Letter: Prison problems

Reports that Justice Secretary Ken Clarke's plan to ease the overcrowding in British prisons by imposing community service punishments instead of short custodial sentences makes me wonder if he is aware of just how many of our current inmates are there because they have defaulted on these community service orders.

The solution to the problem, although politically unpalatable, is quite simple; 50 years ago, the thought of a jail sentence was a deterrent to most criminals, but now it clearly is not.

This is the issue that the government must eventually recognise and have the courage to address.

Walter J Allan

Colinton Mains Drive

Edinburgh