SINCE my 18-year-old son was murdered in the Liverpool city centre by a gang of drunken yobs, I have set up a group with parents and families of other homicide victims.

Our aim is to try to change the pathetic laws in this country. We feel that if a person takes the life of another human being, they should spend the rest of theirs in jail.

In October this year we arranged a march and rally in Liverpool, and in the short time that we had to organise it, we had a turnout of around a thousand people.

There are so many other organisations around the country aiming for the same thing, (guncrime, knifecrime etc.), but I feel that the only way to make a real impact is to all come out on the same day at the same time in our respective home towns.

On March 28, 2009, I am organising another march, and this time I am hoping that the whole country will support us. We have the backing of local newspapers and local radio station City talk fm,

I would be most grateful if you would be able to give us some publicity.
Andy Jones (Families fighting for justice)
Andrew Jones
333 Cherry Lane,
Liverpool
www.justiceforandrewjones.com

Police need tasers
AS an ex-police officer of the "Life on Mars" era, I must say that I am fully supportive of the suggestion that police forces, sorry, police services, should be issued with tasers for protection, especially when one considers the number of women police patrolling our streets now.

Not that it is just police women who need protection, of course.

There was that officer who suffered from backache, no, I mean "stress", after he handcuffed a businessman at Durham Station. Had the officer been issued with the equipment, he could have tasered him through the carriage window without even entering the train and doing the job he is paid for.

I can see that things have progressed though. When I was in the job in a less enlightened period, if, after making a similar mistake I had not shown "steps taken to allay a sense of grievance", my Sergeant would have had me dancing around at the entrance of the Rotherhithe Tunnel directing traffic for a month.

For modern police that means standing in the middle of a busy junction waving your arms about until you had the traffic snarled up for at least a mile in every direction, then going for a smoke and a cuppa at a secret tea-hole somewhere until it had cleared itself.
Aahhh, happy days!
Ces. Pectid-Pearson,
Cleadon

Army doing a job
A MESSAGE to one Mr Duncan.
I read your letter and your rantings are stupid.
Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan are countries that the British Army are trying to help to stop the killing of innocent people. And to my knowledge the British Army does not kill people for the sake of killing people.
I would love to see Mr Duncan in Afghanistan telling the Taliban: "Please, don't shoot me, then I won't shoot you". It's stupid.
The British Army goes to these places to help stop the murder of men, women and children, all innocent people. I'm sure the Taliban would love it if the British Army didn't shoot back if shot at.
The British Army is there to do a job to try and stop people like Saddam and the Taliban and other despots enforcing their will on innocent people who just want to get on with their lives.
S Andrews,
5/16 Lancers (12 years)

Selfish parkers
I DON'T think there is enough being done to stop able-bodied people abusing disabled parking bays.
There shoud be parking inspectors or attendants patrolling car parks where this is a problem, particularly supermarkets.
My partner is disabled and there has been many a time when me and my partner have gone to the supermarket and we have not been able to get parked for selfish people using disabled bays. Something should be done about this problem.
Stephen,
Sunderland

Just speed traps
I CONGRATULATE Swindon Council for its recent decision to withdraw from their local road safety partnership.
The withdrawal of funding is because despite an increase in the use of fixed speed cameras, fatalities on their roads are increasing.
Safety Partnerships and the police regularly claim that speed cameras save lives by quoting their own Partnership statistics. The problem with these statistics is that they only relate to the stretches of road located near a speed camera and ignore the less favourable national statistics.
The problem I have with Road Safety Partnerships such as Northumbria is that I have lost confidence in their integrity. For example, too often decisions on where to site mobile cameras are determined not on grounds of improving safety but on whether it is a good spot to trap as many drivers as possible thus generating quick revenue.
A recent example of this was the regular use of mobile speed cameras at the Houghton Cut road diversion. This was a classic case of the partnership precisely positioning a partially obscured mobile camera van on a stretch of road which required a dramatic, illogical and totally unnecessary reduction of speed from 50 mph to 30 mph.
Alienated driver

Beat credit crunch – build hi-tech sea wall
THE Government wants some public works started in order to tide us over present problems.
Well one way Sunderland can provide such a project with Government aid will be to build a multi-tiered promenade from Hendon to Seaham. Such a project will be of permanent benefit for it will put an end to erosion and make all that land safe for housing or parkland.
Such a promenade should be multi-tiered to include such things as shopping malls and car parks and the bottom tier could be used as a fish farm which would be big enough to supply almost all the fish shops for the whole of the North East and that will help to conserve all the fish in the sea too.
Such a project will be of social, economic and ecological benefit for now the area is a pretty bleak and barren place.
J Young,
Alexander Terrace,
Sunderland

