I was glad to hear Ronnie Biggs was refused parole.

Why should Barnet residents pay for the care of a man who has shown no remorse for his crime and evaded justice for so long?

Most disturbing though was Andrew Dismore MP’s response that it didn’t matter if Biggs was in a care home in Barnet or in prison, as it’s all public money.

Public money it may be, but prison is about punishment and rehabilitation and the cost is dispersed nationally — a care home is a luxury many people cannot afford and why should the cost for this criminal be borne by Barnet taxpayers?

Councillor Tom Davey, Hale Ward