Your letters page contained an excellent letter by Peter O’Neil from the Youth Justice Panel.

He wrote very movingly about the plight of children in the Victorian era, when children as young as nine could be sentenced to hang for taking a loaf of bread or a couple of pennies.

He cited the example of a small boy whose sentence to death was commuted to whipping and transportation to Australia, just for taking a few pennies to feed himself.

As a parent, I felt very saddened to think of the harsh conditions endured by children in days gone by and the dreadfully unjust penal system which was then in operation.

In 1866 John Howard attempted to create reforms and his association is still going today under the name of the Howard League for Penal Reform.

One might hope that things have moved on since the Victorian era but shockingly children as young as 10 are still being jailed in this country.

In fact, a recent report has shown that the number of young people being sentenced to detention or custody is rising.

If you wish to help this worthwhile charity you can make a donation and receive a newsletter detailing the reforms of the criminal justice system that the Howard League is currently campaigning for.

By doing so, you may help improve the lives of many unhappy detained children.

Susan Thomas, Magdalen Road, Oxford