Letters to the Editor

I'm a "proper Muslim" who will condemn youths of my faith who go on the rampage in Bradford, and like Mr Khan I will also question the impossible number of asylum seekers flooding into this country. One can only be a credible Muslim if you are prepared to condemn all evil.

I'm sure Mr Khan is as embarrassed as me when the idiots strike, and he obviously won't be silenced by people who attempt moral blackmail. His plain speaking is drenched with truth and harms nobody but the guilty.

He is a little forceful with his views but he is realistic. I only wish the police would be as honest with the truth, in respect of revealing all the troubles on the streets.

They might attempt to gag the Telegraph & Argus about sensitive stories, but this splendid newspaper won't gag the impressive Mr Khan.

M Zafar, Fairbank Road, Bradford 8.

SIR - David Barnett's feature (T&A, January 16) on the police suppressing news of certain criminal acts in our city surprises nobody. My friends from Bradford talk of large-scale disturbances, intimidation incidents and assaults that go unreported, even though there is strong and varied anecdotal evidence to back these stories up.

The general assertion that the "authorities" like to sweep certain things under the carpet is quite widespread.

I used to blame this lack of reporting on the T&A's unnecessary caution in the light of the increasingly influential Politically Correct movement. Now the truth is out.

The police like to think that they have the streets under control, and that disturbances of a "delicate" nature are few and far between.

They are doing a disservice to every taxpayer in the city by hiding the realities of crime.

I realise that some trends of crime would so alarm the public that they would rarely step out, and there are other sensitivities that could harm the much-vaunted "good" race relations, but we have a right to know where and when it is unsafe to go.

B A Houseman, Coach Road, Baildon.

SIR - If Tony Blair is the best man that the House of Commons can put in place as the leader of this country, then it is time we got rid of the Labour Party, the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party and let a new party take over the running of this country.

Every Englishman or woman should vote for the United Kingdom Party or any party that will take us out of Europe, because with the Euro, Europe is our biggest enemy.

They are stealing our industries, cars, motor cycles, and definitely our fishing industry.

France and Spain only obey the EU rules that suit them, and are sticking two fingers up at us.

Our fleet has to stay in port three weeks out of four while their fleets are pillaging our waters. I say to hell with the EU. Let us do what Norway did.

N Brown, Peterborough Place, Undercliffe.

SIR - I would like to express my gratitude to the most dedicated professional staff at Bradford Royal Infirmary. I recently spent about four weeks on Ward 22, including Christmas. Words cannot express the kind care and medical treatment which never ceased to amaze me.

Special thanks to Dr Morrison and Dr Tusmani and the team and all concerned at every level. I can only tell the people of Bradford just how fortunate we are to have such an establishment. No-one should be in any doubt about the first-class treatment they can expect from this hospital, which is a credit to our National Health Service.

George S Gill, Paley Terrace, East Bowling.

SIR - I was disgusted to read that Bradford Council has offered to move Margaret Harrison from her home of 20 years because they can't find the funds to install her a shower. Yet in the same edition of the T&A I read that the Council is set to consider refugees' needs while they live here in Bradford.

Shouldn't we be considering the needs of our own people first, especially when they have paid into the "system" all of their working lives?

Bradford seems only too keen to financially help others who are not even legally allowed in this country before tending to its own community.

Mrs M Coe, Hollybank Road, Horton Bank Top, Bradford 7.

SIR - It seems very strange that we can put several thousand asylum seekers in hotels at our expense but cannot assist a lady who needs a shower installing (T&A, January 14). What is this country coming to?

It is about time that the citizens of the UK made a stand instead of just grumbling about how bad things are getting.

Philip Johnson, Oakbank, Keighley

SIR - The doctor's practice at Ashcroft Surgery, Undercliffe, has served the community for more than 50 years with great distinction. As a patient I have good reason to sing its praises. However, the management has negotiated a move to the new hospital to be built on the upper school site in Harrogate Road, without regard to the elderly community and its needs.

I understand that there are 11 districts within the Bradford area and it is inconceivable to learn that Undercliffe is the only district which will be left without a doctor's practice to serve its elderly population. What regard have the Primary Health Care Trust for the ageing population and what consultation has taken place with regard to their views?

This forum contests the action of those who deny that which has been accessible for more than half a century in the name of progress. We applaud the fact that Greengates is to be provided with the service of both doctors and chemist but please, not at the expense of the 'old folk' at Undercliffe.

Audrey Raistrick (secretary, Retired People's Action Forum), Stonebridge, Idle Croft Road, Bradford 10.

SIR - Further to the T&A of January 11, "Burglar's brush with law." It would seem that the best way to get off lightly, if convicted of a criminal offence, is to prove oneself a good artist. All you would get, apparently, would be a slap on the wrist, a telling-off but also praise for work well done.

You could even be advised by the presiding judge to try and sell your efforts to barristers-at-law in any future court appearances and ingratiate yourself with the judiciary.

Talk about siding with the criminal - this is leniency gone mad.

It is at least, I suppose, an attempt to relieve our overcrowded jails but it is the principle of the matter which is at stake, whereby punishments should be exacerbated not diminished.

Derek Mozley, Moorhead Terrace, Shipley.

SIR - The writer who suggested that the desire to see bloodsports criminalised was a Left-wing plot will be glad to know that I've taken the liberty of sending his letter (T&A, January 9) direct to such pillars of the Right as Teddy Taylor and Ann Widdecombe, both of whom feel that such uncivilised behaviour has no part in the our society and have voted accordingly way back to the time when the latter hadn't yet become a blonde!

Sid Brown, Glenhurst Road, Shipley.

SIR - If Bradford is to take part in a "Festival of Britain", does that imply that the "bid" team will be employed until 2008? If this is the case are they still going to be funded by the local authority? I'm sure that a "City of Reality" campaign would be far more appropriate

David Boocock, Ambaston, Hornsea