Law is not upheld
ACCORDING to the law, cars cannot be parked less than 32 feet (10 metres) from a junction unless authorised.
This law is not obeyed and because of this all junctions leading to Chester Road, for instance, are dangerous because of car parking.
A driver wants to get on to Chester Road, another driver wants to get into the same street from Chester Road but because of cars being parked to the edge of the junction at both sides, there is no room for this to take place. One driver has to reverse if that is possible. All this has potential for accidents.
The council has been approached about this many times but no action has been taken, the law is not being upheld.
Concerned Careful Parker

Begging bowl act
THE never-ending tale of senior Conservative sleaze continues with the new allegation that during a free trip on a luxury yacht Shadow Chancellor George Osborne produced a party begging bowl in front of Russia's wealthiest man and asked him to fill it up with £50,000.
I can well understand Osborne's shifty look when interviewed on TV, bearing in mind his actions appeared to breach Parliamentary rules. George, however, is not alone among the Tories with the begging bowl act.
According to a recent report the Tory Party received £3million from City speculators. Yes folks, the same people who caused the collapse of the banks.
That is why I agree with union boss Derek Simpson's comment when he accused the Tories of funding their party on the misery of British families.
When will David Cameron realise that hard-nosed rich businessmen never finance a political party for nothing? They will expect a return on their investment if the Tories ever regain power.
W Quinn,
Millfield,
Sunderland

It's a jungle out there
EVERY creature in the jungle has prey natural unto itself and its environment. Whether it be animal or vegetable.
History has shown that man's natural prey is himself, even to the extent of eating the flesh. Zulus ate the hearts and livers of their enemies with great gusto.
However, it is the study of religious philosophy that has interested me in this the sunset of my life.
Gods. I have decided that they keep a very epicurean table, and the menu is very sophisticated. Our ritually purified spirits must reflect their tastes.
The young and innocent must be seen as shrimp and prawn. The alcoholic as coq au vin. The vegan or vegetarian as a little side salad.
The menu could be long and varied, even down to the pickled walnuts. And the priests, like farmers, must keep a few fat hens.
Am I impolite? Or has something in this strange world made me nervous?
G Price,
High Street East,
Sunderland

Dangerous crossing
I READ the Echo (Tuesday, Oct 14), regarding the accident in Sea Road when a lady was injured. While I have every sympathy for this lady and her family, I do feel for the bus driver.
The schoolchildren are, or seem, unaware, of the traffic, but the elderly are much worse. Most of them crossing at the Blue Bell do not wait for the "Green Man", seemingly oblivious of cars coming around the corners and will not wait, even for a minute, when it is safe to cross. I don't understand why they are in such a hurry. Let's face it, they have all day. I know, because I am a pensioner now.
Sea Road is a very busy road and I think people should be a lot more careful crossing it.
Pensioner Motorist,
Sunderland

