Work of the crime reduction partners

Firstly, Mr Ingham's description of us being "recently contrived" is totally incorrect and I will now explain what we are, in his words, "supposed to represent".

Following the introduction of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, local councils and the police had to form a partnership to combat crime and disorder in their area. The Craven Crime Reduction Partnership was duly formed and we have been involved in many initiatives since our inception.

These include the planning and development of the CCTV system in Skipton town centre; the preparation behind the STAND initiative (Skipton Town Against Night-time Disorder); funding an advocacy worker to help drug users with employment, training and housing needs; funding the READI project (Rotary Education Against Drugs Initiative) which involves all Craven primary schools with pupils aged between 9-11 years; funding capital equipment for Craven Domestic Violence Services, and Crucial Crew, involving the police, fire, ambulance and various other agencies with over 700 pupils attending recently from local primary schools.

We also organise local problem solving groups, who meet to tackle issues raised by the police, councillors or community groups.

These groups address medium and long-term preventative measures that help to reduce crime in our area. Previously we have addressed burglary, criminal damage and speeding vehicles.

At present we have two groups, one currently looking at serious and fatal road accidents, and the other at anti-social behaviour (a target set by the Home Office with relevant funding to achieve results).

It is, therefore, Home Office funding, not local council tax, which is allowing us to appoint an anti-social behaviour co-ordinator and this funding is being directed to crime and disorder partnerships over the whole country not just Craven.

Anti-social behaviour is an issue that affects everyone at some time, whether it is noisy neighbours, alcohol related issues, violence or, indeed, children playing football in the street.

These, therefore, are "the real issues".

We are very fortunate that Craven is a low crime area and in fact, on average only eight crimes per day are reported. However, our aim is to continue to work with our partners and the police to reduce this figure even lower and with the new appointment we feel this can be achieved.

Alan Atkins, the partnership co-ordinator, would be happy to answer any further questions in relation to the work of the partnership. He can be contacted on 01756 798874.

Coun Philip Barrett,

Chairman,

Craven Crime Reduction Partnership

Granville Street, Skipton.

SIR - It was good to see your letters page transformed into a debate about local green issues last week. Our county urgently needs all of us to address pressing social and environmental issues.

Firstly, let me assure Sally Mitchell of Aireside (letter on the site of the proposed ice cream factory development in Cononley) that I will actively help and support any campaign for improved flood defences in her area, as long as there isn't a great big executive housing development attached to them!

Government funds flowing into unnecessary road 'improvements' nearby should be diverted into this endeavour, by way of compensation: the relationship between increased traffic pollution and the plight of those affected by increased river flooding is well-documented.

Secondly, I can confirm that I have written to the director of the Countryside Alliance offering him the use of my dictionary. The Green Party's support of a 'voluntary cessation' of angling obviously does not mean we wish to see it banned. We merely suggest that, with increased environmental awareness, any pursuit that causes unnecessary harm to animals will die out.

I don't think this entirely reasonable position will get through to the rabidly pro-bloodsport CA, however, whose former president declared: "Hunting is our music. It is our poetry. It is our art". Now that is extremism.

My recent Green candidature in the Aire Valley ward won over 20 per cent of the vote, only 80 votes behind the Lib Dems. A warm thank you to all who voted Green. It appears a true countryside alliance is forming.

J Max Akroyd,

Aireside Terrace, Cononley.

SIR - May I through your letters page pass on a message to the young men who managed to dislodge a monumental top stone from the wall bordering the football field and public footpath at Cross Hills.

This massive stone is approximately six feet in length and weight at least five hundredweight (560lbs).

The sheer effort, strength, dedication, and will to succeed in moving the huge stone was indeed remarkable.

These qualities mentioned are exactly what we are looking for in the players who sign on for Cross Hills club. Perhaps these individuals may wish to channel their herculean efforts into something more positive. Come along to the club and utilise your talents on the football field or is it too much to ask from these mindless neanderthals?

