When protest conflicts with the rights of others

sir – “Dissent is part of our history” says Suzanne Moore (Features, May 9), criticising the police’s handling of protesters at the Coronation. Well, maybe, but not distinct from the historical consequences, from torture or execution through transportation to imprisonment (the Suffragettes).

Today’s groups seem to think that they have a right to protest wherever and whenever they like, even if they ruin the enjoyment of far more people and conflict with their rights.

David Leonard

London E1

sir – If protesters consider that they have the right to disrupt the lawful activities of the general public, surely the police have the right to disrupt the activities of the protesters.

Simon Mcilroy

Croydon, Surrey

sir – A few people are concerned that the Met Police had information that induced them to arrest six people, then decide that they had done nothing wrong. Many of us still remember the Hyde Park bomb attack that killed innocent horses and their riders in 1982: far better to arrest in advance than allow a similar tragedy.

Those six people have lost nothing financial, but the rest of the country gained from enjoying a very emotional experience with no major disturbance. CD Clubbe

Deeside, Flintshire

sir – The anti-monarchy protesters should not complain too much over their arrests on Coronation day.

The arrests and subsequent howls of protests from the Left probably gave them far more publicity than if they had not been arrested.

Barry King

Eastbourne, East Sussex

sir – How are those in the public eye to protect themselves from the evergrowing intrusion of lip readers working for the media?

I predict an increase in the use of handheld fans à la Karl Lagerfeld. Jeremy Nunn