Letter: Crime. And punishment?

Letter: I refer to the instances of serious offenders reoffending after release on the advice of experts and specifically to Jon Venables.

Isn't is about time that we as a society came to realise, unpalatable though it may well be, that there are some who cannot be rehabilitated, and took appropriate action for the benefit of, not only the James Bulgers and the Baby Ps, but for people like the elderly couple in Warwickshire who had their mobility scooter torched and died from the toxic fumes.

While I'm not an advocate of indiscriminate use of the death penalty I do see the value in putting some of these lawless types to sleep. What would have been so wrong with sentencing Venables to death but suspending that for life, placing the ball firmly in his court and giving him the opportunity for rehabilitation but yet providing society with at least some guarantees.

John Harrison

Whitchurch