NOT long ago I read in a newspaper about a child being tortured by his stepfather The child was four years old and died as a result of the torture. This is not an isolated incident. You have more chance of being murdered before your first birthday than at any other time.

In order to stop cruelty to children we need a Children's Commissioner in England. The Government has proposed a Children's Rights Director, but this would be limited to looking after the interests of children in care. As the majority of child abuse happens in the family, this would be totally inadequate and tantamount to picking up the pieces after the damage has been done

A Commission which is independent, apolitical and focused on the welfare of every child makes infinitely more sense; a Commission which would work out and put into place effective strategies to prevent a child's rights being violated before they have to go into care, before they have been abused, neglected or traumatised.

More than 100 organisations which work with children feel strongly about establishing a Commission and 85 er cent of the general public agreed in a recent poll that the UK should have an independent office for children. It seems the only people not convinced of the need for a Children's Commissioner are the politicians. The UK Government prides itself on listening to the electorate, so let's make our voices heard.

Carol Gordon

Wright Street,

Horwich, Bolton.