SIR - Five people from Bradford were convicted of assaulting a police officer (T&A, May 25).

Incredibly they were only given community orders or fines rather than the custodial sentences that should surely always be handed down for assaults on police or other emergency service officers.

Then in the following day's paper a man who grew £20,000 worth of cannabis, as well as bypassing the electric meter, also avoided jail, being given a 10-month suspended sentence.

Is it really any surprise that we see so many illegal activities when the punishments handed down are too often little more than a mere slap on the wrist. I have said it before, but this really has to change as we are currently on a slippery downward slope.

Bob Watson, Springfield Road, Baildon