Meals in prison not the issue
Dear Editor There has been some controversy recently over Christmas fare served to prison inmates.
Some politicians have claimed it is too“lavish”and the Prison Service and members of the public have rejected the criticism.
It would probably be easier for everybody all round if the prisoners were served the same meals at Christmas as members of the forces.
Even with the dull national service food of the 1950s, the Army turned up trumps at Christmas and did us proud.
National Service and being in prison were in many ways very similar.
Our freedom was also severely curtailed and we had to go where we were sent, with, in our case, injury and death possible outcomes as it was for many in the KoreanWar.
In some ways, modern prisoners have better conditions than we enjoyed from what I hear and read about prisoners’food and privileges.
No, I am not in favour of prisoners being badly treated. Let them have as good a time at Christmas as possible. All prison conditions should be civilised and humane. There should be no cruelty or victimisation.
What bothers me is the reluctance to send offenders to prison in the first place, the short sentences they are given and the rules which cut these sentences by half without prisoners having to earn remission by good behaviour.
One newspaper correspondent was describing what ghastly places prison are.
If they are so bad, why are offenders so lacking in fear of them that they re-offend knowing full well they run the risk of being sent straight back?
The trouble is too many modern offenders have no respect for the police, our courts or the authorities and no fear of any punishment handed out to them. George K McMillan Mount Tabor Avenue Perth
Dear Editor On behalf of all of us at Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, I want to say a huge thank-you to everyone who has supported us this year, every single one of the bakers, runners, walkers and swimmers, the daredevils, the rafflers, shoppers, volunteers and fancy dressers and everyone else who took the time to think of us and all the people across Scotland we support.
Because of you, we’ve been able to support thousands of people throughout Scotland who have been affected by chest, heart and stroke related conditions.
Thanks to advances in treatment, and changes in lifestyle, many more people survive heart attacks and strokes than ever before which is fantastic news for Scotland’s health. However, this means that many more people, and their families, are living with the long-term impact of these conditions and huge numbers of people need help to cope after they leave hospital. We are here to help people to live their life, not just survive.
We want to say a special thanks to everyone who has volunteered their time to support us in 2017. None of the work that we do would be possible without the invaluable contribution that each of our volunteers have given. Their work is absolutely vital in our local support services, charity shops and other activities. We very much appreciate the commitment, enthusiasm and care they bring to the charity and to their local community.
With continuing grateful thanks, and best wishes for 2018. Jane-Claire Judson Claims meals served to inmates are “lavish” are wide of the mark, according to Mr McMillan