Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – I was dismayed to read in The Courier (November 28) that 24 Tayside Police officers are under investigation and that an investigation into the behaviour of the drugs unit began at the start of 2012 and has become one of the biggest investigations into alleged police criminality in recent Scottish history.
I am saddened to learn that 24 officers have been told they will be investigated by Grampian Police and have been advised to bring legal representation should they believe it is necessary after an internal Tayside Police inquiry raised concerns about some methods used to obtain information.
Every complaint, no matter who makes it, must be investigated. I accept that.
However, as a member of the public who is and always will be 100% totally opposed to illegal drugs, I will always want to believe the word of a police officer before that of any drug dealer.
Despite these allegations I, for one, still have great confidence in Tayside Police and I sincerely hope all of these allegations prove to be unfounded.
Unfortunately, in this country the public usually wants to believe the worst in people, especially when accusations are made against politicians, celebrities or the police.
It is a British disease and it is time all that nonsense stopped.
This must be a very difficult time for these 24 officers and their families.
So, instead of the Tayside public starting to have doubts about our police, I think we should get right behind them and support them more than we have ever done before, especially in the war against drugs.
Kenneth Brannan.42 Greenlee Drive,Dundee.
Selective view on care homes
Sir, – Former Fife Labour councillor Joyce Smith (November 28) is being a wee bit selective in what she does and doesn’t say about care homes in Fife. She is also factually wrong in her description of what Fife’s Labour-led coalition administration propose to do with old folks’ homes and about my response to this.
Labour and their allies propose to close two homes in Kirkcaldy and move all the residents to a new home. Not a “care village” as Joyce claims, but a 60-bed two-storey home. The “care village” concept might or might not happen later.
Joyce also forgot to mention anything about how Labour intend to pay for the new home. It’s a matter of public record that most of the money will come from staffing cuts.
And what happened to the “not for profit” care model Labour promised us? Does Joyce agree with the Labour councillors who voted against this, despite having promised it in their manifesto?
This, incidentally, is the part of Labour’s proposal I have criticised. I have supported and continue to support the building of a new home. I don’t support Labour’s plan to build it on the backs of hard-pressed council workers.
Finally, perhaps Joyce could remind us how she voted as a Labour councillor when Fife Council, under a previous Labour administration, closed down two old folks’ homes, one of them only 50 yards from the ward she represented on the old regional council.
Cllr Peter Grant.Fife House,Glenrothes.
An important energy find
Sir, – British and EU firms in the steel, chemical and glass industries warn they cannot compete with US groups because their shale-based energy costs are five times cheaper. This warning comes as vast new shale deposits are announced in the North-West, East Midlands, Kent and Sussex as well as the Scottish Central Lowlands and Fife.
Larger than previous estimates, they greatly exceed all remaining North Sea gas reserves and could bring huge energy price falls and decades of independence from imports.
Dr John Cameron.10 Howard Place,St Andrews.
The quality we can expect?
Sir, – One would have expected that the report of the Economy Energy and Tourism Committee would have devoted considerable space to the initial research and examination of options, and the scientific and commercial rationale for the present wind-driven renewables policy.
Its total absence confirms that no such research has ever taken place and that the report is therefore no more than a justification for the present windmill-based policy.
If this is an indication of the quality of work and decision making to be expected from the Scottish Parliament after independence, then heaven help us all.
Malcolm Parkin.15 Gamekeepers Road,Kinnesswood,Kinross.
Lift the spirits
Sir, – Now we really are at the bottom of the rugby pile could we “think the unthinkable” and choose an anthem that would lift the spirits of teams and supporters?
A sad lament does not do that and while we Scots “do a good funeral” let’s have a happy rebirth of a grand game.
J. McCessock.Burnside,Dollar.