Tayside Police has really got me confused. I have become accustomed to every police crackdown being a success based on figures supplied by the forces.
Drugs operations are always a success based on the number of dealers caught and the quantities of drugs recovered. Fair enough.
Seasonal anti-shoplifting operations are always a success based on the number of thieves arrested and the amount of stolen property recovered.
Drink driving campaigns are always a success based on the same figures from the same bean counters.
Untaxed cars campaigns are always a success . . .
Outstanding arrest warrants campaigns . . .
Uninsured cars . . .
The list is endless . . .
However, despite these successes, all these problems persist.
What puzzles me now is the success claimed for the latest operation against underage drinking where young people were used by the police to try and purchase alcohol from off licences.
This was a success, measured by: no offences committed, no arrests, no charges, no drinks recovered and no reports to the licensing board.
Yet the problem persists.
I await the monotonous anticipation the successes claimed for the latest Operation Dry Up and the new Community Task Force. — Bored Already.
Spread jobs fairly
It is the duty of the SNP to honour their election promises and to ensure Scottish Government jobs are spread fairly around the country.
They’ve been in power for almost a year and the sum total that has been transferred from Edinburgh to Dundee is a disgraceful nil. — Fair Share.
Dundee snubbed
Dundee has been snubbed in another jobs blow from the SNP Government.
That’s the end of civil service jobs now in Edinburgh being moved to Dundee.
It’s a pity that their MSPs didn’t tell us this before the election. — Get Them Jobs.
Will not be patronised
People in Dundee will not be patronised by promises from the SNP of “action on jobs” in the future.
The SNP already has the power to relocate jobs but they refuse to do so.
It’s time they stopped wasting taxpayers’ money on their “National Conversation” and concentrated instead on those civil service jobs they promised our city. — Lochee Observer.
Should apologise
The policy of moving civil servants to Dundee has failed after 10 years of effort by Labour politicians, so, quite rightly, the SNP Government ditched the policy.
For MP Jim McGovern to use this as the basis for an attack on a “U-turn” is daft.
It’s a policy the SNP knew had failed and which they ditched at the earliest opportunity.
Perhaps Jim could enlighten us with details of how many civil servants the UK Government has relocated to Dundee?
And while he is at it, he should apologise to Dundonians for voting to divert an extra £675 million of lottery money away from Scottish charities and good causes into the seemingly bottomless coffers of the London Olympics. — John Barnett, Dundee.
Not surprising
I do not find it surprising that the SNP has dropped the policy of civil service jobs relocation — a policy that did not bring jobs to Dundee.
Isn’t this a case that being in Government is about making difficult decisions and that you do anything in opposition to get elected?
This is a lesson now being learned by the SNP. — Discovery.
Playpark vandalism
I read the playpark in Jacobson Gardens, off Harestane Road in Dundee, is to be removed as it has been plagued by vandalism and anti-social behaviour.
Perhaps Dundee City Council can review the playpark at the top of Tranent Grove which has suffered the same problem.
Residents of this street and Salton Crescent have made numerous complaints, and the police who attend say they would like it removed as it is a magnet for youths.
No local kids use the playpark as it is covered in broken glass and graffiti. The yobs have also been seen to urinate in the sand pit and on the chute. These youths are not local and are only attracted by the playpark. — Peace and Quiet.
Second loss of power
I read the apology in the Tele to the residents of Gowrie Park from Scottish Hydro Electric for the loss of power on January 27.
What about an apology for the loss of power for an hour and a half to the residents of Tweed Crescent?
I missed out on an item from ebay I wanted and also the start of the new series of Supernatural that I’ve been waiting for a year to come back on.
This is the second loss of power in as many months as we had to go without electricity for over an hour on Christmas Eve for it to come back on for 10 minutes then off again for another 40 minutes.
Are we not entitled to an apology or an explanation? — Sitting In The Dark.
Discriminatory conditions
At the start of each month I pay my Council Tax with cash at the payment office in Dundee’s City Square. My financial position does not favour a direct debit payment, plus I see no reason to pay my bank a fee for doing something I am perfectly capable of doing myself.
I believe the conditions of entry into the council-led competition means it is open only to people who pay their local tax by direct debit. I feel that is discriminatory. I wonder how much was spent mailing letters to the presently non-direct debt users. — Canawa.
Drain on the economy
Scottish Health Minister Nicola Sturgeon should look to bring in detox programmes for drug addicts instead of plying them with free daily methadone prescriptions.
That way the chancers/freeloaders/addicts, who have no intention of getting clean, would not be such a drain on the economy. — T. D.
Disappointed by response
I thank the Tele for printing my letter about the ring I found on a Travel Dundee bus. I am disappointed at the company’s response, particularly as the wording infers I gave wrong information.
I telephoned the day after finding the ring and gave the exact and clear information and the driver was identified then. I also was with someone on the bus who witnessed me handing the ring to the driver. All I want is for the owner to get the ring back. — Concerned.
Nuclear power
Letter writer David Blake is wrong to claim the Scottish public isn’t in favour of nuclear power. A recent poll found most Scots think nuclear energy should play a part in any future energy strategy. — Clear On Nuclear.
Stop this farce
I think it’s a disgrace to send violent prisoners to an open prison.
I find it hard to believe that a prison can’t control inmates.
It’s time somebody took control and stopped this farce. — Reader.
THE ADDRESS for readers’ letters is - Readers’ Page, Evening Telegraph, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL. They can also be placed in our post box at our offices in Albert Square, Dundee, emailed to us on letters@eveningtelegraph.co.uk or faxed on 01382 454590. We ask correspondents using a nom-de-plume or sending by e-mail to provide a name and address for reference purposes. The editor reserves the right to reject or edit any letter. Please keep letters as short as possible.*
