We must be kept safe at all costs
There are no words to describe the heart-rending attack at Manchester Arena. But there are factors which could perhaps have contributed to such an atrocity.
The Government has drastically cut the number of police and we’re told that the security services don’t have the resources to monitor all potential terrorist suspects.
A lack of resources has also led to a failure to carry out adequate checks on immigrants, and more savage cuts have decimated our armed forces.
It seems that our elected representatives are putting cost before the public’s safety. John Went, Shepperton, Middx
We are all sickened by Monday’s evil and despicable act. However, I’d like to point out that about four or five years ago, when Theresa May was Home Secretary and in the process of taking 20,000 police off our streets, I wrote to this paper saying that with the threat of terrorism, we should have been increasing, not decreasing, the number of police officers. I think that statement is now bearing fruit. D Dunbar, Sherburn Village, Co Durham
I suspect that putting troops on the streets is not for our safety, but is an attempt by Theresa May to make herself look tough. As Home Secretary she cut police numbers in Manchester, supported the drastic reduction in numbers of our armed forces and robbed Manchester NHS hospitals of vital resources.
She shouldn’t be allowed to make political capital out of the Manchester tragedy. John Bainbridge, Penrith, Cumbria
Sickened, horrified and heartbroken is how most of us are feeling after Monday’s atrocity. So many innocent lives lost or changed for ever.
All peace-loving and decent citizens of all religions fear deep down that this will just keep happening. Now is not the time for this country to feel vulnerable and unprotected.
The armed forces and emergency services are valued highly by us all. Sue Lear, Forest of Dean, Glos
It is to this Government’s shame that we now need our depleted army to patrol the streets after the decimation of the police force. What next? Army doctors in our hospitals? David Lewis, Cwmdare, Aberdare
I’m sick to the back teeth of hearing the same old rhetoric after yet another slaughter of innocent people. “Carry on with your everyday lives or the terrorists will see it as a victory” and “the terrorists will not prevail”. Well, I’ve got news for Theresa May – the terrorists are prevailing and the people of this nation are terrified. We need to know what she’s going to do to rid us of this cancer. Putting troops on the streets is only the start. Roger Grant Thurnscoe, South Yorks
No amount of soldiers or police on the streets will prevent a madman from blowing themselves up in order to kill innocent people. L Manning, Romford, Gtr London