However, at the same time a man who smashed a jeweller’s window in the same location and made off with £3000 worth of jewellery is sentenced to probation and a restriction of liberty order which, in my book, adds up to getting away with the crime.

What is the point of paying police when the end result of their efforts is lenient sentencing, which offers no real punishment?

Contrast this with an American man sentenced to 55 years in prison for car theft and running from the police.

Scotland’s justice minister Kenny McAskill claims that short prison sentences are ineffective. In that case, make them longer. — Taxpayer.

A man who smashed a jeweller’s window, causing over £2000 worth of damage to steal £3000 worth of jewellery, was given 12 months probation and a restriction of liberty order for six months — what a joke. Who pays for the damage? The insurance company, which in turn passes it on to its customers.

Last week a girl in Carnoustie was caught defrauding the benefit system of over £7000 and she was given 120 hours community service. Who pays the Government their £7000? Us, the decent, working, law abiding, tax paying folk. The benefit system needs to be totally overhauled because so many people are cheating.

These judgments really need to be questioned by someone. — Sheriff Fatman, Carnoustie.

I am wondering how long it’s going to take before something is done about the conditions children face every day at 3.15pm trying to leave school safely.

The entrance at Craigowan Road is terrible. There is no pavement for children to walk on, and I know there are lockups there that people need access to, but it is an accident waiting to happen.

Something has to be done before a child is injured by inconsiderate drivers.

A policeman was standing at the gate at 9am on Thursday morning.

I take it he was there to monitor traffic, but he should have come back at 3.15pm as that is when it is 10 times worse.

On Friday a gentleman nearly reversed over two kids coming out of school. Does a child need to be seriously injured before something is done?

The school sent letters out asking parents not to drive in there and, if they must, to drive safely and take care.

This has made no difference as half the drivers look at the kids as if they are the ones who shouldn’t be there. Please can something be done to solve this before it’s too late? — Mrs Smith.

This competition is supposed to be for beginners and to give the children an opportunity to take part in their first competition.

Like many parents, we sat there for hours to encourage our children.

When the winners were announced, it came to light that experienced level 3 and 4 competitors were entered for the competition despite it being for level 1 and 2 beginners.

This basically makes the competition a farce.

Also, this meant that 12-year-old Primary 7 pupils were competing against six-year-olds from P1 and P2.

I have no criticism for the children who won, they are in fact, very talented pupils and gymnasts.

The council should run a separate competition for these pupils to give beginners a fairer chance and make the competition fairer for all schools in Dundee.

What is the point of level 1 and 2 competition when coaches are entering pupils at level 3 who are competing at national level?

Parents were upset that gymnastics organisers refused to acknowledge this issue and said that it is in the rules.

I have no axe to grind here and my child is only just beginning herself, but I think that other children must be given a level playing field.

After all, what is the point in having a competition to encourage future talent when the winners are already picked? — Ali Middleton, William Fitzgerald Way, Dundee.

I believe that now the decision to include Balmossie in the Towards a Safer Tayside consultation has been made that the Fire Board has to take the consultation seriously and listen to all the views expressed.

The public has been asked to make their views known. It would be wrong to have refused to listen to them.

The consultation continues until March 8 and I would urge anyone, no matter what their views are, to take part.

It would have been wrong to change the rules half way through the game and ignore the views of the people of Tayside who have taken the time to respond to the consultation. — Councillor Richard McCready.

That is why I back Macmillan Cancer Support’s campaign to freeze out fuel poverty for cancer patients.

Feeling colder and having to spend more time at home during recovery means many cancer patients have higher fuel bills — arriving at a time when household income has often dropped. A recent Macmillan survey found that one in five patients turned the heating off even when they were cold, because of worries about paying the bills.

No one living with cancer should be left out of pocket this winter because they can’t afford to heat their home. Macmillan is urging the Government to extend the winter fuel payment to cancer patients. This annual payment is currently paid to everyone over 60, but could bring immediate relief to vulnerable cancer patients struggling with additional fuel costs.

Unless extra action is taken now, fuel poverty in vulnerable households will never go away. Join the campaign at www.macmillan.org.uk/fuelpoverty and add your name to the freeze out fuel poverty pledge.

Macmillan can help if you’re struggling to cope with the financial effects of cancer. Visit www.macmillan.org.uk or call 0808 8080000. — Carol Craig, Crieff.