Prisoners let out of ‘Butlin’s holiday camp’ jail to drive trucks and delivery wagons
Jailbirds are being let out during the day to drive trucks and delivery wagons.
Lags at HMP Ford – a cushy open facility for cons nearing the end of their sentences – are being released on temporary licences to do paid work.
They are also allowed to use their own cars to drive to jobs as long as they are insured and MoT’d.
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A report into conditions at the jail by the Independent Monitoring Board said: “Men were employed in construction, wholesaling, driving (including HGV), catering, engineering and waste management.
(Image: Hulton Archive)
“Thirteen of these prisoners secured work placements for themselves.”
The jail – in Arundel, West Sussex – has been described as being “like a Butlin’s holiday camp” because of its relaxed regime.
The Ministry of Justice has revealed that 129 prisoners have been let out of UK jails in order to take driving lessons or tests.
Those freed on day release included 57 violent offenders, 30 convicted for drug offences, 21 robbers, four burglars and a sex offender.
(Image: Google Maps)
The Ministry of Justice confirmed that jails made a contribution towards the cost of driving lessons if prisoners could not afford them.
HMP Ford is a Category D men’s open prison which, according to Gov.uk, is “committed to providing a safe and educational environment.”
All inmates there have less than two years left of their original sentence, so the focus is on rehabilitation and providing inmates with the skills they need to reintegrate into society upon their release.
The jail holds over 500 men in a combination of single and double rooms and all prisoners are expected to work in some capacity, with jobs in the prison itself including include painting and decorating, carpentry, engineering, cleaning, and call centre work.
The prison even has a virtual campus, open from 8am until 8pm every day.
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