Great Tyne Tees TV shows
TYNE TEES TELEVISION, one of the original ITV stations, serves the North East of England and is celebrating 50 years on Thursday, January 15.
Look back at all the great ITV shows over the years, including North East Roundabout, Shoot, The Paper Lads, Those Wonderful TV Times, The Geordie Scene, Songs of the Swinging Sixties, The Tube, Today at Six, Northern Life, Sportstime, What Fettle, The One O'Clock Show, North East Tonight and, of course, Supergran.
There were famous stars past and present who went on to greater things such as Bill Steel, George Taylor, James Lloyd, Mike Neville, Tom Coyne, Bob Langley, Jack Haig, Adrian Cairns, Jon Kelly, Valerie Pitts, Dawn Thewlis, Roger Tames, Kathy Secker, Annie St John, Lesley Manners, Chris Langford, George Romaine, Lyn Spencer, Neville Wanless, Larry Mason, David Hamilton, David Macbeth, Jonathan Morrell, Jo Blythe, Debbie Lindley, Kerry Gosney, Jon Mitchell and the one and only Bob Johnson.
Happy 50th birthday Tyne Tees Television, still serving the North East of England.
Terry Christie,
Woodside Terrace,
East Herrington,
Sunderland
You all helped Mother Theresa's little ones
AS I come to the end of my seven sojourns I thank God for giving me the opportunity to carry joy from West to East to help Mother Theresa's little ones in Shishu Bhavan Orphanage, Calcutta.
Thank you to all who helped over the years, doing something beautiful for God.
It is such a joy that I am now able to pass the mantle, so to speak, to two other men – Peter Armstrong from Gateshead and Robert Orange from Northumberland – who are accompanying me for the first time.
Thanks to Anchor, independent living for retired people in Nelson Close, Hendon; St Columba's, Southwick and Greenside Court, Thorney Close; anonymous gifts amounting to £135; E Tec young men's community who magnanimously gathered teddies and a large dragon to raffle; the anonymous lady who helped with the teddies etc which filled cases and holdalls; Acre Rigg infants for the collection of £50 and the junior school which had an extended break making money for orphans by buying raffle tickets for teddies.
Pete's other little gifts, crisps, pop, biscuits, face painting etc amounted to £100 and I thank Charles Eagles Sunderland for their kind contribution (they did a DVD); Olive Finn who crocheted a blanket for the little ones at night and also gave some soft toys; Jean Roche who knitted for years in Peterlee for Shishu Bhavan Orphanage; Emirate Airways for their reduction on my ticket making the journey easier for me; Jean Naisbett our treasurer for keeping things together and late donations of £9 and £1. Total amount £400.
To all these people for their caring and generosity, I give heartfelt thanks.
Norman Imms,
Nelson Close,
Sunderland

Superb children
ACCORDING to the law, cars cannot be parked less than 32 feet (10 metres) from a junction unless authorised.
This law is not obeyed and because of this all junctions leading to Chester Road, for instance, are dangerous because of car parking.
A driver wants to get on to Chester Road, another driver wants to get into the same street from Chester Road but because of cars being parked to the edge of the junction at both sides, there is no room for this to take place. One driver has to reverse if that is possible. All this has potential for accidents.
The Council has been approached about this many times but no action has been taken. The law is not being upheld.
Concerned Careful Parker

World Sight Day
THURSDAY, October 9, was World Sight Day and Sunderland and North Durham Royal Society for the Blind held a very special service in Sunderland Minster to commemorate the day.
The Mayor of Sunderland, Coun Mrs Mary Smith and her husband attended along with the Deputy Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear, Mr Francis Major JP, DL and his wife.
Approximately 100 guests were in the congregation.
The Indian Children Ecumenical Gospel Choir performed several songs and also some traditional dances. They were dressed in traditional costume which added a great deal of colour to the service.
The children's performance was superb and they were a real credit to their parents and to their schools. Everyone enjoyed their contribution to what was a very special day.
World Sight Day is recognised by the World Health Organisation and is held each year to highlight the many problems associated with sight loss and visual impairment by hundreds of thousands of people worldwide.
I would like to thank everyone who helped to make this event one to remember and, in particular, thank the Indian Children Ecumenical Gospel Choir for their enthusiasm and professionalism.
R Wood,
Development Officer,
Sunderland and North Durham Royal Society for the Blind,
Foyle Street,
Sunderland

Wasted votes
IN response to Pete Bogg (Letters, October 16), never mind worrying about what Cameron et al might or might not do if they (probably) come to power. Consider how badly we have been represented in recent years by our beloved Labour party.
The North East has returned Labour councillors, MPs and MEPs for years and decades. We've had Labour representation at the highest levels over the past 11 years including high profile cabinet ministers and indeed even a Prime Minister who were all returned from North East constituencies
What particular benefits and rewards has the North East had from this lengthy list of local representatives? Precious few.
Have they delivered better communication links including a high speed rail link to the North East? Of course not.
ur labour boys can't even provide a continuous A1 dual carriageway link to the Scottish borders.
Stop kidding yourself. Labour doesn't work for the North East, they never have, they know they will get our votes regardless of how incompetent and self-serving they are.
Nick Walker,
Tunstall,
Sunderland

Scooters lifeline
WITH regard to the letter of Octoebr 18 written by "Arthritis sufferer who does exercise", good on you for finding solace in exercising your arthritis. It must give you great feeling of superiority over these soft individuals running around on scooters.
Have you ever gone into hospital feeling down and badly done to then suddenly realising that a lot of people around you were much worse off than yourself? Think about it?
Do you know what these people on scooters are all suffering from? Or are you not interested?
Is it just the fact that they use a scooter and in your view you would rather see them struggle with shopping bags, perhaps on and off buses or in the wind which makes them breathless.
Having a scooter can open a new world to people who otherwise would be near housebound. Is this what you want?
Do you want to go back to the old days and be reliant on other people to get around?
If this is your view then perhaps your signing off of your letter should have been "I'm all right Jack".
Colin S Wasey,
Wayman Street,
Monkwearmouth,
Sunderland

