Trouble ahead from terrorists released from prison but not re-educated

SIR – The incident at London Bridge highlights a problem that is going to grow in scale over future years unless some satisfactory ameliorating action can be taken. It is an issue that worried me when I was minister for counterterrorism and security, 2007-10.

We were arresting, finding guilty and imprisoning ever greater numbers of terrorists. The sentences were not open-ended and so it was clear that, downstream, growing numbers would be back on the streets having completed their time in prison.

What we seemed unable to achieve was a re-education of these terrorists, many of whom remained radical and unrepentant of their actions.

Clearly there is a real risk, as shown at London Bridge, that they will be involved in terrorism again once released.

There needs to be a concerted effort among experts and government to implement a policy that ensures the safety of the public.

Admiral Lord West of Spithead London SW1

SIR – Our society welcomes people from across the globe and must maintain freedom of speech and freedom of religion, even if certain beliefs appear extreme compared with current liberal pluralism. But there is no place for those whose ideologies include hatred and terrorism.

The prison system must incorporate education to help prisoners assimilate British values, or ensure that those whose ideology threatens violence are not released without serving their full sentence. Jonathan Longstaff

Buxted, East Sussex

SIR – I hope that the brave members of the public who tackled and disarmed the murderer with the knife, at considerable risk to their own safety, will be suitably honoured. The George Cross might be an appropriate reward. Terry Eiss

Roses, Girona, Spain

SIR – How did the assailant get two large knives into Fishmongers’ Hall?

SIR – There was a 24-year campaign of killing and maiming in London by the IRA, from 1973, with incidents on at least 168 dates.

On the evening when I was enrolled as a Special Constable at Scotland Yard in 1974, bombs were exploding in pillar-boxes and I could hear sirens all the way on my journey home.

However, London is a big place and most Londoners soon realised that the chance of being in the wrong place at the wrong time was so remote that it was not worth worrying about it.

Hopefully, there will be no further terrorist incidents in the coming weeks. However, whatever happens, life must go on as normal and it must be hoped that no one avoids being in London as a result of this or any further terrorist attacks. Allen Chubb

Grayswood, Surrey