It’s a new month, and it starts with letters discussing a police officer’s court case involvement, an art-themed clarification, biomass, health board elections and David Laws’ downfall.
Officer wrong to intervene in assault case Sir,-I refer to the report by Dave Lord (May 29) in which he describes the court proceedings of an assault that took place on January 1, 2008.
I am surprised and disappointed that a police chief inspector felt it was in order to provide one of the accused with a “character reference”.
The young man at the receiving end of this violent and unprovoked attack was also “well brought up and had good qualities instilled in him by his parents”.
He is also a “mannerly individual, always polite and respectful”.
This young man is personally known to me and yet I did not have the authority nor access to the judicial system to make my opinions heard.
In today’s climate of mindless violence frequently perpetrated against innocent bystanders, it is indeed concerning that a senior police officer can become involved on a personal rather than a professional basis.
Credit must be given to the presiding sheriff who saw the case for what it was, “an unprovoked assault which carried on for a significant length of time”.
Mary Anderson.46 Ferry Road,Monifieth.
Innovative art work
Sir,-Whilst the substance of the article entitled ‘Minister condemns art display’ was fair, accurate and well written, the title itself is very misleading and I would appreciate an opportunity to correct the impression given.
I was not angry with the display, nor did I condemn it.
When I was asked about the premise behind the display, that all religion was fantasy and harmful, I naturally pointed out that I disagreed.
In actual fact, I visited the display referred to and found it to be interesting, innovative and clever.
The fact that it was also used as a recruitment drive for the artist’s religious beliefs (one could even get membership forms for the British Humanists) does not detract from that, although one wonders what the university would have said if a Christian were to use their art work as an opportunity for recruitment?
I should also point out that Duncan of Jordanstone is a credit to the city of Dundee.
As I visited the rest of the degree show I was amazed at the quality, skill, innovation and beauty of the work.
Congratulations to all concerned.
(Rev) David A. Robertson.St Peter’s Free Church4 St Peter Street,Dundee.
Figures do not add up
Sir,-Dr Stephen Moreton (May 27) challenges my point that burning biomass emits the same level of carbon dioxide as burning other carbon-based fuels on the basis that the carbon dioxide emitted is absorbed by “growing the biomass in the first place”.
There are two self-evident responses to this claim.
Firstly, the carbon dioxide has already been absorbed growing the wood (at the overseas biomass fuel source in the Dundee proposal) and the carbon dioxide emitted in Dundee will be new carbon dioxide and at the same level as that from a coal or oil-fired power station.
Secondly, it is simply not possible to grow new wood at the same rate as it is burned so his main argument obviously fails.
(Dr) G. M. Lindsay.Whinfield Gardens,Kinross.
Guard against acquiescence
Sir,-George McLennan (May 26) justifies the forthcoming election of lay members to the NHS Fife Board on the basis that this will enhance public accountability, as compared to the current system largely comprising of health professionals and administrators.
Of course, the theory is commendable but what will happen in practice?
The most obvious comparison — councillors elected to local authorities — does not augur well.
Very often their function seems to consist largely of rubber stamping the decisions of officials, with any dissent confined to political bickering between the party tribes.
But when all is said and done, the party badge and ideological stance seem largely irrelevant.
Indeed, in recent months both Angus and Dundee City Councils have been criticised by Audit Scotland for the lack of scrutiny from councillors and Tayside Police Board also received adverse criticism from auditors, who claimed that members did not fully understand their role and that scrutiny was weak.
With some irony, board members responded by saying that the audit was not well done and Councillor Bob Myles said, “If things are going right, then why should we be criticising them?”
This seems to miss the point, which is that councillors performing their scrutiny role should not take things at face value.
Let us hope that the new health board members do more than provide a veneer of accountability and exist for something other than the personal kudos and remuneration.
Stuart Winton.Hilltown,Dundee.
Where now for new politics?
Sir,-Three weeks of the “new” politics and David Laws resigns for skimming £40,000 of our money into his boyfriend’s hip-pocket and the great and the good want the ex-public-schoolboy millionaire back as soon as possible to throttle our services, decimate wages and conditions and screw down benefits to suit his investment banker colleagues.
Nothing new here then, just the same old capitalist boss-class.
Raymond Mennie.Flat Ground Middle,55 Milnbank Road,Dundee.