Police must learn to control the streets again

sir – Chief constables – and in particular Dame Cressida Dick, the commissioner of the Metropolitan Police – need to take a firm grip on policing demonstrations (report, September 7). Appeasement, or “facilitating protest”, has not worked with Black Lives Matter and Extinction Rebellion protesters.

It is clear that the organisers of these unruly groups have no intention of cooperating with police. Allowing officers to “take the knee” at previous demonstrations showed weakness.

The late Alex Marnoch, the police commander in Brixton when I was a young constable, supported community liaison but did not compromise in encouraging officers to control the streets. This ethos now appears anathema to many current senior police leaders, who seem to struggle with policing priorities.

The sooner police leadership focuses on returning to the primary object of preventing crime and being consistent in its approach, the safer we will be, and the less disruption there will be to our lives.

Clifford Baxter

Wareham, Dorset sir – I would hope, albeit without any real expectation of its fulfilment, that the organisers of demonstrations that disrupt other people’s lives will be treated by the police in the same way as organisers of rave parties.

Don Philp

Knightwick, Worcestershire

sir – How long will it be before Extinction Rebellion attacks electricity, gas and petrol distribution?

Norman Gerald

Radlett, Hertfordshire

sir – Extinction Rebellion has now done us a favour. Since its inception, it has been hard for moderate politicians to point out the catastrophic consequences of its policies, as they would be accused of climate-change denial. They felt obliged to pander to it.

However, by trying to deny debate and free speech (Letters, September 7), Extinction Rebellion has overstepped the mark. It is now acceptable to attack it for what it has shown itself to be: an extreme Left-wing organisation.

Peter Lowe

Stockport, Cheshire