Letter: Roots of violence

Sir; At last, it is publicly acknowledged that cruelty to animals is linked to extremes of antisocial behaviour.

In this country it is a criminal offence to interfere with the cruelty involved in "field sports" and anyone found guilty of protecting the fox, stag or hare from the hunters can face three months in prison and a huge fine! Animal cruelty is unacceptable whether it takes place on a council estate or a country estate and perhaps the hunters of today are the wife- beaters and child-abusers of tomorrow.

JOHN DUNN

Basingstoke,

Hampshire