A HEATED debate is expected tomorrow when various public figures discuss whether Britain is too soft on its prisoners.

Durham University Union Society's latest debate sees Kevin Maxwell, son of the late media baron Robert, cross swords with Phil Copple, governor of the city's Frankland Prison, and LibDem home affairs spokeswoman Baroness Walmsley.

Mr Maxwell will be proposing the motion that Britain is too soft on prisoners, but from the viewpoint as a strong proponent of rehabilitation for offenders.

He said: "Any interested, concerned citizen and tax-payer should care more about rehabilitation than the prison regime.

"The issue is not soft or hard regime, but to be tough about rehabilitation."

He will be backed in the debate by Helen Attewell, the Durham-based representative of SmartJustice, a five-year crime reduction campaign, which is seeking a cut in the number of short-term offenders in prison.

She said: "What we need are regimes that challenge offenders to face up to the harm they have done and equip them with tools to change their lives.

"For most low-level offenders, a community sentence is a much tougher option."

Tomorrow's event, in the Union Society's Palace Green debating chamber, is organised by the Frank Longford Charitable Trust, set up to continue the work of the late Lord Longford in prison and social reform.

It starts at 8.30pm, but is only open to members of the society.

The trust hopes it will help to raise awareness among students of issues surrounding prison reform.