Games consoles handed to prisoners

Prisoners serving time in Staffordshire are enjoying state of the art computer game consoles and have access to nine DVD players, the Express & Star has learned.

Bosses said Featherstone Prison near Wolverhampton has two Xbox 360 consoles worth £350.

Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act also revealed 144 prisoners have televisions in their cells. And neighbouring Brinsford Young Offenders Institution has allowed 300 TVs inside cells.

Taxpayers' money also supplied two Nintendo Wii consoles in 2008 at a cost of £500.

But these have now been taken to Werrington young offender institution.

The TVs, DVD players and X-Boxes were bought by the prisoners through a rental charge and through the profits made from refreshments bought by prisoners' visitors.

Ministry of Justice spokesman Rob Moseley said prisoners earned privileges based on their behaviour.

He said: "The key earnable privileges are extra and improved visits, eligibility to earn higher rates of pay, access to in-cell television, opportunity to wear own clothes, access to private cash and time out of cell for association.

"The aim of the scheme is to allow prisoners to earn additional privileges through responsible behaviour, participation in hard work and other constructive activity.

"Prisoners pay a rental charge for televisions in their cells. Public funds are not used to buy personal stereos — this is funded by prisoners."

Retired police chief John Mellor, aged 81, said: "We appear to be trying to coax people into obeying the law.

"I can't see that modern, electronic gadgets will prevent anyone from re-offending.

"Prison should be a punishment for committing crime."