SIR - Once again we hear that we have hundreds of rapists, paedophiles, murderers, etc, roaming the country after "escaping" from open prisons.

Why put these individuals in open prisons in the first place? It would be cheaper to put them in four-star hotels.

John Reid, the Home Secretary, states that he is taking it seriously. Wow, what a guy!

Many of these individuals are foreign prisoners, why should this be? The answer is very simple, in their country of origin they don't commit crime for fear of dire consequences.

They know that in this country they can commit their crimes with virtual impunity.

The House of Commons scratch their collective heads and ask what can we do about our overflowing prisons?

Again, the answer is simple. Release "Mr Smith, aged 65," who hasn't paid his TV licence, "Mrs Brown, aged 60," who hasn't paid her council tax, all the individuals with learning difficulties, etc. The list goes on.

Then lock up the real villains.

T Tordoff, Calderstone Avenue, Buttershaw