SIR – Councillor Cole is flabbergasted at what he terms as the disgracefully reactionary view of Philip Davies MP that he wanted to see “an increase in the prison population” (T&A, January 18).
He may be right, provided that the current prison population could be kept in check through prisons acting as an effective deterrent.
Perhaps these two gentlemen could both get the problem into perspective and work together to formulate a prison system which fulfils its deterrence objective.
What is of significance is that John Cole blithely tells us that a prison inmate costs £40,000 a year (and then some)!
I have always believed that Bradford’s economy has missed out on the social provision stakes. Several years ago, I was laughed at for suggesting that Lister’s Mill should be converted into a prison. Just 500 prisoners would contribute £20m a year to Bradford’s economy and create employment.
I wonder for how long the unemployed will continue to laugh?
John Pashley, Westcliffe Ave, Baildon
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