Sir, We claim to be defending the standards and way of life of a civilised society against terrorism, and yet most officials, politicians and commentators seem to support the “shoot to kill” policy (letters, July 26).

As a civilised society which long ago abandoned the death penalty we can never justify “shoot to kill”.

The recent debacle could have been avoided without risk to the public if the officers concerned had been ordered to apprehend the suspect as soon as it was clear that he was heading towards the Tube station. A “shoot to disable” regime would have been appropriate and the suspect would have been available for questioning.

Parliament should be recalled and the “shoot to kill” policy should be abandoned permanently.

MICHAEL POINTER
Brentwood, Essex

From Detective Superintendent Steve Pepper

Sir, Having recently completed training as a firearms commander I can tell you that nothing brings home the burden placed upon firearms officers more than exposure to the awesome decisions that they are required to make, in far less time than it takes to read this sentence.

My force has a state-of-the-art firearms training simulator. Real-time scenarios are presented on a life-size video screen and real weapons are used to test the subject’s decision-making capacity and shooting ability, without of course the incredible weight of moral and criminal responsibility if a mistake is made.

I am told that invited guests such as judges, barristers, journalists and indeed members of the Independent Police Complaints Commission who have used the simulator have all left chastened and sobered by the experience, and with their admiration for the officers who perform this role voluntarily greatly enhanced.

STEVE PEPPER
West Mercia Police
Fernhill Heath,Worcestershire
stephen.pepper@westmercia.pnn.police.uk

From Mr Alistair Toomey

Sir, What does it say about our nation when a man is shot eight times in cold blood?

Do we now accept that the colour of your skin or the clothes that you are wearing make this sort of behaviour on the part of the police acceptable?

The bombers are winning for as long as the police, with the approval of our politicians, behave in this way.

A. S-J. TOOMEY
Pathhead, Midlothian
asjtoomey@btinternet.com

From Mr W. R. Armstrong

Sir, A soldier serving in a war zone faced a murder trial for killing an Iraqi civilian who was transporting ammunition (report, July 20).

In London a police marksman kills an unarmed citizen and senior police officers tell us it was an unfortunate mistake; indeed, we should expect more of the same.

There seems to be no consistency in our moral code for this way of thinking.

W. R. ARMSTRONG
Edinburgh
chubby.armstrong@blueyonder.co.uk

From Mr Richard Jenkins

Sir, Should padded jackets, along with table legs, be added to the list of items that the public is advised not to display in the presence of armed police?

R. O. JENKINS
Frankfurt, Germany

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