The cells made me feel de-humanised
Reading your report about the closure of the police cells at Campbell Square I was interested in John Harrison’s assertion that “Cells are not supposed to be salubrious” which seems to me to be based upon the presumption you must have done something wrong to be locked up there. May I point out these are holding cells used after arrest and before conviction: indeed there have been many occasions when people who have later been exonerated of any offence at all have been kept in those cells.
There is still supposed to be in English law a presumption you are innocent until found guilty, and so surely you have the right to be detained in decent conditions. This has not been the case at Campbell Square for a number of years.
I well remember my own experience of arrest and detention as long ago as 1977, when, due to someone mistakenly recording my car’s number plate at the scene of a crime, I was taken there by the police at 2.30am one Monday morning. I was employed at the time as a probation officer and so was used to visiting the cells, but nothing had prepared me for the terror that being incarcerated there induced in me: I could well see how someone would admit to anything just to get out! Even then the cell block was pretty unpleasant – I can vouch for John’s graphic description of the cells – and obviously 35 years further on from my experience it hasn’t improved.
The silver lining in my case was a settlement by the police of my action against them for wrongful arrest, but no amount of money ever compensated me for the experience which left me with, among other things, disturbed sleep for a considerable time.
Of course nothing would have made what happened to me pleasant, but I certainly remember that being detained in such very insalubrious conditions added greatly to the feeling of being dehumanised. I’m very pleased the new criminal justice centre will help bring Northampton out of the dark ages . . . money well spent in my view since one of the marks of how civilised a society is can be seen in the way authority acts towards those it finds necessary to detain.
Chris Hamson,
East Leys Court, Moulton.
Fed up with not being heard
Apathy is a weapon of mass destruction! So I share Councillor Harker’s disappointment that only 14 members of the public attended the county council budget consultation meeting. There is more than one reason for this; people may have to work, for example, as in my case, or they are just plain fed up with not being heard.
The main reason I suspect is that many feel there is little point in voicing their opinions because it makes little difference to the outcome; the decision has already been made and the consultation is but a charade because we hear the same old mantras; “because of the mess left by the Labour Party, we have to make these cuts, we have no choice” etc!
While bemoaning the absence of the many, it is unclear whether Councillor Harker actually listened and took on board what any of the 14 present had to say. How many changes will be made to the budget because of the contributions made by our public speakers? The answer to this may well serve as the answer to the problem.
Contrast this disappointment and sadness then, with Councillor Harker’s delight at holding the October 2011 cabinet meeting, at Silverstone’s new wing building (actually over the border in Buckinghamshire!) where only four members of the public were actually able to attend this distant outpost and speak about important issues including library closures.
There were no comments of disappointment from the cabinet leader and his portfolio holders, at that meeting, of such a low turnout of members of the public – in fact two cabinet members criticised three of the four who were pro-library speakers, accusing them “of putting the future of libraries at risk”.
Small wonder then, at low attendances for meetings, when people are treated with such contempt!
Graham Croucher,
Abbots Way, St James, Northampton.
Use money to save PCSOs
I totally agree with Paul Varnsverry’s comments in ViewPoint (January 27). The 2012-13 budget proposal costing £130,000 to allow individual councillors to spend up to £3,000 on pet projects in their wards, would be far better used to continue the good community safety provided by PCSOs. I am sure local residents would all agree.
Why do our political leaders always want to spend our money on new schemes?
Why do they want to follow their fellow Conservatives at County Hall by creating a new Councillor Empowerment Fund?
Is it that the county councillors are getting more popular publicity spending their empowerment money (sorry, our money) than borough councillors who do not have this ability?
Come on children, you don’t have to play “follow the leader”.
Anyway, why doesn’t the county council take money from its Empowerment Fund to continue paying for PCSOs in the county? It’s only a few years ago the county leaders made a great noise about their initiative. Why not carry on this good work for their electors?
As well as this £130,000 for empowering councillors, your borough council leaders are also proposing to spend an extra £528,000 on their “free” parking election promise (note, you are paying) and £430,000 on their Waterside Enterprise Zone (you are also paying for). That is a total of just over £1m extra spending you’ll be paying for in 2012-13.
So come on borough and county councils, you can find the money to maintain your commitment to keep your citizens safe if you want to!
Trevor Robins,
Links View, Northampton.
Why urgency over station?
I have long been incensed by the decision to waste ratepayers’ money on paying any money let alone the astronomic figure to Stagecoach in compensation for terminating its remaining lease, in order to enable Legal & General to expand the Grosvenor Centre. Apart from the question of whether or not these shops are in demand, I would like to know on whose authority this decision was made. Surely the public should have been consulted?
Since local government should be working with our interests at heart, it is obvious from the comments published that we, the general public, are not in favour of this decision to move the bus station. Possibly Legal & General will gain some rent, though one wonders with the increase in online shopping. Stagecoach will have received a windfall and we, the general public, will suffer the consequences of this ill-conceived adventure.
The logic behind the closure of the present bus station beggars belief for it is dearly loved as it is ideally situated, and despite the obvious political decision to allow it to begin to fall into disrepair, it still works! Surely available money should be spent on the elderly and maintaining street and motorway lighting, and in reducing cost cutting exercises.
We need to know what was so urgent that it was felt necessary to waste our public money on terminating the current lease which has I understand has around eight years to run.
John Hale,
Creaton.
Crowded floor
ON Thursday January 26, we seniors had a wonderful time at The Picturedrome where a tea dance had been arranged. A great band, lovely music, songs with words we could remember, and two delightful singers.
The floor was crowded, even though it meant some women had to dance “bust to bust” Joyce Grenfel style. Thought – where do men go in the wintertime?
Thank you to all who arranged the entertainment, we shall certainly go again.
Hazel Hiam,
Pensioners Voice, Northampton.
Good night out
WITH all the doom and gloom in Northampton, I would like to congratulate the St Alban’s Players for their wonderful pantomime which I went to see with friends last Friday evening. The hard work that goes into their performance is amazing and all done for charity. I haven’t had such a good night out for a very long time and will certainly go again!
Erika Cockerill,
Kettering Road, Northampton.
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