SO hundreds of people serving sentences for crimes against society are to be released from prison following a decree by the European Court of Human Rights (or wrongs in this case).

Prison governors in the United Kingdom, in their efforts to maintain order in prisons, have been adding extra days to sentences for breaches of discipline, all allowed under prison rules. Wrong says the court, as this infringes a prisoner's human rights.

The way is now clear for hundreds of claims for compensation by former prisoners who misbehaved and had extra days added to their sentence. Not counting the cost of legal aid, the cost to the taxpayer will run into millions of pounds. How the lawyers must be rubbing their hands together!

Prison governors will now have to seek other ways of imposing discipline. Prisoners who obeyed the rules on the inside must now be left wondering why they bothered.

What should now happen is the Prison Service should sue the first ex-convict to claim compensation under this ruling for the disruption, distress and extra cost caused through that person breaking the rules in the first place. Again don't hold your breath. The subtle effect of issues like this bring about a public feeling of helplessness and apathy.

The real Big Brother may be here sooner than we think. Perhaps that is the real agenda.

F Martindale,

Dringthorpe Road,

Dringhouses,

York.

Updated: 10:35 Thursday, August 01, 2002