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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,175-1406931,00.html

Judges' ruling on terrorism laws

From Mr Ian R. Cartwright

Sir, Three hearty cheers for the law lords (reports and leading article, December 17). Once we abandon the rule of law, we are no better than the terrorists.

Their lordships have restored my faith that Britain is a country ruled by law, not political expediency.

Yours faithfully,
IAN R. CARTWRIGHT,
2 Main Street,
Felton, Morpeth NE65 9PN.
December 17.

From Mr Don Taylor

Sir, Detention without trial is not new. In previous years, when a country had declared war on another, combatants dressed in identifiable uniforms and, if captured, were detained, often until the end of the war. Enemy personnel operating in civilian clothes chanced being shot. Now combatants are not readily identified by uniform and may visit a country other than their own to fight a culture with which they disagree.

Our Government has to protect us; if it has strong information that those in custody are insurgents, it is right to detain them. The problem is whom to entrust with the heavy responsibility of establishing when prisoners are no longer a threat. Judges may interpret the law, but do not have to consider the consequences of their decisions for the security of the country.

Yours faithfully,
DON TAYLOR,
Beauleigh, The Ripple,
Tickenham, North Somerset BS21 6SJ.
December 17.

From Mr Stephen Morse

Sir, Can anyone in authority imagine being locked up for 1,090 days without knowing why you are there, how long you will be there, with no way of discovering who has accused you of what misdeeds, or what, if any, evidence there is against you?

Those responsible for the security of the populace are now suggesting that it is for Parliament to decide whether these men can be given any possible hope for a return to any kind of life. But MPs are unlikely to be allowed a free vote. Security chiefs maintain that they are dangerous men who might perpetrate some terrorist act. Does anyone really believe that someone incarcerated without charge for three years would not be a terrorist after that time?

Yours faithfully,
STEPHEN MORSE,
16 Bateman Mews,
Cambridge CB2 1NN.
December 17.

From Mr Paul Norman

Sir, The detainees at Belmarsh are being held apparently on the basis of information supplied by the security services.

The same services that suggested that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction?

Yours faithfully,
PAUL NORMAN,
26 Broadmere Rise,
Coventry CV5 7DS.
December 17.