Suffolk: MP calls for criminals to wear orange boiler suits

13 November 2012, 13:32 | Updated: 13 November 2012, 13:40

A Suffolk MP is calling for criminals doing community sentences to wear American-style, orange boiler suits.

Bury St Edmunds MP David Ruffley says there should be an element of 'shame' involved in the punishment.

At Commons question time Mr Ruffley said he hoped ministers were "not going to go soft on introducing an element of shame and real punishment in these new community penalties''.

He said under existing schemes offenders wear a yellow vest with the words "community payback'', but these can be removed "if the probation staff think it appropriate''.

Mr Ruffley said: "What we really need is community punishments where the offenders are in the community with orange Day-Glo boiler suits with the word 'offender' on the back, to inculcate some sense of shame and make these tough sentences, not the soft ones we have had up until now.''