LAGS sharing cells have been given two TVs — to stop them squabbling about what to watch.
Bosses at HMP Rye Hill, a 660-capacity jail in Warwickshire, installed extra sets in double cells after some inmates complained their cellmates would not let them watch what they wanted.
NewsteamPrisoners sharing cells in HMP Rye Hill have been given two TVs — to stop them squabbling[/caption]
Inspectors said the 160 or so inmates who shared a cell were more likely to make “threats of violence” to their cellmate.
Some were even moved to the care and separation unit after telly disputes.
A report by inspectors from the Independent Monitoring Board said there has been pressure on space at the sex-offenders jail since November when it had to take in 40 more inmates.
It said that more prisoners were forced to share cells, leading to an increase in tension.
The report states: “The prison has tried to mitigate the situation by having two TVs in a shared cell and permitting headphones, but reduction in availability and allocation of single cells has remained an issue.”
A prison source said: “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.”
A spokesman for the jail said two new cellblocks were due to open in 2025.
Pete Griffiths, the Chair of the IMB at Rye Hill, said the jail was to be praised for “maintaining fair and humane treatment”.
Prisoners pay £1 a week to have a TV — normally with nine channels.
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