray Mallon that is basically nothing more than common abuse.

Indeed, though short, Mr McKimm's letter is not nearly short enough because, like a number of such offerings, it contains not one valid statement of fact.

I will now make a statement of fact, facts which are very well known. Ray Mallon is an exceptional man, exceptional in both the professional and personal sense.

And that, I maintain, is explanation enough for the virulent spite and venomous jealousy which are what the campaign against him is all about. - Tony Kelly, Crook.

STUART Bell keeps claiming, when referring to the Ray Mallon situation, that he has never known anybody plead guilty when they were innocent of the charges laid against them.

What about Pat Molloy of the "Bridgewater Four"? What about the recent clearing on appeal of the "Bakewell murderer"? What about Stefan Kisko? - Name and address supplied.

I HAVE followed the Mallon saga since he first sprang to prominence with his Zero Tolerance policy, and the events that have followed.

The latest article (Echo, Feb 27) has a very hollow ring about it after years of vehement denial of all allegations by Ray Mallon.

For him to admit them and be required to resign, then claim this is only so he can represent the people of Middlesbrough as mayor makes raining red herrings and pork pies comes to mind. - P Duffy, Billingham.

I READ with interest Stuart Bell's article (Echo, Mar 2) which mostly comprised supposition.

It did highlight his blinkered determination to do Ray Mallon down at whatever cost. It would be lovely to have similar space to deal with the points he raised. If Ashok Kumar has distanced himself from Mr Mallon, it takes no rocket scientist to realise that he has, no doubt, received instruction and direction from the Labour Chief Whip to toe the line.

Mr Bell uses this situation as an excuse to side-step a public inquiry. Mr Bell admitted he had not read what is supposed to be a quite damning report by West Yorkshire Police on Lancet. He was given a copy on television - has he read it yet? - Name and address supplied.

THE letter from the Media Services Manger of Cleveland Police (HAS, Feb 28) shows that the "Get Mallon" campaign is up and running. This gives rise to a number of questions.

1. Given the fondness of Cleveland Police for military-sounding appellations, is this campaign to be known as Operation Scalpel?

2. During this campaign, will Cleveland Police vehicles be carrying a sticker saying "Don't vote Mallon"?

3. Has the Chief Constable received any communications from the Home Office regarding his incursion into politics?

4. After the Chief Constable's "empire of evil" description of

Ray Mallon's activities, does he think it accurate to describe the association between himself and senior members of Middlesbrough Labour Party as an "unholy alliance"? - Patrick O'Keefe, Middlesbrough.

I READ with interest Ray Mallon's answers to the charges against him (Echo, Feb 27) and I find them entirely credible.

It seems highly unlikely that a serving police officer promoted to a senior position and previously praised by those in high office would suddenly start running an "evil empire". I am not surprised that, after four years, he has tried to take control of his life.

It is an open disgrace that Cleveland Police have dragged Lancet out for this length of time. Anyone with any compassion would have resolved it as quickly as possible to limit the mental suffering of all concerned. - Margaret Phillips, School Aycliffe.