Prisoners to get alarm clocks so they do not wake in a ‘dangerous temper’ to clanging keys
Move could end rude awakenings that featured in hit 70s’ TV jail comedy Porridge and aims to put prisoners in a ‘better mood’
Prisoners will be given alarm clocks so they do not wake up in a ‘bad mood’ to the sound of clanging keys, banging doors and shouting.
The 10-month trial at two London jails is designed to see if a ‘softly softly’ start to the day improves inmate behaviour. If it is a success it will be rolled out nationwide signalling an end to the traditional noisy wake-ups that featured in hit 70s’ TV jail comedy Porridge.
The move is based on a Swedish prison policy to reduce violence by ensuring lags start the day in a good mood.
Natasha Porter, founder of charity Unlocked Graduates which trains warders, believes the change will give inmates important self-control.
She said: “Often in big prisons the way prisoners are woken in the morning is key on door, a loud banging and a cry of ‘get up’.
“There’s shouting, it’s aggressive. And if you are woken up in that way you’re much more likely to start the day in a bad mood – to be violent, to be confrontational.
“What we saw in Sweden was that the officers just try to be quiet when they wake people up by not shouting at them.
“Prisoners have alarm clocks so they can get themselves up, which creates more autonomy. That’s one of the main innovations.”
King’s College London researchers will evaluate whether the trial reduces violence, self-harm and drug use.
Ian Blakeman, London regional group director at HM Prisons and Probation Service, said: “First I want the people in prisons to be safe.
“I want prisoners not to get hurt. I want staff to go home without being injured.
“Improving your climate, improving your staff-prisoner relationships, absolutely improves those safety outcomes. There’s a risk with it in terms of public perception sometimes, in terms of being seen as soft on crime. But it’s absolutely not being soft on crime.”
