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.