I am writing in the hope that you will add your support to the SmartJustice for young people campaign for more community-based solutions to crime. Britain imprisons more young people than any country in Europe yet seven out of ten of these young people have been sentenced for non-violent crimes.

I am very worried at the high level of crime committed by young ex-prisoners. Eight of ten young offenders are reconvicted within two years - yet the prison system cost £2 billion.The main effect of sending young people to prison for low level crimes seems to be that they are coming out as drug-addicted hardened criminals with nothing to lose.

I believe that more resources should be diverted to community initiatives such as more positive activities for young people, more support for parents, more drugs treatment in the community, more supported housing for homeless young people and more provision for young people suffering from mental health problems.

When it costs for £50,800 per year to send someone to a Young Offenders Institution, £164,750 pa to send a child to a Secure Training Centre and £185,780 to place a child in a Local Authority Secure Children's Home, investing in prevention has to make sense.