DAVID Blunkett is using his legal powers to remove David Westwood from his role as Chief Constable of Humberside Police because of the tragic consequence of murderer Ian Huntley being employed as a caretaker of a school.

Mr Westwood seems to command a huge amount of respect from the people around him and appears to be dedicated to his job. To an outsider, it appears he is being made a scapegoat for an extremely poor system.

Wasn't it Government policy about data protection and non-disclosure of allegations, as opposed to actual convictions, that caused this situation in the first place?

If the police had been given powers to make reference to, and disclose, the information maybe this tragedy could have been prevented.

So, shouldn't it be Mr Blunkett who goes and not Mr Westwood?

Janet S Kitchen,

Ashley Park Road, York.

Updated: 10:50 Thursday, July 01, 2004