I TOTALLY agree with the Citizen Smith article on January 10 under the headline 'Bar Room Justice.'

Without going into all the details of the Warehouse Nightclub, it would appear that the police have handled the situation wrongly from the start to where it is now.

But what concerns me far more is Citizen Smith's last question about councillors deciding the fate of other people's lives...

and the answer is an emphatic NO.

It was a sad day when the local councils were given the responsibility for any aspects of licensing laws, all licensing matter should be placed firmly in the hands of the Licensing Justices, who know the law and are professionally advised.

It will be an even sadder day if the local council is given even greater powers by this Government to deal with liquor licensing matters for the following reasons:

1) The council is not, as Citizen Smith points out, impartial.

2) They do not have the experience or training to understand complicated licensing laws.

3) They would be dictated too by financial matters

4) The licensing trade would soon see an increase in fees

5) There is no doubt that, very soon, political affiliations would creep into their deliberations.

No Citizen Smith, justice should be administered where it belongs - in the courts.

A former Justice of the Peace.