While I agree with most of what you say in your leader of January 18 on whether to build more prisons or to try some of the alternative policies suggested by you, most of these would require considerable discussions before implementation.

A much more radical solution, which could be put in hand quite quickly, would be to get suitable prisoners to build their own prisons. There are presumably quite a number of fit younger men who could be given training in all aspects of the building trade who could be usefully employed as bricklayers, joiners, plumbers, etc, and encouraged to become craftsmen in their chosen trade instead of the less useful activities they have at present.

The building trade is very short of these tradesmen at present and, after they have learned their trade and served their time, they could become useful members of the community on release.

R Forsyth, 81 Neilston Road, Uplawmoor.