Sir, I love civil liberties as much as do those who oppose the introduction of identity cards (letters, July 8, etc) or tough measures against terrorists. But the right to life is of paramount importance.

Let the leaders of all political parties and our eminent judges worry more about protecting the lives of our citizens and their right to live, travel and work in safety. We live in exceptional times, when religious fanatics are prepared to kill innocent people in the misguided belief of doing it for a religious cause.

The police and the security services have been made to work against this menace with their hands tied behind their backs.

Exceptional dangers require exceptional measures. Let Parliament and the judiciary give support and necessary powers to the police to confront this danger and help the security services to save the lives of our citizens.

DALJIT SEHBAI
Pall Mall, London

From Dr Charles Tannock, MEP for London Region (Conservative)

Sir, Peter Riddell (Political Briefing, July 8) repeats the assertion that ID cards did not prevent the Madrid bombings and by implication suggests the London bombings will not help the Government’s case.

That may be, but what has not been reported is that the Spanish police were able to round up the terrorist suspects because an unexploded bomb was found with the detonating mobile phone.

It was traced to a shop run by a terrorist sympathiser dealer, where the records were examined. As an ID card was required to register the phone user’s identity, they rapidly tracked him down, perhaps stopping other attacks.

CHARLES TANNOCK
(Group of the European People’s Party and European Democrats)
Brussels, Belgium

From Mr Michael Joyce

Sir, The dubious effectiveness of ID cards and their escalating cost estimates make them an unsatisfactory solution to the diminution of future terrorist threats.

A national database for all British citizens of their DNA sequence would cost less and be far more effective in combating crime generally and assisting in the pursuit and conviction of terrorists.

MICHAEL JOYCE
Hampstead, London

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