A COUNTYWIDE debate on Prisons and Punishment, which was hailed as "active Citizenship at its best", culminated at Worcester Cathedral.

More than 300 Worcestershire students took part in the discussion, which examined victims of crime, capital punishment and whether modern punishments fit the crime.

The debate was lead by MP Stephen Dorrell, Lucie Russell, director of the Smart Justice campaign for prison reform, the Rt Rev Peter Selby, Bishop to HM Prisons and Nimneh Hyde, a member of the Youth Parliament.

The talks coincided with shadow Home Affairs Minister David Davies' call to bring back capital punishment - a view shared by many at the conference.

Lucie Russell suggested that British prisons were "universities of crime", while 17-year-old Nimneh Hyde, a pupil at Pershore High School, argued that sentences should be "as long as rehabilitation takes".

Students then discussed the issues in their groups before challenging the speakers with a range of questions.

"This was a success in communication and partnership," said Dean of Worcester, Peter Marshall.

"The vital discussion on the place of prisons in 21st Century demands a very wide exchange of views. We were delighted for the Cathedral to be used in this manner."

Students from Malvern College and Hanley Castle High School joined city pupils from Worcester College of Technology, RNIB New College, and The King's School, Worcester at the Citizenship event.

The climax of the day was the tension before the final vote, which detected whether the speakers had persuaded the audience.

A shift in view was evident as many students acknowledged prisons should be places of rehabilitation as well as punishment and retribution.

Stephen Dorrell MP said: "If this was a General Election, a 6 per cent swing would be considered a successful outcome."

Student group YOUTHCOMM organised the event in conjunction with the Cathedral education officer and based on suggestions from their website.