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Facebook prisoner faces inquiry | Facebook prisoner faces inquiry |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A convicted robber from Greater Manchester is being investigated after he was apparently able to update his Facebook page from his prison cell. | A convicted robber from Greater Manchester is being investigated after he was apparently able to update his Facebook page from his prison cell. |
Kane Barratt, 21, from Stockport, is being held at Lancaster prison and is believed to have updated his webpage from a mobile phone. | Kane Barratt, 21, from Stockport, is being held at Lancaster prison and is believed to have updated his webpage from a mobile phone. |
The Ministry of Justice confirmed an investigation is taking place. | The Ministry of Justice confirmed an investigation is taking place. |
Paul Dillon, who had a knife held to his throat in an attack by Barratt, has criticised prison authorities. | Paul Dillon, who had a knife held to his throat in an attack by Barratt, has criticised prison authorities. |
The 55-year-old, an electrical engineer from Gatley in Cheshire, said he was "surprised and appalled" when he heard that Barratt had access to the social networking site. | The 55-year-old, an electrical engineer from Gatley in Cheshire, said he was "surprised and appalled" when he heard that Barratt had access to the social networking site. |
"I don't think prison is tough enough and I don't think the prison authorities have been vigilant to have a mobile phone at your disposal while in prison and having your name on Facebook, like some urban legend. | "I don't think prison is tough enough and I don't think the prison authorities have been vigilant to have a mobile phone at your disposal while in prison and having your name on Facebook, like some urban legend. |
"He was putting up messages like, 'The establishment have locked me up but my soul is still free'." | "He was putting up messages like, 'The establishment have locked me up but my soul is still free'." |
A Prison Service spokesman said prisoners would not usually have mobile phones or internet access. | A Prison Service spokesman said prisoners would not usually have mobile phones or internet access. |
Barratt, who uses the name Kane Reilly on Facebook, appears to have updated the site with photos and comments about life in prison. | Barratt, who uses the name Kane Reilly on Facebook, appears to have updated the site with photos and comments about life in prison. |
Mark Leech said the government planned to block mobile phone signals in UK prisons | |
The Prison Service spokesman said: "Prisoners do not have access to mobile phones or the internet and cannot personally contribute to websites. | The Prison Service spokesman said: "Prisoners do not have access to mobile phones or the internet and cannot personally contribute to websites. |
"This form of media is totally unregulated and we have no power to remove a social networking profile from the internet. | "This form of media is totally unregulated and we have no power to remove a social networking profile from the internet. |
"Body Orifice Security Scanners will soon be introduced. These will be supported by high sensitivity metal detectors and mobile phone signal detectors. | "Body Orifice Security Scanners will soon be introduced. These will be supported by high sensitivity metal detectors and mobile phone signal detectors. |
"The Ministry of Justice has contacted Facebook in order to seek their help in assisting the Prison Service in preventing prisoners from making inappropriate postings on their website." | "The Ministry of Justice has contacted Facebook in order to seek their help in assisting the Prison Service in preventing prisoners from making inappropriate postings on their website." |
Barratt, of Heathland Terrace, is serving five-and-a-half years after admitting two robberies and three burglaries. | Barratt, of Heathland Terrace, is serving five-and-a-half years after admitting two robberies and three burglaries. |
He was part of a gang that broke into a number of homes, terrorised victims and stole their car keys in a six-week crime spree in Bury, Oldham, Stockport and Rochdale. | He was part of a gang that broke into a number of homes, terrorised victims and stole their car keys in a six-week crime spree in Bury, Oldham, Stockport and Rochdale. |
Cars were stolen from victims, who were threatened with weapons such as machetes, and some homes were burgled more than three times by the gang. | Cars were stolen from victims, who were threatened with weapons such as machetes, and some homes were burgled more than three times by the gang. |