Prisoners get keys to their own cells

Dozens of prisoners have been given keys to their own cells at Stafford's jail.

Under a special scheme, inmates at Stafford Prison preparing for transfer to open prison are given the keys to single cells.

The Stepping Stone project is said to have had 100 per cent success at the jail's single cell G Wing.

Since it was introduced 70 prisoners have gone on to open prisons and none have absconded.

Such a success rate is virtually unknown elsewhere within the prison service.

The two-storey G Wing, which acommodates up to 40, was built at the prison which houses 741 inmates, in 2004.

It is said to be the wing that every inmate wants to be on to and is used as a "carrot" to encourage good behaviour.

Prisoners have to satisfy a number of criteria to be moved there including meeting the highest level of behaviour and having no health problems.

Each cell in the prefabricated block has en-suite facilities including a shower and those inmates on the Stepping Stones programme get a "privacy key" that enables them to lock their own door and let themselves in.

They are also eligible to apply for release on temporary licence while on G Wing.

Prison Officer Adrian Hancocks said the aim of the project was to assist prisoners to move on from closed conditions to an open prison.

He said before the project thee had been problems with prisoners transferring coping with the change in culture.

"We developed the project so that inmates can be given more responsibility and freedom in a relaxed regime," he added.

The 216-year-old Stafford Prison is one of the oldest prisons in the country and apart from G wing all other cells are doubles.

The conditions in G Wing are said to be in stark contrast to the rest of the training prison.

The prison's last inspection in June 2009 found Stafford was performing reasonably well in all areas.

Living conditions at G Wing were described as "very good" and the prison was found to have an improving focus on resettlement.