Letters, contributions and comments sent in from Times’ readers this week.

Iris’s ordeal is sickening

Barry Gardiner, MP for Brent North, writes:

The cowardly and violent attack on an innocent elderly Kingsbury lady last week has shocked our whole community.

This was a sick crime by someone who represents a clear danger to others. Anyone who has any information that might help identify the attacker should contact the police urgently.

Last month I met with the borough police commander to discuss the rise in violent crime in the area and the worrying decline in police numbers.

The police are acutely conscious that the service they are able to provide within the resources they have, is less than they would themselves wish.

This makes it even more vital that we the public provide them with every piece of relevant information that we can.

The police do a difficult job with failing government support.

That is why this week I will be speaking with the home secretary to press for a restoration of the cuts that have seen more than 21,000 police officers lost nationwide.

Brent citizens have a right to feel safe in their beds.

The police must now ensure that right becomes a reality.