The Russians must be made to pay compensation for Salisbury mayhem

SIR – One of the measures I would like to see the Prime Minister take against the Russians following the Salisbury event is to confiscate whatever assets she can, to provide compensation for the victims and to reimburse the huge costs of the investigation.

The various victims, apart from those currently being treated by the NHS, must include not only the retailers and food outlets closed since the incident, but also the many other businesses in Salisbury suffering losses due to road closures and police investigations.

So let’s see the Russians put their hands in their pockets and pay for all this. I believe the British public would welcome such a pointed move on Theresa May’s part. Graham Bartlett

Odiham, Hampshire

SIR – Clive Kent (Letters, March 13) is right. Decades of defence cuts are perceived by hostile powers as an invitation to act aggressively. If Vladimir Putin were to invade the smaller Baltic countries does anyone believe that the United States or Nato would step in? Tom Linton

Plymouth, Devon

SIR – Why would the Russians choose to use a weapons-grade nerve agent to try to assassinate two people on British soil, when the substance would be so easily and pointedly linked back to the Kremlin?

Perhaps Russia wanted the world to know that they were responsible. The fact that Mr Putin might consider the act as positive propaganda is genuinely concerning. Frank Hurst

West Chiltington, West Sussex

SIR – Why do we have to have a Russian embassy in the United Kingdom? Adrian Magrath

Havant, Hampshire

SIR – We should be sympathetic towards Wiltshire Police. The events in Salisbury highlight the state of affairs whereby the tiny local force, which has no police station in Salisbury, has to send those needing to be held in custody by taxi to Devizes.

How can it respond effectively to any emergency? Michael Groom

Teffont Evias, Wiltshire

SIR – It is only mildly surprising that the Government appears to treat the general population as having no intelligence. We are given little information, and told to wash our clothes a week after the event. It’s a bit like putting your head under the table during the Blitz. J H Wurzer

St Mary Bourne, Hampshire

SIR – Dame Sally Davies, the chief medical officer, has been quick to warn of the dangers of a glass of wine, but rather slow to respond to the dangers of highly toxic nerve agents. Trevor Jones

Sidmouth, Devon