Put the spotlight on police failings

One thing keeps getting lost from sight in the phone-hacking scandal: the criminal activity of police officers, their corrupt relationship with private investigators and the insouciance of their superiors ( John Yates evidence on phone hacking mocked by MPs , 13 July). Phone hacking and blagging is repugnant, deeply upsetting to its victims and much of it may be illegal. Bribing a police officer to supply confidential information is unquestionably a crime; those contracting the service, those receiving and paying for the information and the policemen who provide it all commit criminal acts. None of the very senior serving or former officers of the Metropolitan Police interviewed by the home affairs select committee appeared to have the slightest concern about the clear evidence of widespread corruption within their own ranks. Mike Gatehouse Brecon, Powys • In the interests of public confidence in the Met, all criminal investigations relating to whether the police have acted unlawfully over phone hacking should be placed with another police force. Keith Darvill Leader, Havering Labour group, Bob Littlewood Leader, Redbridge Labour group, Joshua Peck Leader, Tower Hamlets Labour Group, Paul Dimoldenberg Leader, Westminster Labour group • In defence of his assistant commissioner, John Yates, Paul Stephenson said: "We need to give him credit for his courage and humility in acknowledging that if he knew then what he knows now, he would have taken different decisions." Only Yates's failure to examine what was already in his hands prevented him from "knowing then what he knows now". No credit due whatsoever. Eddie Dougall Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk • Having seen the video of Andy Hayman giving evidence to the home affairs committee, it's just as well he aspired to being a journalist rather than an actor. Michael Miller Sheffield • The Met claim that the main reason their earlier investigation of phone hacking allegations was unsuccessful was "lack of co-operation" from the News of the World. If law enforcement in this country is now reliant on the co-operation of the criminals, we really are in trouble. Ian West Telford, Shropshire • You report there was anger inside Scotland Yard "at the treatment by MPs of senior officers and former officers". Could you tell your informant that there is quite a lot of anger outside Scotland Yard about our taxes being used to pay for the antics of these clowns. Ian Jewesbury London