Free to work

Given the seriousness of the crimes committed by these women, there will be incredulity that they have acquired jobs that could, otherwise, have been undertaken by law-abiding residents currently out of work. Is this justifiable?

The counter view is that these women – all of whom are serving their sentence at Askham Grange Prison – pose little threat to public safety because they, in fact, killed their partners or a relative. They also need to begin, somewhere, their transition from custody to civilised society, and the Travelodge hotel in question is to be commended for its enlightened approach in providing these killers with a second chance.

What does seem questionable, however, is that the judicial authorities chose to base this trio at the same hotel when it may be more beneficial that they are rehabilitated at separate hotels in order to maintain public confidence.

This latter point now needs to be carefully considered.