Sick People

The usual vested interests crop up in the Guardian letters page today, on the subject of prison 'reform' (for which read abolition).

We get the wonderfully and aptly named Frances Crook of the Howard League For the Abolition of Punishment (arguing for less punishment), Steve Rolles of the Transform Drugs Policy Foundation (arguing for more money for drugs education), Lucy Gampell of Action for Prisoners' Families (arguing for less imprisonment), and a Pauline Campbell of Malpas, Cheshire.

Ms Campbell considers that "there is something cruel about sending sick people to places of punishment".

I think there's something even more cruel about harassing an elderly stranger accosted in a town centre, threatening to accuse him of rape unless he hands over money for drugs, then robbing him of his wallet and credit cards when he collapses and dies. Takes all sorts I suppose.