Prisoners sharing cells have been given two TV sets to stop them fighting over what to watch
Inmates in double cells at HMP Rye Hill have been handed a TV set each, costing them £1 week for nine channels, after some complained that their cellmate would not let them watch what they wanted.
Prison inspectors told The Sun that prisoners were more likely to make ‘threats of violence’ towards the person they were sharing with, while some have been moved to the care and seperation unit following disputes.
There are around 160 prisoners sharing a cell at the 660-capacity prison in Warwickshire, which has been spurred on by increased overcrowding.
A report by prison inspectors at the Independent Monitoring Board said Rye Hill was forced to take in 40 extra inmates last November, which has led to increased tensions.
Prisoners sharing cells at HMP Rye Hill (pictured) have been given two TV sets to stop them fighting over what to watch
Inmates in double cells at HMP Rye Hill have been handed a TV set each after some complained that their cellmate would not let them watch what they wanted
A prison source told The Sun: ‘If you have two blokes in a cell and one wants to watch EastEnders and the other wants to watch a wildlife documentary you’ve got a big problem.
‘If you don’t act quickly you’re going to end up with smashed televisions and broken noses — so two tellies in shared cells is the perfect solution.’
Pete Griffiths, the Chair of the IMB at Rye Hill, told The Sun the jail was ‘maintaining fair and humane treatment’, while a spokesman added that two new cellblocks were due to open in 2025.
HMP Rye Hill, which opened in 2001, is a category B prison for men aged over 21 who are serving sentences of over four years and who have been convicted of sexual offences.
It was recently revealed that convicted rapists and burglars may be free to walk the streets from next week because prisons are almost full.
Sex offenders and burglars could be let out on bail rather than handed an immediate custodial sentence, according to guidance issued to judges.
From Monday, offenders who have been on bail will remain free after conviction until a delayed sentencing hearing can take place. The halt on sentencings is expected to last ‘a couple of weeks’ until emergency measures create headroom, sources said.
Prisons in England and Wales are on the brink of maximum capacity, with 88,016 inmates last Friday – leaving just 650 spare spaces.
Official data published yesterday showed the Crown Courts had hit a record high of 65,004 cases awaiting trial at the end of August.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk
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