We welcome your letters and e-mails, whether in response to items in Public Agenda or as a way of sharing your own insights and experiences with other readers. We are particularly keen to learn of examples of good practice from which others may benefit. Letters and e-mails may be edited. Please e-mail us at: agenda@thetimes.co.uk, or write to Public Agenda, The Times, 1 Pennington Street, London E98 1TT

Teacher can’t back police’s pay claim

IN THE current row over police pay (In the professional press, Jan 15) it is interesting to compare the position of police officers and teachers.

Teachers need to be trained to a minimum of degree level over at least a three-year period, at their own expense and forsaking any significant earnings. On qualification at secondary level, for example, they will be confronting 30-plus teenagers in a class single-handed. Paperwork is mostly taken home and processed in their own time. There are no overtime payments. They have to work 40 years to receive a half-salary pension. Although there is no law preventing them from striking, in reality this is rare due to their acceptance of a moral obligation to the children. They have just accepted an inflation-only rise for the next three years.

Police officers need rudimentary GCSEs and are paid during their short training. When qualified they spend much of their paid time doing paperwork; get generous opportunities for paid overtime; have free entrance to many events and free travel on public transport. They patrol in cosy pairs and can retire with a generous pension at 45.

If the police decide to march in favour of an inflation-busting pay rise, I for one, as a retired teacher, will not be in their vanguard. Fred Stride, London NW2

Locking up child offenders

THE immediate reaction of many to the conviction of three teenagers for the murder of Garry Newlove this week will be to to call for the locking up of all those young people causing trouble on our streets before they can commit more offences. However, Stephen Cragg’s piece on deaths in custody (Legislation update, Jan 15) reminds us how dangerous custody can be.

Thirty children have died in custody since 1990. Thousands of children are locked up each year, very few of them for serious crimes such as the tragic Newlove murder. Many are assessed as vulnerable and go on to self-harm.

Custody is not the magic solution and children are not safe there. The Standing Committee for Youth Justice, which represents children’s charities and penal reform organisations, is therefore calling for the Government to amend the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill to ensure that children are imprisoned only as a real last resort, when they pose a serious danger to others. Simon Hickson, youth justice policy adviser, The Children’s Society

A blight on modern life

I AM appalled at the suggestion that parents should be compelled to provide internet access for children at home (Top stories, Jan 8).

As the parent of a 15-year-old, I have – under pressure from the school – provided a computer and internet access for my child at home.

Now, instead of any worthwhile or healthy activity, she would prefer on some occasions to chat online rather than see friends in person. She plays video games for hours and watches films or television which makes it difficult for her to sleep and reduces the amount of exercise she has. And for this I have to pay.

I much preferred it when we had no computer at home and I resent and disagree with the notion that computers per se are an essential addition to modern life. Claire Stuteley, Hove

Not soft on charity fraud

DOROTHY DALTON’S article (Public Opinion, Jan 15) about the Charity Commission’s funding was a typically thoughtful piece.

However, I must refute one comment in it. The commission would never suggest that de minimisfraud against a charity is acceptable. We assess any allegation of fraud and take any action needed. When we talk about being proportionate in our regulation, we don’t consider just the size of the charity concerned or the sums of money involved. As we recently said in a paper on our risk and proportionality framework, some issues – including fraud – will always get immediate attention because of the risks they pose to the public, to beneficiaries, and to the integrity and reputation of charity. Andrew Hind, chief executive, Charity Commission

Times Recommends

• C&G axed - 1,660 jobs to be lost
• UK house prices rise 1.1% as buyers return
• Mixed reaction to US banks repaying bailouts