Barrie Pearce,

Chairman,

Cross Hills Football Club.

SIR - Many Craven residents no doubt played their part in helping to return the UKIP candidate Geoffrey Bloom to the European parliament to represent Yorkshire and Humberside and at the same time contributed to the nationwide spectacle of the shattering of the egos and vanities of our political elites.

At last we may be seeing an effective campaign which has started to fight back against those who would serve us up to the EU Soviet as casually as serving a dog its dinner.

Can we therefore expect, bearing in mind the success of UKIP, that our very own Europhile MP, David Curry, continues to use his office to promote his own vision of our relationship with Europe or will he now finally accept that a not inconsiderable number of his constituents do not share it?

AJA Smith,

Colne Road,

Glusburn.

SIR - Even by Labour's standards, the postal voting system has been a complete shambles. We have had reports of fraud, intimidation, votes being sold on E-bay, politicians caught out giving advice on how to exploit the voting system, missing ballot papers, people receiving dozens of ballot papers, children receiving ballot papers and the police have had to investigate numerous complaints when presumably they should have better things to do like catching burglars.

Turnout did increase, although how much of that was due to fraud we do not know, and turnout increased anyway in those areas which did not have this system inflicted on them.

Given that Chris Leslie overruled the independent Electoral Commission to impose all postal votes on us, he should now apologise and promise it will not happen again. This has been a prime example of how Labour have to meddle in everything, however much it is not needed or wanted.

If Mr Leslie wishes to continue with this ridiculous system I will challenge him to a public debate on this issue any time, anywhere in the Shipley constituency with an independent chairman of his choice. Will Mr Leslie admit this system was a failure or will he debate this issue with me?

Philip Davies

Conservative Parliamentary Candidate

Shipley Constituency

SIR - Mrs Canaway may like to know that bells are mentioned in the Bible. They are to be sewn to the edges of a priest's robes (Ex 28 v33). She is quite right; there is nothing about bells (or organs, as we know them) for worship.

Following the logic of her argument, I think she should ask our vicar to see that he has bells sewn on the edge of his surplice. Mrs Canaway must agree that in her eyes, whatever is decreed in the Bible, however mundane, must be obeyed and whatever practice the Bible does not mention, no matter how much it has been valued by the Church over the centuries, must never be attempted.

Jesus, in his human life, lived and worshipped as a faithful, first century Jew. Do we, as Christians keep, as he kept, the Jewish Passover?

Where does the Bible say that it has the authority to impose all first century practices on every successive age and culture? Deciding what are immutable spiritual and moral principles as distinct from passing cultural mores, has always been the prayerful task of the Church.

The Holy Spirit blows where it wills; it is never frozen in a time warp, and when a new practice has been tried and tested and is a means of blessing to the majority, then it is accepted.

Church bells were first introduced as a call to worship by Pope Gregory the Great (AD 540-604). According to Irish legend, the wandering Celtic saints, St Patrick et al, rang a bell as they walked to keep evil spirits at bay, because the sound of a Christian bell signified the worship and praise of God. Church bells have been rung in praise and thanksgiving at every national celebration in England since at least the Middle Ages.

There may have been no church bells in the Bible, but according to Psalm 150, worship must have been a pretty noisy affair what with trumpet, lute, harp, tambourine, pipes etc. Maybe all at once? It does not say.

Since the fundamental issue is all about praising God, maybe there are a lot of unspoken questions underlying Mrs Canaway's repeated complaint. If more in the community "praised the Lord" (with or without bells), perhaps, there would be less misery and more joy, and our young people in particular, would not come near the top of international league tables for lack of optimism in the present and in the future.

Kathleen Kinder,

Station Road, Giggleswick

SIR - Jean Dixon (Craven Herald June 11) challenges the Zoo Action Group to answer several pertinent questions concerning the proposed new zoo.

