Criminals enjoy such luxurious conditions in British prisons, that they don't even try to escape to freedom – said Glyn Travis, the secretary general of the association of prison officers. Dangerous criminals serving prison sentences have satellite TV, they use the telephone for free, they get breakfast in bed. Drugs are cheap and readily available, and some prisoners use the services of prostitutes – described the situation for Travis. His statement is reported by several British newspapers. Travis gave the example of Everthorpe Prison in East Yorkshire, where dealers regularly climbed the ladder over the fence, to supply prisoners with drugs and cell phones. There was also a ladder on the inside of the fence, but the prisoners felt so good, that none of them tried to escape.
“In my opinion, there is something wrong with society, if people break into prisons, to deliver drugs and prostitutes, and contented prisoners are happy to stay in prison” – Travis said.
In his opinion, the prison service in Great Britain is in crisis, and some prisons are too “cozy”. He also talked about penitentiary establishments, where overburdened guards are unable to bring order, and the situation is controlled by prisoners.
Reuters writes, that Travis's statement is a blow to the government's rhetoric, advocating the harsh treatment of criminals. The agency takes note at the same time, that members of the government recognized, that Travis did not present the true picture of the situation.
The head of the department of prison, David Hanson, emphasized, that British prisons are very safe, both for prisoners, and for society”. The government is investing heavily in building new prisons and rehabilitation programs. Hanson assured too, that the life of a prisoner is not easy at all.
– I know about very few prisoners, who want to stay in jail longer than they have to – he said.
A prison better than a hotel
