Paul Carroll seems to believe eradication of drugs is somehow going to solve all the other problems the prison faces.

As he admits, prisons reflect the community they are based in. As long as the use of hard drugs is prevalent in that community, they will also be consumed in prison.

Even were Mr Carroll to succeed in his mission of sealing the prison, what next? As soon as they get out, the inmates would go back to their previous habits.

There was not one mention in the interview about rehabilitation or education. Can anything be more stupid than using the withdrawal of education facilities as a punishment?

Why are the computers in the prison still using Windows 3.1 and out-of-date software?

Does Mr Carroll not think retraining prisoners in useful skills might play a part in setting them off on a different path in life?

Has he never considered the use of hard drugs might be symptomatic of other problems or is his sole concern stability and order inside the prison, regardless of what happens when inmates leave?

What is most depressing about Mr Carroll's outlook is the "war on drugs" that has failed so miserably in the United States and here.

As long as Mr Carroll maintains his present stance, prisoners will presumably share needles and run the risk of spreading HIV.

When we first raised the question of the cuts in visits to unconvicted remand prisoners, we were told the changes were for their benefit.

The real reason for the changes slipped out - the attempt to prevent drugs being smuggled into prison. The irony is that Lewes is as full of drugs today as it ever was.

-Tony Greenstein, Brighton and Hove Unemployed Workers' Centre