13th January 2008

Dear Mr Hanson,

Thank you once again for your reply. I apologise for my keeping on and taking up your valuable time. The recent letter was very informative and answered all my questions.

I was not aware of the pilot scheme so I do apologise. I would like to understand why problems would arise from keeping offenders in over night?

My proposal of only locking up offenders at night is one that makes more sense, I feel, than during the day. This is because locking offenders up during the day will cost more due to food and also prevent offenders working or learning. Essentially it will cause the same problem that was faced with in prisons. Locking offenders up at night will protect the public more effectively because violence is far more likely in the evening and after dark.

As I understand it costs around £36,000 per prisoner per year in prison. So if the proposed plan is to build more prisons, which I think is a good idea, surely it will only be costing the government more money. Is it not more effective to have intermittent custody as it will cost the country a lot less.

As your letter suggests, the intermittent custody scheme was working but it was withdrawn due to lack of use.

I feel that if you reintroduced it, even in Taunton there it is most likely to be used a lot more. According to statistics and in my point of view crime has increased. This leads me to believe that it would be worth reintroducing.

I do believe that the government needs to be a lot harsher on punishment as criminals are getting off far too lightly. If you are stricter this intermittent custody scheme would be used a lot more.

As far as community service is concerned I feel that it is not enough of a punishment and the problem with the community service orders and tagging etc is concerned there is just not enough police to enforce it. Police resources are stretched as it is and employing enough police or people who work in conjunction with the police would both stretch the police resources even further and cost the government even more money.

Money is a huge issue but I feel that my proposal would be more cost effective.

Please trial this in Taunton. I don’t know how you would go about it. I assume you would speak to the Somerset county council. If you prove me wrong I will leave you alone.

Kind Regards
Adam Fouracre