IT is good to see Nancy Loucks of Families Outside suggesting greater use of electronic monitoring (EM) as an alternative to HMP Inverclyde ("More women should be tagged", The Herald, January 24).

In Denmark, 60 per cent of all custodial sentences of under six months are converted into sentences of EM and intensive supervision, served at home. Ten per cent are revoked. Denmark is of comparable population size to Scotland - but its prison population is just over 4000, as opposed to ours, of approximately 8000. EM has its problems and dangers but could be used more wisely than it has been in Scotland.

Mike Nellis,

Emeritus Professor of Criminal and Community Justice, University of Strathclyde School of Law, Graham Hills Building Level 7,

50 George Street, Glasgow.