Doherty praises British penal system

London: Troubled English singer Pete Doherty has branded the British prison system a success, insisting jailing criminals stops them offending.The ‘Babyshambles’ frontman has spent several periods behind bars during his seven-year battle against heroin and crack cocaine addiction, including a stint in 2003 for even burgling his former bandmate Carl Barat`s apartment, reports contactmusic.com.

He is adamant time in prison won`t help to reform criminals, but insists jailing them works because crooks can`t offend while they`re locked away. "It keeps you off the street, doesn`t it? It works in that way. But it doesn`t stop you offending... Not through rehabilitation. Prison works, because it stops you committing crime," he said. IANS