Havering has one of the lowest numbers of children excluded from schools for physical violence and abuse against adults in London.

The number of children excluded from the borough’s schools for possession of drugs has also fallen every year since 2008.

Figures released from the Department of Education shows that Havering was ranked 28 in the list of boroughs with just 175 pupils excluded from schools in 2009/10 for physical assault and verbal abuse against an adult.

The schools covered were secondary, primary and special schools and the exclusions cover temporary suspensions and those permanently expelled.

The figures also reveal that in total in London the number of pupils excluded in 2009/10 for physical assault and verbal abuse against an adult was 9.460, in comparison to the figure for the whole of England which was 86,770.

Greenwich tops the table with 759, students excluded while Hammersmith and Fulham has the lowest figure of just 93 pupils excluded.

A Freedom of Information request by the Recorder has also revealed that the number of children excluded for possession of drugs has fallen year-on-year from 26 in 2008/9, to 21 in 2009/10, to just 12 in 2010/11.

The number of permanent exclusions has remained stable, with one child not allowed back into their school in 2008/9, three in 2009/10, and one again in 2010/11.

Cllr Paul Rochford, Cabinet member for children and learning, said: “Our schools and their governing bodies work very hard to maintain high standards among their pupils.

“We as a council have a zero tolerance policy towards violence and drugs anywhere in our community.

“But we are not complacent and will continue to work with schools to ensure the number of exclusions continues to fall.

“Our Drug and Alcohol Action Team works closely with our secondary schools to warn pupils of the dangers of drugs.