SIR - A major Bradford company is sponsoring the police to the tune of £15,000 a year for increased patrols around its premises (T&A, July 31).

I feel the motives must be challenged.

To suggest that because employees feel threatened when going to/leaving work by unsocial activities in the area of their employment is sufficient for the police, on receiving a donation, to be able to find extra officers to patrol that area, makes me wonder what is going on?

Surely it begs the question - where are these extra bodies found and where do they come from?

There are numerous residents of Ravenscliffe estate hounded by those committed to unsocial activities for whatever reason - riots, stolen cars, under-age drinking, unlicensed motor bike riders, violence, burglaries, theft and so on. Any estate resident will tell you that this list could go on forever.

Could Bradford Council, who indeed are responsible for the well-being of council taxpayers, be encouraged to enter into an arrangement with the police to safeguard the residents of Ravenscliffe?

Peter Lancaster, (Eccleshill Councillor), Flaxman Road, Eccleshill.

SIR - My friends and I would like to thank West Yorkshire Police for a great day out at Shipley Bowling on Friday, July 27.

PC Tim and PC Dave collected us from Thornton Community Centre in a mini bus, drove us to Shipley and gave us a great afternoon. We all had a brilliant time. Thank you.

Aaron Rhodes (age 13) and friends, West Lane, Thornton.

SIR - Regarding the statement about the police involved in the recent riots in Bradford wanting compensation.

They deserve this. Also they should get a medal. The job they had to do that Saturday night was beyond the call of duty.

We in this country expect too much of our police. For jobs like riots, the army should be called in. I for one salute the police for that Saturday night.

Michael Breen, Bolton Hall Road, Wrose.

SIR - My heartfelt thanks to you for publishing my letter in the hopes of contacting Betty Scaife. It was with great excitement that I got a letter from Betty today. I had spent months trying to track her down and with just one letter in your newspaper I got results.

I have been a constant reader of the T&A on the internet and I want to say a big thank you for helping me in my search.

If any of my old school friends from Queensbury would like to contact me, please do so on my email address isl.teacup@bigfoot .com

Thank you again. I look forward to many more happy readings of the T&A.

Harold Thickett, Rutledge Street, Victoria BC, Canada.

SIR - I was furious with MP Ann Cryer for saying that marrying people from the Asian sub-continent is importing poverty.

After the Second World War when England was in need of workers, people were called from Pakistan and Bangladesh to help rebuild the country.

It was the Asians at the time who saved England from becoming a poor country. No MPs asked for their English to be tested then. So why now?

Why should the Asians from Pakistan and Bangladesh be tested whether they can speak and understand English or not?

When white people go to countries like Dubai and Pakistan for work, are they tested whether they can speak Arabic or Urdu? No.

F Khan, Newton Road, West Bowling.

SIR - I am writing to appeal against the decision to close down the Co-op which faces "Drove Road House". This houses old people. Some of them rely on this shop, as it is closest to them.

Many are infirm and disabled, and can only walk to this branch.

I am quite aware that the Co-op have been targeted for break-ins. But they have got "surveillance cameras", so why make people suffer, like myself, as I too am disabled?

This decision will also affect the "home carers" who have to shop for infirm people and don't have time to trail to Morrisons.

Please, Co-op, I beg you to think again.

Mrs D M Skellorn, Ladywell Close, Bradford

SIR - Further to the letter from Sarah Hodgson (T&A, July 27).

As far as I am concerned, deprivation is no excuse. Most individuals are capable of living honestly, and it is an insult to them and to anyone who has ever struggled with poverty and resisted the temptation to break the law to greet criminals with a cry of "we are all guilty".

The criminal is guilty. We should always remember that. We must never disregard what they have done or those they have hurt.

To ignore criminality is to insult the victim and to offer to other potential offenders a shrug of the shoulders. To know all is not to forgive all.

Denis Briggs, The Chase, Keighley.