Your report about the demonstration at Long Lartin (Disorder at Long Lartin raises fears about jails, 13 October) missed a key issue which has bedevilled the debate about the recent prison crisis. There were widespread demonstrations in the pre-cuts era when there were little or no staff shortages. Long Lartin is a maximum security prison. Between 1969 and 1983, there were at least 10 major disturbances in five of the eight male, maximum security prisons at the time. David Tucker(Retired senior crown prosecutor), Thirsk, North Yorkshire• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com• Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters

Source: The Guardian October 15, 2017 17:48 UTC