[Margaret Pilkington]

They have been using something similar to this system in either Norway or Sweden for quite a long time. It is for driving offences and for other crimes that are seen as 'minor'...drunkenness etc. It does remove the liberty of the prisoner at times when he would probably enjoy leisure.......but it costs far less to keep the intermittent prisoner in jail....he can work to feed his family...and therefore they are not claiming benefits....the prisoner remains a contributor to taxes and continues to integrate in the local community...so there are no costs to getting the prsioner back into society because he hasn't really left society. Having said that the justice system in this country stinks........you can kill someone by driving under the influence of drugs...leave the scene of an accident and get off with just a few months in clink (if that!)....but if you don't pay your council tax because you don't agree with the policy of your local council then off you go to Jail.