ASKHAM Grange women’s prison has a ‘remarkable’ record for preventing prisoners returning to criminal activities on release, yet the government wants to close it down, which is hardly in keeping with the tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime mantra that has long been the mainstay of political thinking.

We therefore welcome Shadow Prisons Minister Jenny Chapman’s call for the decision to be reconsidered, after she visited the open jail near York this week.

To close such a successful rehabilitation centre makes no sense to us at all. It would also represent a criminal waste of resources. Let’s hope the Prime Minister is prepared to listen to reason.