It's a jungle
EVERY creature in the jungle has prey natural unto itself and its environment. Whether it be animal or vegetable.
History has shown that man's natural prey is himself, even to the extent of eating the flesh. Zulus ate the hearts and livers of their enemies with great gusto.
However, it is the study of religious philosophy that has interested me in this the sunset of my life.
Gods. I have decided that they keep a very epicurean table, and the menu is very sophisticated.
Our ritually purified spirits must reflect their tastes.
The young and innocent must be as shrimp and prawn. The alcoholic as coq au vin. The vegan or vegetarian as a little side salad.
The menu could be long and varied, even down to the pickled walnuts.
And the priests, like farmers, must keep a few fat hens.
Am I impolite? Or has something in this strange world of ours made me nervous?
Graeme Price,
Watts Moses House,
High Street East,
Sunderland

HOMEBAKE, Christmas gifts and toys are among the stalls at this Saturday's Autumn Fair to raise funds for Save The Children in Sunderland.
Doors open at 10.30am at the Haver Hall of St Nicholas Church, with stalls that also include a tombola, crafts, books and bric-a-brac. Mince pies feature in the popular cafe corner and admission is 20p. All money raised goes towards helping families in Britain and abroad. Please help Save The Children.
Jenni Little,
Sunderland Branch Save The Children

IN response to letters from Mr Gary Duncan, Mr Duncan, I am so annoyed, angry and disgusted with your comments about the nations' gallant armed forces. Just too angry for words.
For you to call Britain's finest heroes "murderers" so boils my blood and the blood of all our boys and girls spilled on foreign soil. Now you are trying to justify your words in a second letter. You are an absolute disgrace!
A Fusilier,
Gunners Club,
Sunderland

TO solve the arguments and impasse over the Tesco site in Sunderland, can the city council not make over some land on the old Pennywell Housing Estate opposite Greenwood Road on Chester Road?
The junctions and roundabout are already there, as are the approaching dual carriageway both in easterly and westerly directions. It is one of the few large sites available to accommodate a large superstore and a large car park, as in Dragonville at Durham, and Kingston Park at Newcastle.
H Pocket,
Ewesley Road,
High Barnes,
Sunderland

IT was good to read your recent article regarding the pork shop in Southwick Road, Sunderland. Sadly, big supermarkets and competition have brought these great, hard-working shops into decline.
I remember for years I used to travel up to Sunderland just to try the best tasting pork dips on this planet. The shop was in Chiswick Square, Hylton Castle Estate. It was called Seeber's pork shop. The smell of the fresh food cooking while waiting in the queue used to get my taste buds going, something I don't find in today's takeaways.
Peter Kerr,
Fulham Road,
London

WE would like to thank Tracey, Keith and staff of the Roker Hotel for all their help and kindness on our wedding day. You made it complete. Special thanks to family and friends. We will always have happy memories.
Mr and Mrs Stewart

IT'S got to be Obama as American president because McCain doesn't even know that it's rude to put your tongue out.
And if McCain won he would not be allowed to bring his vice-president to England because pit bulls are illegal.
As a bit of a wag, I rather like Sarah Palin, but she doesn't seem to do joined-up thinking.
Kotpi

MEMBERS of the Sunderland and South Shields branch of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association would like to acknowledge the great kindness we received during a visit to Joplings Department Store last week.
The manager and staff could not have been more considerate towards us and the dogs. A big thank you to all at Joplings.
With the generosity of the people of Sunderland a total of £90.04 was raised. We are very grateful to everyone concerned.
P Orrell, Secretary,
Sunderland & South Shields GDBA
TO the kind person who handed in my handbag. I was on the No. 4 bus at approximately 4pm on Tuesday, October 21.
Many thanks!
Grateful Pensioner

WHILE waiting in traffic on the A1231 at about 11am on Saturday, I was appalled by the coach loads of NUFC "fans" who directed verbal abuse and obscene hand gestures towards myself and my family. It wasn't just young males, there were men in their 40s and 50s as well as females.
On the other hand, I must admire their abilty to see into the future – the two-finger salutes were obviously a prediction of the number of goals SAFC would score later in the day!
Kieran Richardson's Left Foot