in response to the letter "Point of smacking" (May 20), may I just point out to Mr Henson that he ought to rethink his opinion in the light of his own remarks?

Anyone who cannot see the error of suggesting the threat of violence against anyone, let alone children, is a deterrent to bad behaviour appears to have missed the point that children are, in fact, merely miniature humans.

Statistically, just as much crime is probably perpetrated by 31 and 32-year-olds, and if you started slapping all of those you would probably end up in court!

He appears to believe physical acts of violence are not the "easy way out", but are apparently taking "a bit more interest." Throughout history, violence has always been the lowest common denominator and has solved nothing.

Mrs C Kett,

Barons Crescent,

Copmanthorpe,

York.

...COLIN Henson will find that the 11 and 12-year-olds committing acts of vandalism on housing estates are the very ones who have been smacked, and probably from an early age!

E Howard,

Lowther Street, York.

Updated: 10:38 Thursday, May 23, 2002