Prison Service rejects POA claims

Friday, 25, Apr 2008 12:00

A spokesperson for the Prison Service has insisted inmates in Britain's jails do not enjoy a "cushy" lifestyle.

The comment follows claims from the Prison Officer Association (POA) that prisoners were enjoying their lifestyle so much they were not attempting to escape, even when given the opportunity to do so.

The Prison Service spokesperson described the suggestion that prison is "cushy" as "ludicrous".

But she added that neither did prisons run "harsh regimes" as such a strategy would not help efforts to drive down re-offending rates.

"The comments by POA undermine the excellent work done by prison officers — their own members," she said.

"The POA's description of prisons is out of touch with reality."

The Prison Service insisted its fundamental stability in the last ten years was a strong record reflecting the hard work of its staff.

And it rejected claims by Mr Travis that some areas of prisons are no-go for staff as "simply not true".