15 MAY 1964, Page 13

LONG SENTENCES "

Sm,—Replying briefly to the critics of my letter giving concrete objections to the savage sentences imposed in the train robbery case: 1 did not in- clude Mr. Lloyd Morgan's good point—that these sentences bar reformation—because I thought that the public already appreciate this.

Mr. G. E. Howard asks, 'Has there, in the past many years, been any sign of reluctance on the part

of thieves and robbers to use coshes and firearms?' The answer as to coshes is: no. As to firearms: yes. If the cosh-criminal receives as long a sentence , as the gun-carrying thug, one of the reasons why the majority of criminals do not yet carry guns will go, and the whole undesirable question of arming the police will have to be raised.

18 Chesham Street, Brighton