SIR - So a violent child is sent home every 90 minutes from Bradford schools (T&A, May 4).

This is hardly surprising as sending them home is the only option left now there are no canings, and don't the kids just know it!

You can just hear them: "Fancy the day off, let's go hit a little kid."

A more likely deterrent would be to keep them in school for detention periods, either after school or better still at weekends. But parents' permission must be sought for this and funding for the teachers to supervise them.

Then take a look at children on the streets, trespassing or vandalising. They will tell you: "You can't touch me I'm too young. Call the police, they won't do nowt'."

They know their rights, and that decent people have no right to protect themselves any more from whatever they care to inflict on the community.

Susan Lawn, Sandholme Drive, Bradford