Sir, Nigel Harper (letter, June 6) seems to be suggesting that the Government is exaggerating the terrorist threat in order to impose some sort of police state — and he accuses others of paranoia! He also declares that he would “rather die free than live under the insidious creep of state authority”. Well, yes, so would I, which is why I hope the security services are doing everything in their power to counter a murderous ideology that would like to impose its own version of a police state, not just on us, but on the whole of Western civilisation.

What price Mr Harper’s precious freedom then?

DAVID LYON
Shaftesbury, Dorset

Sir, I am surprised at the reaction of Muslim groups to the Forest Gate terror raid and the shooting of a suspected terrorist during the incident.

The Muslim Council of Britain and others have claimed that this raid and similar actions taken by the police while investigating terrorism-related cases might deepen the rift between Muslim communities and the police and result in loss of trust in the security services.

As it is, our security services are stretched to the limit. They are also subject to endless protocols, guidelines and regulatory apparatus, all intended to pacify communities which are being misled and manipulated by so-called representatives and religious leaders.

Instead of making claims that fuel mistrust and antagonism towards the police, who are already working hard to ensure our safety, the council and its affiliate mosques should be urging the Muslim communities to provide moral and practical support to the police. Muslims should be encouraged to assist proactively in any future actions aimed at getting rid of unscrupulous elements living among them; such elements are a threat to others and to their own families.

DR SHAAZ MAHBOOB
Hillingdon, Middx

Sir, Much of the initial criticism after the report into 7/7 has been about communications issues. If there was ever a case for merging police forces, this is it. Let’s get rid of this nonsense of having three forces covering London — the Met, City Police and British Transport Police — and absorb the latter two into the first as soon as possible.

NIGEL EDWARD-FEW
Chesham, Bucks

Sir, The Government did not cause the death of Margaret Hassan (report, June 5).

Mrs Hassan was abducted by evil men who used her life as a bargaining tool. It was taxpayers’ money that the Government was being asked to surrender to their whims. And when these evil men didn’t get what they wanted, it was they who in cold blood executed an innocent person who had devoted her life to helping people.

The Government did what any right-minded, democratic government would do: refuse to negotiate with hostage-takers.

CHRIS CARR
Southampton

Sir, The effusion surrounding the film United 93 demonstrates America’s continuing ability to project its tragedies worldwide and ascribe to them mythical qualities of universal proportion.

The fate of those aboard United 93 should not be more moving or meaningful than the fate of the Darfur refugees, the women and children massacred in al-Haditha, those blown up in London and Madrid or the tragic victims of a thousand other conflicts and outrages around the world.

The difference, however, is that no one will make a bigbudget film about their tragedies, their mundane lives rent asunder by evil and violence — or have someone as prominent as Martin Amis (times2, June 1) lament and try to make sense of their plight.

JOHN ALEXANDER
London NW1

Sir, Your leading article (June 6) says that “had America been positively obsequious in courting international support . . . anti-Americanism would still be on the rise”. Nowadays the US is less trusted in the world, among other reasons, because it has failed to comply with many of the norms that regulate international life. What really matters is not only “courting” the rest the world to do your will but also complying with the (international) law.

RICARDO ARREDONDO
Professor of International Law Madrid

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