SIR - As the managing director of a company employing some 60 local people - a business I started from scratch 15 years ago - I am very disappointed in the comments made by Chief Inspector Ray Shepherd, about retailers' responsibility to improve their security.

I have a store in Bradford so can speak as one of the "accused". A recent documentary on BBC1 showed how police in Central London are beating street crime: with lots of police presence, zero tolerance on known offenders, fast reaction to incidents and plenty of stopping and searching.

The police should be out there in Bradford generally getting in the way of these people they clearly are familiar with.

Bradford is bad enough for retailers trying to make an honest buck, what with unsavoury gangs hanging around, litter and filth and riots. Couple this with outrageous business rates and it is very disheartening.

Mr Shepherd's comments don't help the cause from a PR point of view. They will just put more people off. It's time some action was taken in this town. If anyone wants to drop me a line I would be keen to see how many are willing to get involved. Fax me on 01535 606288.

Michael Bower, managing director, Link Telecom, North Street, Keighley.

SIR - How can the police blame retailers in Bradford for doing too little to protect their businesses from shoplifters? The rates these businesses pay would warrant a permanent officer on duty for every shop.

If they know the 50 culprits ,why are they not arrested? As far as I am aware crack cocaine usage and possession is still a serious crime.

It is just another excuse from the police unable to man-manage and grasp the real problem that all Bradfordians face every day.

The retailers are doing their job selling their products to the consumers. The police are not doing theirs keeping people safe .

Andrew Bairsto, Ravenscliffe Avenue, Bradford 10.

SIR - Perhaps credit should be given where credit is due. Only "Three seats empty on new council" (T&A, April 15) is quite an achievement considering the adverse conditions candidates had to endure in order to register their nominations.

Keighley area panel had asked for a member of Bradford's electoral services to be on hand in Keighley during the nomination period. The request was refused due to 'staff shortages'.

The nomination papers were available in Keighley Town Hall from Tuesday, March 26, although parts of the nomination packages were missing and prospective candidates had still to phone through to Bradford so the correct papers could be sent. The last day for the nominations was Friday April 5.

In those ten days was a weekend, three train-strike days and three days lost due to Easter holidays, making it extremely difficult for people to make the journey to Bradford with the nomination papers.

What should be applauded is the perseverance of those 34 who did manage to submit nomination forms. We have some talented individuals from differing backgrounds who are prepared to serve the town.

It will probably be the most representative of any group anywhere within the Bradford district!

Tony Wright (councillor designate, Keighley Town Council), Hainworth Lane, Keighley

SIR - Wendy Sykes is understandably confused ( March 16). The Trinity is unintelligible to anybody who is intellectually honest and sincere in faith.

If Jesus was the "son" of God, we have to question whether Jesus is eternal.

This is an impossibility, as eternal must mean being free from beginning and end, and not finite, like Jesus. Where does this syllogism break down?

As for those who say it is a matter of faith, why was Trinity unheard of by the Prophets of the Old Testament and why did the early Christians denounce it?

The fact is that the Trinity was created and honed over three centuries after Jesus. This resulted in a clear divergence from his original teachings.

The Judeo-Christian /Pauline-Christian schism culminated in the Council of Constantinople in 381 A.D., when the Holy Ghost became official Catholic doctrine. Constantine expediently incorporated Pauline beliefs into his empire.

Christians today should not undermine the early disciples' faith, embodied in many other Gospels (thereafter deemed forbidden texts, upon pain of death).

Michael Best, Clarke Street, Calverley

l EDITOR'S NOTE: This correspondence is now closed.

SIR - When I came across the "This is Bradford" website it gave my heart strings a little tug. I have lived in the USA three years in July and still miss my family and friends very much.

I was born in Bradford in 1958 and grew up in the house where my parents still live on the edge of the Bierley estate.

My parents have experienced many changes in the area over the past years, some good, others not so good.

Being burgled and my mum getting mugged in her own home have been bad experiences.

But having wonderful friends and neighbours that call in or just wave through the window to brighten their day outweigh the bad by a long chalk.

I have been lucky to have met some wonderful people, but I still consider Bradford my home.

I can only hope that my friendships stand the test of time that my parents' friendships have with their wonderful friends and neighbours on the Bierley estate.

Julie Cowan (nee Brewer), Ruffner, Birmingham, Michigan, USA

SIR - The forthcoming council elections will provide the people of Bradford with a real opportunity to shape their own destinies. The silent majority will arise from its slumber.

Years of misrule have brought Bradford to its knees, and its total destruction is a distinct possibility.

Councillors from Bradford's past should hide their heads in shame. Their inability to allocate government funding adequately in the past has created under-achievement among Bradford's Asian community.

The contempt they have shown for the people of Bradford will be paid back in full on May 2. Bradford Council is in desperate need of new faces and the elections will be the perfect platform from which to restore Bradford to its former glories.

Mohammed Javaid, Abingdon Street Bradford 8

SIR - Our group is demanding, not asking, for free bus passes for all retired people. Please write to your MP and councillors and demand this right.

There are 11 million of us. We can demand this or change the system. Why are people in Bradford being discriminated against in this? Scotland have it, so do Wales, and Liverpool. Why not us?

Seventy MPs have already but their name to this, certain councillors in Bradford also. It is time we all told our MPs and councillors that we have had enough of their policies against retired people. We can write to fight a system which is against our human rights.

J R Smith, (chairman, Retired Persons Action Group), Flawith Drive, Fagley.

SIR - With regards to the report in the T&A (April 15) "Crackdown sought on fireworks sales".

You only have to see the fear and distress caused to animals and the elderly to recognise the need for control of firecrackers.

As for Bradford Capital of Culture, don't make me laugh. Capital of Cruelty? Yes. Capital of Crime? Yes. Capital of civil disturbances? Yes.

Let's get our priorities right before we start to bid for something we don't deserve.

Jenny Sampson (Cat Rescue), Rossmore Drive, Allerton.

SIR - I would like to thank all those who assisted me when I fell in the middle of town on Saturday, April 18, at lunchtime: the lady who rang for the ambulance and stayed with me while it arrived, the ambulancemen (one who took me to the BRI and the other one who brought me home), the nurse who looked after my medical needs, and brought me sandwiches and tea, the doctor who assessed my injuries and quickly and efficiently addressed them, the lady who took my X-rays.

Thank you to all concerned.

K Ineson, Daily Court, Bradford 5.