I HAVE suggested in past letters, that instead of sending young offenders to our overcrowded "universities of crime", we should perhaps send them to the army to serve their time.

Watching the superb Bad Lads Army on TV at the moment reinforced my belief that the army would be a much better option than prison, and would, I believe, bring out the best in many of the misguided young people.

After a prescribed period of basic training they could be given an option of joining the army proper, where, as well as learning to be soldiers, those with aptitude could learn trades which would stand them in good stead if at a later date they opted for civilian life again.

Surely this is a much better option than letting young offenders go unpunished, or building more expensive to run prisons, where young offenders invariably graduate to become old lags.

Brian Derbyshire

Ribchester Grove

Bolton