RE Stockton South Conservative parliamentary candidate James Wharton’s letter about being tough on crime (HAS, March 4). I would like to point out that it was the Conservative government in 1990 that changed the parole system.

Parole was replaced by automatic release after half the sentence unless release was delayed by bad behaviour in custody.

From that date we have not had justice. People offended against, who thought the offender was sentenced to three years, find them released in 18 months.

Prison officers and staff are expected to change the attitude of the inmates in half the time the judge thought it was necessary. In most cases, the inmate lacked the education to get a job and keep it. As they are inside for such a short time they do not get training to prepare themselves for life without crime.

I hope Mr Wharton, if elected, is going to change the system back so that when the judge says “three years” the offender will serve three years.

As it stands, it is his party that started the ball rolling that got us into this mess.

Bill Coxall, Ex-Prison Service, North Yorkshire.