Practice of jailing people for non-payment of debts under fire

IMPRISONING people who are unable to pay their debts is an unjust and outdated practice and should be ended, according to a legal advice group.

The Free Legal Advice Centre (FLAC), which hosted a conference on consumer debt earlier this week, said the huge growth in consumer debt made reform of the debt system even more urgent.

It is in favour of introducing the European model of debt settlement, where debtors and creditors work out a realistic repayment schedule.