Letters to the Editor - September 07th

Sep 7 2007 Liverpool Daily Post

Abide by the regulations

CONGRATULATIONS. Our judiciary have struck another blow for the thoughtless masses who have no concern or respect for others (“Merseyrail takes 840 to court over feet on seats”, Daily Post, September 5).

It is offensive to have to sit down on a seat that has had someone’s dirty shoes on it, and Merseyrail is right to prosecute these people.

It’s a shame the courts don’t have the courage to stand up for decency.

That young lady clearly has no concerns for anyone but herself.

She clearly believes that inconvenience to others is no concern of hers, and that regulations regarding the comfort of fellow passengers do not apply to her – and she is going to be teaching the next generation. Heaven help us.

As to the family’s suggestion that the inspector would have said nothing if he had been dealing with some 6ft male, that is clearly nonsense. She was travelling with her boyfriend, so it took courage for the inspector to tell her to behave properly.

I wonder how she will feel in a classroom of little thugs who have no respect for her and do not believe they have to abide by school regulations.

She helped create the problem; I hope she learns to rue the day.

SJ, Childwall

Set an example

I CANNOT believe that Chester magistrates have given a student an absolute discharge for having her feet on the seats on a Merseyrail train.

This student says she works with children; if so, she ought to be setting a better example.

As for the magistrate, is it not her job to apply the law and not to disregard it at will? Are we allowed to disregard the law if we do not agree with it?

Merseyrail has made great in- roads into anti-social behaviour on its trains, and it is about time the courts gave their backing to Merseyrail and their staff.

This magistrate has just sent out the wrong message.

I wonder has she ever had her clothing covered in mud after sitting on a train. I think she would have something to say if she did.

Let's hope that the court authorities have the common sense to investigate this further

Name and address supplied

Clean trains

THE decision by Chester Magistrates to discharge the case against the young lady who admitted putting her feet on the seat and contravening national rail byelaws (Daily Post, Page 1, September 5) is short-sighted and ill-advised.

It is a bitter disappointment and a slap in the face for the many thousands of rail passengers in Merseyside who want, demand and deserve a clean, comfortable rail service.

In describing the action as “draconian”, the magistrates showed a complete lack of understanding of what we – Merseytravel and Merseyrail Electrics – are trying to achieve, which is a world-class public transport network, free from anti-social behaviour.

We wholeheartedly support Merseyrail’s zero tolerance approach towards any infringements of the byelaws – an approach that has the full backing of the vast majority of the travelling public.

There are ample warnings given, including a printed notice that was almost staring this young lady in the face, of what will happen if you put your feet on a seat.

Would this young lady put her feet up on the furniture at home? I doubt it.

So why should we tolerate such behaviour on the trains?

The magistrates ask why we could not use fixed penalties for such offences. In this, they show an ignorance of the law. The byelaws, under which this young lady was prosecuted, were drawn up at national level and make no provision for such a course of action.

We have spent £32.4m on refurbishing the Merseyrail Electrics fleet.

This investment is paying dividends in the form of an 8% per year passenger increase over the past three years.

We shall continue to provide a first-class rail service, now numbered among the top three in the country, and we shall continue to prosecute the small anti-social minority to ensure the comfort and convenience of the majority of our passengers.

Cllr Mark Dowd, Chair of Merseytravel (Merseyside Passenger Transport Authority and Executive)

Asylum help

YOUR correspondent S Meadows worries that the city council’s intent to help asylum seekers will somehow drive the NHS, schools and housing to breaking point.

These worries are unfounded.

There are only about 1,000 asylum seekers in Liverpool. Having fled their homelands (usually due to war or persecution) they live below the poverty line in the UK.

They are not allowed to work and have no choice about where to live.

They have a greater chance of being refused asylum than being accepted, and are at risk of being detained and forcibly deported back to the country they were fleeing.

If the city council offer some famous Scouse hospitality to these desperate people, they should be applauded.

Mal Ferguson, Tuebrook

A true heroine

JANE TOMLINSON was a true heroine. She made you realise that life doesn’t stop when you are diagnosed with a terminal disease, and she achieved more in seven years than most of us do in 25 or 30.

She did a fantastic job in raising awareness and money for breast cancer research and treatment, even with, in the early days at least, a job to do and children and a house to take care of.

Thanks to her efforts, along with those of the thousands who take part in moonwalks and fun runs, and buy pink ribbons, T-shirts and special edition filofaxes, breast cancer has been pushed to the top of the health agenda and it’s a great example of how people power can save lives.

But I worry that, with the glare of publicity centring on breast cancer that other prevalent, and even more deadly forms of the disease, like pancreatic cancer which kills so many are left out in the cold. Cancer is equally cruel in any guise.

The Government needs to make sure its resources reflect that.

Janine Foster, Childwall

Too young

RE: THE suggestion that the age of criminal responsibility be lowered. I think the idea is ludicrous.

At seven or eight years of age, many children have not fully grasped the difference between right and wrong or even what is real and what is not. At eight, my son was still into action heroes and believed in Father Christmas.

If they do commit a crime, then they should be treated by doctors, social workers people who care. To take them away from their families or imprison them would only serve to damage young children forever.

Louise May, Allerton

Ferry incident

HERE'S one for Tom Slemen, Frank Carlyle or one of the readers to answer. In the mid to late 1960s, I recall being on a ferry with my dad when it ran aground somewhere on the Mersey.

This frightening incident took place on a foggy morning and I recall being rescued with dozens of passengers and being put on a boat.

I must have been around five or six years of age and the experience has remained in my memory, but just when did the incident take place?

Richard Harrison, Sefton Park

DNA database

WE IN the Liberal Party are astounded that Lord Justice Sedley has called for the universal registration of every citizen's DNA on a national, compulsory DNA database.

As if the Government's plans for identity cards were not bad enough, it is now suggested that we should register the very essence of ourselves with the state, reducing all of us to a barcode held by an over-mighty state.

This government would do well to remember that it is the state which belongs to its citizens not vice versa.

We would agree with Lord Justice Sedley to the extent that the current scheme is wholly arbitrary and unfair.

At present, arrest is sufficient for your DNA to be added to the database whether or not you are ever found guilty of any crime.

Fairness could be introduced by limiting the taking of DNA samples to those convicted of a crime, not by extending the scheme and forcing everyone to register.

It seems to have escaped everyone's notice that a universal DNA database is likely to lead to miscarriages of justice and the wasting of police time as criminals would be able to leave false DNA “trails” at crime scenes by doing as little as scattering a few hairs around.

The “nothing to hide: nothing to fear” argument is founded on a false premise.

It assumes that it is right for the citizen to answer to the state.

The vast majority of people would have nothing to hide if the police turned up at their house and carried out a search, but this is not an argument for giving the police such powers!

It is the state which should answer to its citizens, always, and down any other path then tyranny surely lies.

This Government has taken enough liberties, don't let them barcode our bodies as well.

Daniel Wood, Chair of the policy committee, The Liberal Party, Walton

Appreciate autumn

I WOULD just like to say how relieved I am that it is now September.

No longer do we have to feel bad because the weather is terrible, or want to be wearing shorts when we still have on our jeans.

Now we can all get on with simply appreciating what autumn has to offer.

JK, West Derby