Prison experts need to think of new ways

DURING a recent news item on television concerning prison overcrowding, a new inmate was questioned about the conditions he had to accept.

He complained that the cell allocated was, initially, a single occupancy cell but it had been converted by adding bunk beds to house two inmates.

It wasn’t his first prison sentence; nor his second, third or even fourth, no, it was the eighth time he had been imprisoned. Of course, it hadn’t been his fault he had been imprisoned so many times, he had just “fallen in” with the wrong crowd.

Clearly, the present prison regime didn’t provide the slightest deterrent to career criminals like this, and for most people with even a modicum of common sense it is not difficult to understand why. What are the views of the so-called people who claim to be experts on understanding the criminal mind? Couldn’t they anticipate the criminals’ response would be one of contempt for the law? Are they unable or perhaps, unwilling, to accept the reality their thinking and policies have produced?

Perhaps rehabilitating the offender must be prioritised; make him believe that leading a “normal” life is better for him and his family; make him believe that crime doesn’t pay; make him believe that acquiring all the modern facilities many expect today can only be achieved from a law-abiding lifestyle; make him believe his present career choice cannot provide him with all these benefits.

Selection of least fittest

From: Don Burslam, Elm Road, Dewsbury Moor, Dewsbury.

THE primaries in the United States have highlighted a fundamental difference between our systems which is not to our credit.

Our local selection committees occupy a position of enormous responsibility and disproportionate power.

They are responsible for selecting candidates many of whom are for seats which are safe and in these cases it is not the cross on polling day but the prior choice of the candidate which counts.

So a few thousand people, many of whom hold extremist views, in effect pick the bulk of our legislature. This is a very unsatisfactory situation.

It is true that there have been a few “primaries” over here, eg Totnes in Devon, but this is merely dipping a toe in the water. If something on similar lines to the US were adopted, the expense would be great but true democracy is expensive. The whole system needs a complete overhaul.

Beware the silver surfers

From: Mike Grout Lawns Court, Carr Gate, Wakefield.

I WOULD like to bring to your attention a recent change to the concessionary rail travel enjoyed by holders of the Senior Citizens’ Bus Pass in West Yorkshire.

We used to enjoy the chance to travel anywhere within the West Yorkshire rail region for the small sum of 50p per single journey.

With no consultation that I am aware of, someone has destroyed that enjoyment by increasing the cost by between 200 and 800 per cent, yes, not the six to nine per cent increases introduced for younger travellers.

I would like to know what justification caused such a huge increase. How on earth are pensioners on fixed incomes supposed to cope with that increase, are we supposed to roll over and die in order not to be an inconvenience to these people?

I am disgusted that yet again the elderly are made to pay through the nose for living longer.

In these times of financial restraint, we are all supposed to help out so why not ask us to pay 75p or even £1 for a single journey?

Most of us would be able to afford that small increase even though it would still be far in excess of the average increase.

Beware the voting power of the silver surfers, we will outnumber you all soon.

Mistaken destination

From: D Birch, Smithy Lane, Cookridge, Leeds.

IT is raising its head again and all the thoughts are that the world wants to travel to London and nowhere else in the UK.

Are there no brains down there at all? They talk about the potential business and travellers from the Far East, the African continent and South America etc, before we even get jobs for our people and goods and services to sell.

Why does it have to be in the London area? Do they ever think of how many of the passengers in these long-haul flights are coming for business or just how many want to come and see the rest of this country of ours?

It is 200 miles from Leeds to London, less to the Midlands, which represents a one hour flight to London, when the people involved will have been on the plane coming in anything from 12 to 20 hours. So why does a new airport have to be in London?