For example, she would like to know if the faults highlighted by the RSPCA were rectified. This is what they had to say on the matter: "Concerns about this collection (of animals) have been voiced to this society for a number of years now and our officers have acted accordingly. In addition, formal Inspections under the Zoo Licencing Act have been undertaken yet the RSPCA has seen no significant improvement in the management of the animals".

She then asks how we think conditions for the animals can be improved. The answer could not be more straightforward. It requires only three simple steps. First, close down Southport Zoo. Secondly, re-home all the animals at better zoos, safari parks, sanctuaries etc and finally, never allow the owners to run another zoo again.

Thankfully, most of these steps are about to be implemented. The zoo is due to close next month and all the animals are currently being re-homed (many permanently).

So if Craven District Council decides not to grant the zoo owners a zoo licence, our prayers will have been answered and this sorry saga will have reached a satisfactory conclusion.

Jean also asks why are we so anti-relocation? We are against Southport Zoo relocating because of the owners appalling previous track record of animal mismanagement. Herald readers interested in this subject, will have already noted for themselves the catalogue of serious problems that we - and others - have highlighted.

As far as the RSPCA and independent vets are concemed, the owners of Southport Zoo have shown themselves to be negligent in their care of animals and so judged on that basis, we do not feel they should be allowed to continue to look after any type of animal, irrespective of the location.

Jean Dixon constantly criticises us for not providing solutions, but with due respect, we have repeatedly said in interviews and in print, that the answer to the problem is for Southport Zoo to close and the animals to be re-homed. I hope this clarifies our position.

Mr R Hartley,

Zoo Action Group

Manchester.

SIR - I was shocked to read of the vicious and cowardly attack on the wheelchair user in Broughton Road recently.

The moral and spiritual decline in Skipton plunges to new depths of depravity in this assault by a pack of thugs on a defenceless lady. These animals are without conscience or any kind of humanity in their hearts.

I was further outraged to read that not one of these criminals has been apprehended. Among the young males of this town is a culture of silence - either they do not wish to blow the whistle on their mates or they are afraid of reprisals if they do.

I have personally experienced this culture of silence through the bullying of my son and it rendered me powerless to help him.

My heart goes out to this lady and I would apologise to her for this attack on her person. You are a very brave Madam. I also pray that she will find strength to rebuild her shattered life.

I would volunteer my services in some small way, for example shopping for her or just having a chat.

All it takes for evil to flourish is for decent people to do nothing.

Michael Jones,

Sharphaw Avenue, Skipton.

SIR - I have just returned from Appleby Fair and, unlike last year, have come away feeling sick to the stomach at some of the things I saw.

Down at the river, and on the grass verges by the roundabout at the top of the hill, nearly every other person was carrying a dressage whip. For non-horse people this is a long, thin whip with a tassel on the end which is meant to be flicked at the horse just behind the leg.

I saw one burly man whipping his horse with one of these and received a mouthful of abuse when I pleaded with him to stop.

Down by the river was the usual congregation of people enjoying watching the horses being washed. Just as my friend and I were admiring a youth and his horse swimming in the river, a very large man with a troop of youths and a pair of young coloured horses appeared.

One of the lads began beating the horses on their quarters with a riding crop to get them into the water, despite the fact that both horses were terrified.

Again, when I ask him to stop he looked at me as though I was from another planet.

What shocked me more, however, was the attitude of the crowd, who appeared to think this was normal behaviour since no-one voiced an objection. Also very disturbing was that some of these horses had terible sores from badly fitted tack, etc.

I met some wonderful travellers at Appleby last year, and renewed acquaintaince with one of the families this year. I can only assume that the abuse seen at Appleby was perpetrated by those only concerned with making a quick buck, because the horses on top of the hill by the wagons were in marvellous condition and looked wholly content with life.

It's a shame if these people give Romanies and the genuine traveller a bad name.

Pauline Greenough,

Ivy Terrace, Bradley.