Carrot and stick is better than jail

GERALD Warner (Insight, 4 July) promotes a simplistic "jail 'em all" approach to offenders, most notably in labelling offending children under 12 "feral".

Jail should be reserved only for serious offences against which the public needs protection. That being the case, such offenders should be regarded as renouncing all civil rights and privileges, including state benefits. They are entitled to basic accommodation, but anything more should be at their own expense, including food and in-cell entertainment.

Properly managed community service should be the norm for lesser crimes, accompanied by a 50% reduction in any public benefits, such as child or unemployment allowance.

This "carrot and stick" approach would prevent loss of employment arising from imprisonment, and critically would be more likely to foster improved social attitudes.

Robert Dow, Tranent