Letters

While women should have access to a full choice of contraceptive methods, buying the pill on the internet presents huge risks to the many disadvantaged young women who lack sexual health education.

With sexually transmitted infections on the rise, there is a need for young people to be more informed about sexual health.

The emphasis should be on more information for those who don't have access to it. Young women don't just need help with the biological side of things; they also need an insight into relationships and support to raise self-esteem to make informed choices about their sexual behaviour.

Many of the young women who attend YWCA sexual health sessions feel this support is crucial. Buying the pill online is a modern solution but not the answer to our growing need for a different kind of sexual health education.

Sally Copley, director of policy, research and campaigns, YWCA England & Wales

- Don't humiliate offenders

Government announcements on crime will have left many people feeling confused. On the one hand the Department for Children, Schools and Families and Ministry of Justice are making positive statements about reducing youth imprisonment. On the other hand some aspects of the recent report by Louise Casey, the former head of Tony Blair's Respect task force, reveal a more punitive agenda, which simply will not work (see www.cypnow.co.uk).

Her idea that people sentenced to unpaid work should wear jackets identifying them as offenders will not reduce crime. Unpaid work can produce change in offenders' attitudes. But by injecting humiliation into the sentence, any prospects of a positive response from offenders will be damaged.

Many offenders perform their unpaid work for voluntary organisations, working on community projects alongside volunteers. If the proposal applies to them too many charities would pull out of the scheme rather than allow their workers to be stigmatised in this way.

- Paul Cavadino, chief executive, Nacro

Action on data is essential

The Children and Young Persons Bill could make a real difference to young people in care. But we must not forget those who have already passed through the care system.

Action is needed to assist post-care adults in gaining access to information about their origins. Requests for information from care records falls under the Data Protection Act 1998, which restricts sharing third-party information, resulting in little or disjointed information being provided.

Such information can help to resolve issues, and have a positive impact on people's families.

- Harvey Gallagher, director of marketing and communications, British Association for Adoption & Fostering

The editor, Children & Young People Now, 174 Hammersmith Road, London W6 7JP

cypnow@haymarket.com; 020 8267 4706

Letters should include an address and phone number. All letters may be edited for publication.