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Violent prisoners 'paid to play' Violent prisoners 'paid to play'
(about 5 hours later)
Violent and dangerous inmates at high security prisons are being paid by the Prison Service to play Scrabble, learn guitar and look after fish tanks.Violent and dangerous inmates at high security prisons are being paid by the Prison Service to play Scrabble, learn guitar and look after fish tanks.
The criminals earn credits by taking part in "constructive activities".The criminals earn credits by taking part in "constructive activities".
These credits are used to obtain such personal items as telephone cards, toiletries and tobacco.These credits are used to obtain such personal items as telephone cards, toiletries and tobacco.
The scheme, at jails like Whitemoor in Cambridgeshire and Wakefield in Yorkshire, is part of a rehabilitation regime a Prison Service report said. The scheme, at jails like Whitemoor in Cambridgeshire and Wakefield in Yorkshire, is part of a rehabilitation regime, a Prison Service report said.
Other occupations which attract the payments include playing ping-pong and other sports, going to the gym or library, cleaning, attending classes as well as seeing a psychologist or mental health nurse.Other occupations which attract the payments include playing ping-pong and other sports, going to the gym or library, cleaning, attending classes as well as seeing a psychologist or mental health nurse.
A number of these prisoners in this system will eventually be released so our job is to make them less of a risk not more. Jamie BennettA number of these prisoners in this system will eventually be released so our job is to make them less of a risk not more. Jamie Bennett
Inmates have to complete at least 30 minutes of an activity to win a payment.Inmates have to complete at least 30 minutes of an activity to win a payment.
The scheme is revealed in a report on jail segregation units by the chief inspector of prisons Anne Owers and has been defended by a wide range of people.The scheme is revealed in a report on jail segregation units by the chief inspector of prisons Anne Owers and has been defended by a wide range of people.
Ms Owers said: "This was a positive initiative that places a degree of responsibility on prisoners to structure their day and to sustain a pattern of constructive activity."Ms Owers said: "This was a positive initiative that places a degree of responsibility on prisoners to structure their day and to sustain a pattern of constructive activity."
A Prison Service spokeswoman said inmates received the equivalent of £1.10 a session in a "cashless" awards system which was confined to Britain's most violent and disturbed inmates.A Prison Service spokeswoman said inmates received the equivalent of £1.10 a session in a "cashless" awards system which was confined to Britain's most violent and disturbed inmates.
"By definition these are the most difficult prisoners who have to be kept apart from other prisoners often for long periods," she said."By definition these are the most difficult prisoners who have to be kept apart from other prisoners often for long periods," she said.
"They present a particular challenge to manage and by engaging them in purposeful and rewarded activity the Prison Service can continue the process of reintegrating them back into normal conditions.""They present a particular challenge to manage and by engaging them in purposeful and rewarded activity the Prison Service can continue the process of reintegrating them back into normal conditions."
'Reduce violence''Reduce violence'
Deputy governor at Whitemoor Prison, Jamie Bennett, said the scheme is designed to help rehabilitate inmates.Deputy governor at Whitemoor Prison, Jamie Bennett, said the scheme is designed to help rehabilitate inmates.
"Being locked up all day simply makes them worse so they're more violent while they're in prison."Being locked up all day simply makes them worse so they're more violent while they're in prison.
"A number of these prisoners in this system will eventually be released so our job is to make them less of a risk not more."A number of these prisoners in this system will eventually be released so our job is to make them less of a risk not more.
"Trying to get these prisoners out and engaged in activities is about first of all making them safer and less violent while they're in prison but also much more importantly serving the public by making sure that when they come out they're much less likely to commit crime in the future.""Trying to get these prisoners out and engaged in activities is about first of all making them safer and less violent while they're in prison but also much more importantly serving the public by making sure that when they come out they're much less likely to commit crime in the future."