Prison should be tougher on inmates, a top rehabilitation expert said yesterday.

And Dr. Roy Williams of the prison rehab programme Woodshop Plus, added a harder regime would make ex-inmates less likely to re-offend.

Dr. Williams said: "What I'd like to see is them treating them a little harder when they're inside.

"The feeling is `I don't have anything to do, I can have an easy life inside.' "If they knew prison was a deterrent, they would try very hard to stay out of it.'' Dr. Williams was speaking after he appealed for international and local businesses to get behind the pioneering programme designed to turn criminals into carpenters -- and responsible members of society.

He told Hamilton Rotary Club that BELCO, the Bank of Butterfield and Renaissance Reinsurance had all played a "key role'' in sponsoring Woodshop Plus and thanked them for their assistance. But he said later that more backing to ensure the future success of the St. George's-based programme was vital.

Dr. Williams said: "I'd love to see a lot more companies coming forward and helping us.'' And he said every company in Bermuda, whether local or offshore, had a vested interest in a low crime rate.

Dr. Williams added: "A lot of ex-inmates aren't able to fit into society -- they come out with high expectations, they've saved some money and think that can take them through.

"But the money goes so fast and they're left not knowing what to do, so they commit a crime to go back inside.'' But he said Woodshop Plus offered ex-cons a chance to go straight -- and learn a trade "on the verge of extinction'' among young Bermudians.

Dr. Williams added: "We orientate them, counsel them and keep them out of going back. If companies assist us, we would be able to pay the staff to find the jobs once they finish schooling and are educated so they can stay in a job constantly.

"And that means less crime and crime affects everybody. A lot of them get frustrated and commit a crime and go back in.'' Dr. Williams said it cost a whopping $200,000-plus a year to run the workshop alone, with the training area swallowing an additional $20,000 a month.

But he added the Woodshop Plus programme offered a "disarmingly simple'' solution to the "revolving door syndrome''.

inmates a craft, help them reach their goals and enable them to preserve their dignity.'' And he added: "It's my real hope that Workshop Plus will have developed a pool of skilled labour which will be able to maintain the existing stock of antique furniture and homes, while increasing the production of quality reproductions.'' Dr. Williams said maintaining basic educational requirements, the introduction of antique appreciation classes and specialist training were all aims of Woodshop Plus.