Prisoner rights and wrongs

Sir, – Members of the equalities and human rights committee at Holyrood have suggested prisoners should be permitted to vote.

I cannot understand why committees are set up to spend time and money on subjects such as prisoners’ rights when there are more important things to investigate – homes for the homeless, the injustice of benefits for those who deserve them, NHS funding etc.

But votes for prisoners? Absolutely not.

Every person in prison has violated the rights of the ordinary citizen. Drunk drivers have ignored the rights of people to be safe on the road. Burglars have taken away the rights of

everyone to feel safe in their homes.

Murderers have taken away the right to live. Hence they have lost some rights.

Even so, prisoners still have the right to a roof over their heads, to food, clothing and communication with their families.

They have access to education. Some may say they have a better life than many so why do they also need a right to vote?

Rehabilitation was mentioned – how to behave properly in society should be the focus and then they can vote.

Ask the public. Have a vote on it and we’ll see what people think. Surely we have the right to that. Gerard Dignan. Denhead Crescent. Dundee.