TWO issues currently facing the country are the problems of overflowing prisons and overstretched old people’s homes.

I have a solution.

Why not put the elderly in jail and the criminals in nursing homes? This way old folk would have access to showers, hobbies and walks. They’d receive unlimited free prescriptions, dental and medical treatment, wheelchairs and also receive money instead of paying it out.

Our senior citizens would have constant video monitoring, so they could be helped instantly if they needed assistance.

Bedding would be washed twice a week, and all clothing ironed and returned to them. A guard would check on them every 20 minutes and bring their meals and snacks to their cell. They would have family visits in a suite built for that purpose and access to a library, weight room, spiritual counselling, pool and education.

Each person could have a computer, television and daily phone calls. A board of directors would hear complaints and the guards obliged to adhere to a strict code of conduct.

As for the criminals, they would receive cold food, be left all alone and unsupervised. It would be lights off at 8pm, and showers once a week.

Their lives would be spent in a tiny room and they’d have to pay £900 a month with no hope of ever being released.

What do you think?