WELL hallelujah - a letter that every judge, MP and Prime Minister should read and act upon.

Thank you to John Rogers (Jails should be tough on crime, April 22), for suggesting we take a lesson from the old days regarding prisons and their harsh regimes, and that if we had, it would cut reoffending and be a real deterrent.

Also, as Mr Rogers suggests, why not have glass partitions between inmates and visitors to stop things being transferred, including drugs. This might stop the general stance of prison not working, and let the politicians redeem themselves for letting things slide so much.

N Hillen,

Wains Road,

Dringhouses,

York.

Updated: 08:55 Monday, May 01, 2006