Bettison must do the decent thing and go

I READ with interest your Editorial “Questions over Bettison’s role” (Yorkshire Post, September 14).

Here on Merseyside, there always were serious questions over whether Norman Bettison was fit to head the Merseyside force given his connections with Hillsborough. So much so, some members of the Merseyside Police Authority resigned when he was appointed.

To issue a statement in the terms that he did, ignoring the key conclusion of the panel – which found South Yorkshire Police (a force he had worked for for over two decades) to be beyond the pale – was at best crass and at worst highly offensive to the people of Merseyside. Surely we expect more of our public servants than this?

The question we asked on Merseyside about his fitness for office many years ago, must now be asked again – this time in West Yorkshire.

If public service means anything and if he has any shred of honour left, he has to do the decent thing and go.

From: Peter Hyde, Driffield.

THE Hillsborough disaster was an absolute tragedy. The failings of so many organisations beggars belief. Worse still was the cover-up attempts by police and ambulance services to prevent embarrassment and possible retribution and compensation claims. For the families having to wait and suffer for 23 years before the truth came out can only be attributed to so-called responsible people not having the courage to admit the failings of both themselves and those they commanded.

The question now is what will be gained by having to have new inquests and possible prosecutions of those who failed so badly? It is thought that some could have been saved but after all this time who can judge accurately? All the inquests and prosecutions and possible punishments will not bring a single person back to life.

The truth is out so why not let the dead sleep, in the knowledge of that truth. I know it will be hard for hurt relatives to forgive and they will never ever forget the injustice done to them but nothing will be really gained by opening old wounds and hurts.

From: John Hall, Sandmoor Court, Leeds.

CAN we please not forget the real cause of this disaster?

The real cause was because the fans were caged in and could not escape. Why were they caged in? Because of the mindless idiots who previously had caused mayhem and deaths in this country and abroad.

It would be interesting to hear the opinion of one of these convicted hooligans, some of whom will now be married with children of their own.

An apology would be nice but I won’t hold my breath.

From: Tim Mickleburgh, Boulevard Avenue, Grimsby.

NOW that the reality of a police cover-up at Hillsborough has been unveiled, can we now have an investigation into their behaviour during the 1984-85 Miners’ Strike?

Concern over HGVs’ speed

From: R Aspinall, George Lane, Notton, Wakefield.

IN response to recent letters 
on motoring, can someone 
tell me whether HGV drivers 
are ever prosecuted for
speeding?

I travel quite regularly 
along the M62 near Leeds 
where they are installing 
a traffic management system. This stretch of motorway is covered by cameras restricting traffic to an average speed of 50mph.

Most drivers seem to obey this limit but I am constantly being overtaken by HGVs in the middle lane who refuse to lower their speed below 60mph.

This inconsiderate action in narrow lanes endangers the lives of car drivers as well as being illegal.

From: Don Burslam, Elm Road, Dewsbury Moor, Dewsbury.

FOLLOWING my return to motoring after quite a long gap, 
I cannot say the standard of driving is any better than I remember it.

I readily admit I am not the most expert of drivers but the aggressive driving of HGVs is nothing short of frightening, with their strident klaxons and their general attitude which proclaims they are in a hurry and I should get out of the way.

I was not surprised to see a triple pile-up reported on the M62. I think the police should take a more proactive role in monitoring these massive vehicles.

One suggestion. All HGVs 
should be required by law to display full addresses and phone numbers on their livery. Not all of them do.