FIGURES show 13,000 prisoners were recalled to jail last year. Some 960 are still on the run, including 47 murderers, paedophiles, rapists and robbers.

Could there be any more damning indictment of a system that betrays everyone – victims, police, probation officers and the law-abiding public whose safety is so recklessly endangered?

Even behind bars, criminals are given soft treatment that robs jail of its sting. As a separate study shows, 98 per cent now enjoy privileges, such as bedroom TV and gym facilities, which are meant to be reserved for the best behaved.

Controversially, the report’s authors suggest inmates should work fulltime at £3 an hour. After contributions to the taxman, their victims and the cost of their upkeep, this would leave them some £25 a week to buy their own perks.

As for early release, justice is mocked when more offenders are being returned to prison each month than are being sent there by the courts.

Longer sentences will mean more cells, and these will cost money. But how can ministers go on releasing murderers and rapists to strike again when we are spending more than double the prison budget on overseas aid?

Colin Henson, Ullswater, York.