Here is a copy letter sent to Lord Chancellor Irvine and as there was no reply it goes to prove how this 'well-paid'  public servant is content to do nothing but 'fleece' tax-payers and encourage crime by not enforcing penalties imposed by our Courts.

Thursday, 9th March, 2000

Dear Lord Irvine,

I have a copy of your letter C99/102/8 dated 24 August, 1999 and addressed to the Right Hon. Joyce Quin, M.P. and I am encouraged to read “The Government recognises that the penalties imposed by the courts will only be taken seriously if they are effectively enforced” but this message is not reaching Constituency M.P’s, Senior Police Officers and other authorities.

Going through your letter I see the Crime Sentences Act 1997 allows courts to disqualify fine defaulters from driving for up to a period of twelve months – these villains no longer respect the law, they are not paying their fines (imposed for crime) so what are the odds of them obeying any driving ban imposed?           

As regards the Access to Justice Act  - “the power of civilians to execute warrants” has been in force for some considerable years (up until Dec. 1993 when Newcastle Warrants Dept. was closed down I had the power to execute warrants and to arrest) but experience tells me civilian Warrants Officers should not be employed by the Courts but by the police, and my views on this matter have only been questioned by those who are “indoctrinated with cost-effectiveness” with little thought to ensure ‘crime does not pay’ and thus enforcing all penalties imposed for crime  -  my reasons are clearly illustrated in the enclosed letter of 24th July, 1997 addressed to Reporter Neil McKay of the Journal Newspaper, Newcastle.      A copy of this letter was requested by local M.P. Joyce Quin (then a Home Office Minister) in late July, 1997 and on that occasion I felt she agreed with most of my comments.

In November, 1995 I read a report stating the burden of fines collecting was being transferred from the police and back to the courts “The Magistrates’ Association, Justices Clerks Society and Central Council of Magistrates’ Courts Committees are all outraged both by the size of the budget the police have agreed to transfer to them - £8m per annum – and the short notice given for magistrates to effect what amounts to a major re-organisation of the justice process.”    By the fact this “transfer” and “re-organisation” has not yet been implemented seems to indicate the police have been allowed to keep and use this £8m without doing the job (collect fines) these last 6 – 7 years.       The Newcastle Warrants Dept. was closed for financial reasons, but somehow I feel it was closed in error, Chief Supt. Vince Sweeney admits his judgement was based on all staff members as well-paid police officers but it was too late when he learned 6 members were in fact civilians earning 50% less than their uniformed colleagues.            We were made to understand that Northumbria Police Warrants Depts. were closed down because they were not getting paid by the courts for collecting fines.  What is the truth?

Perhaps it was breaching the Data Protection Act. but we at the Newcastle Warrants Dept. always had full co-operation from “Government agencies” when it came to tracing fine defaulters, and other personal details.                 I do hope you find the enclosures interesting.                        Thanking you.

(Mr. James Richardson)

The Lord Chancellor,
The Right Honourable The Lord Irvine of Lairg,
House of Lords,
London SW1A 0PW

Exotic trips for two Senior Police Officers (well-paid and not short of a few bob) and these 'perks' had to be 'lavish' and 'worthwhile'  -  how about trips to Durban (South Africa) and Thailand.....not bad....and all at the expense of local Council Tax-payers who are unaware how their cash is being used and wasted.     The two Senior Police Officers were Ch. Supts. Alan Oliver and David (known as 'cock-up') Warcup were accompanied by 7 Gateshead M.B.C. members and presently I am fishing for full names of delegation and total costs.    Somehow I suspect Gateshead M.B.C. will not divulge these names and costs freely or happily (but perhaps a 'shake-up' by a B.N.P. member may do the trick), but I will keep you updated on this matter. 

Now that it has been announced that Pensioners Local Concessionary Travel fares have been increased from 30p to 50p I feel it should be made known that highly-paid police officers are allowed to travel free on Metro trains and buses - surely they are in a much better financial position to pay these fares than O.A.P's.    Can this be fair?    

All fare-paying passengers should make an immediate protest......and why not?

Why do police officers receive Clothing Allowances - Rent Allowances - Free Prescription charges - Free Dental Treatment - Free Spectacles etc?      Surely this is also grossly unfair!!!!    Unless I hear to the contary (your comments are welcome in my Guestbook facility) I will assume these 'perks' are still being openhandedly dished-out to all police officers....at the expense of local tax-payers, which includes O.A.P's.

Can it be true that some retired officers are still travelling free on public transport by using outdated I.D. cards etc?    I will be writing to Northumbria Chief Constable Strachan on this matter and you will be updated with his reply.   

To clarify disturbing information from others I wrote to Northumbria Police Authority Chairman Mr. George Gill on 10.3.98 - “Please could your Personnel Dept. confirm that ex-Police Sgt. J.. W….. is now employed in a civilian position at Newcastle as a Property Clerk, and what date he commenced employment as a civilian.”  but  naturally Mr. Gill did not reply because he knew this position was filled as a “perk” and not advertised to members of the public…..WHY?    There are others at Newcastle who have received similar "perks" and I am presently searching for precise details - names - dates etc. 

How can overstretched police forces allow fit, able-bodied officers, to retire one day (with huge pensions etc.) and then take-up almost identical positions as civilians in the same police offices/depts. the very next day - and why are these positions not first advertised to members of the public?   

I can hardly wait to get everything down on paper - I get new information almost daily but this must be thoroughly checked before publication - please join me again later.