Letter: No deterrent

By The Newsroom

Published 19th Apr 2011, 20:56 BST

Updated 19th Apr 2011, 21:00 BST

The SNP says mandatory custodial sentences for carrying knives will not work (April 19), and Police Federation chairman Les Gray accuses politicians of being fixated with knife crime.

I hope they reflect on Lib Dem justice spokesman Robert Brown's words. He said: "Prison is not a deterrent for most offenders ...". Addressing this basic failing would be a start.

Walter J Allan, Colinton Mains Drive, Edinburgh