Leader: Prison spell holds no fear for the cons

Many employers would be more than willing to heed Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke's call to give jobs and training to ex-cons who have been rehabilitated properly, just want to go straight, and have a fear of returning to prison which gives them plenty of motivation to make a fresh start.

However, too many who experience today's prisons see them as little more than occupational hazards, in the same way as did one Norman Stanley Fletcher.

The grim cells of HMP Slade in the TV classic Porridge are sadly a far cry from today's computer games, in-cell televisions, and state of the art gym equipment.

Too many prisoners leave jails with no fear of returning.

Because of that, employers will be more reluctant to take a chance and give them jobs, especially when they have the option of instead filling the vacancy from one of the millions who are out of work and have no previous convictions.

And why should it be them who are leading the way in Mr Clarke's social experiment? They look at government departments and see that they are not falling over themselves to employ those who have spent time at Her Majesty's Pleasure.

The employers' attitude is understandable. Prisons need to be tougher. They need to be places of rehabilitation, but also of just punishment for wrongdoers.

When society and employers are convinced that the justice system is doing its bit, they will no doubt be willing to do their bit too.

That does seem a long way off when there is a Justice Secretary like Ken Clarke, a man who was, years ago, once thought of as a potential Prime Minister.

Thank goodness he never got the keys to Number 10.