UK prisons start console crackdown

In emerging news, the government has banned 18-rated games from prison. The document outlining the changes to the regulations, Prison Service Instruction 32/2008, says that "with immediate effect, prisoners on Basic level of IEP [the level of privileges earned through good behaviour] must not under...

In emerging news, the government has banned 18-rated games from prison. The document outlining the changes to the regulations, Prison Service Instruction 32/2008, says that "with immediate effect, prisoners on Basic level of IEP [the level of privileges earned through good behaviour] must not under any circumstances be allowed access to games consoles and console games save exceptionally for those under suicide prevention measures."

The document also states that "Governors must ensure that all games consoles and console games are purchased at prisoners' own expense. No public funds must be used by establishments to purchase games consoles and equipment." Those who have reached the "Enhanced" level of privileges--defined by the prison service as those "who are demonstrably well-behaved, who commit to their sentence plan and fully comply with the prison regime"--will be allowed to use consoles bought at their own expense. Additionally the document states that "no 18-rated console games are to be permitted. Governors must ensure that action to implement these changes is completed by 30 September 2008."

The Daily Mirror reported on Friday that part of the reasoning behind the crackdown was that playing games was making prisoners more violent, going on to say, "We want inmates involved in useful activities. Spending hours in front of a games console did not qualify."

Geoff Dobson, deputy director of the Prison Reform Trust, was supportive of the move, saying to the BBC: "I don't think anyone would have a great problem with incorporating these into a good behaviour programme, but we should not forget the usefulness of these games to prison officers and governors keeping order in overcrowded prisons."

The crackdown follows widespread condemnation last year when Ian Huntley, jailed in 2003 for the murders of two 10-year-old girls, was pictured with a PlayStation. It is also a step up from the ban on PS2s at Wakefield jail in 2006 after prison authorities realised the consoles were being used to watch hardcore pornography--though controversy dogged that move, when prisoners were given £1,800 in compensation for the removal of the hardware.

Public funds will still be available for the purchase of consoles and software in young offenders' institutions, as the ruling only covers adult prisons. That is expected to change, however, as a review is currently under way into the expenditure on such devices in such institutions after it was revealed that £10,000 had been spent buying consoles and software for inmates.

114 Comments

  • razgriz_101

    Posted Jul 30, 2008 10:02 am GMT

    is labour finally getting its act together on punishing criminals?

  • stephenwalker84

    Posted Jul 30, 2008 5:23 am GMT

    This can only be a good thing. I don't understand why murders and rapists are allowed this kind of lifestyle, while honest people who obey the laws have to struggle with rising costs of living.

    I can't see why prisoner should have an allowence to buy video games and consoles anyway. Why don't the government use this money instead to give school children decent meals or increase spending in the NHS, you know where its actually needed.

  • Kravyn81

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 3:17 pm GMT

    Well that's a relief! God knows it's a good thing they're looking out for the welfare of convicted felons by not letting them play mature games. You know, not like they can't handle that sort of thing...being in prison and all.

  • GriffinLord602

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 8:12 am GMT

    Do they get a console each? like... in their cells?

  • lamprey263

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 4:56 pm GMT

    I'm sure the prisoners would love to be outside of prison without their PlayStation that inside the prison with their PlayStation, they're in prison to keep everyone outside of prison safe. I'm sure it's anything but a holiday. Anybody that believes people in prison deserves nothing but suffering are nothing themselves but sadistic. Yes, playing the PlayStation is fun, so is reading a book or taking a prison course in Shakespearean theater, but besides that I'm sure they're miserable enough.

    As far as the penal system is in the United States, which 1% of its entire adult population is held in, people should take a step back and look at what they're doing wrong. Politician's have always benefited from tough on crime policies rather than policies that try to stop crime at its source, which would mean in large trying to combat crime as a direct correlation to poverty as its causation, though, the prevailing view of social progression toward a stronger equality and sense of social justice has in large been perceived as being communist and un-American. And many fail to see how in the United States the corrections systems are becoming more and more privatized, with less and less oversight. Many attribute the Abu Ghraib scandal over an institutionalization of torture interrogation in the United States military, but most people are unaware that such methods are also standard ways to dehumanize most prisoners in many American prisons, justified that they're necessary to maintain social order. Also, for those that believe that prisoners should be used as slave labor... well, you pretty much said it youself, I'll let other people be the judge of that.

  • umbrae

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 4:24 pm GMT

    Wow, sounds like Prison is pretty cooshey. They should be practicing dancing to thriller instead of playing video games. I meant, really, its prison!

  • Col-Neil

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 4:21 pm GMT

    They shouldn't have things like video games in the first place its meant to be a prison not a holiday camp

  • lamprey263

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 3:57 pm GMT

    just let them watch their porn

  • kratos_karmakar

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 3:30 pm GMT

    dont know wat to say. theres no right or wrong statement here.

  • peeweeshift

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 3:21 pm GMT

    woah 10 Grand euros is a lot.

  • Henninger

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 2:49 pm GMT

    Dryker can u read? The article wasn't talkin bout any1 in the US. They were talkin about prisons in the UK. So basically u just wasted ur time with ur comment. Now 4 my opinion.

    I feel that they should have a system in jail. Y not? They have nothing else 2 do but their daily jail job, play cards, read books, work out, & the occasional movie. Y not add an extra option 2 get their minds off of the BS jail life comes with? Would u rather the inmates start a riot or any other act that is considered wrong or would u want them 2 do something 2 keep them from doing things that r considered wrong? They're already in jail just leave em alone & let them deal with that life the best way they know how.

  • _fIrE_

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 2:48 pm GMT

    Part of this article is wrong. It's stated that 18-rated games have been banned. Later it is stated that all consoles and games related to the consoles are prohibited to people with good behaviour, except those with suicidal tendencies. Only those with exceptionally good behaviour are allowed to play games, but at their own expense. Nothing about adult rated games is quoted. It seems that Gamespot has either misquoted or misunderstood. The only thing I see about adults is that they have to pay, and those in "young offenders' institutions" need not.

  • kruddman

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 2:44 pm GMT

    I think something about the competitive nature of many videogames can instill violence in some people... especially people already inclined to violence. But that can arise from any competitive activity. Poker to football

  • Blackstaff

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 2:43 pm GMT

    While games do not make people violent... NORMAL people.. people are in prison for a reason, many of them are mentally unstable and violent games -CAN- make them more violent. Also the simple fact they are in Prison and it's not meant to be a daycare.

  • darknferno12

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 2:41 pm GMT

    Is there any place in the world where prison is a rehabilitation place that works I mean either prisons are too violent so life from the streets to prison isn't much of a change so when your released your just stuck in a cycle that you can't get out or prison is too nice with video games (what next 5 star meals?) so no one will care if they land in prison which void everything

  • ssjdagas

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 2:22 pm GMT

    Let them play games, prison is about preventing people from doing harm not about making them as bored as possible, better for them to play games than fighting or something. I can agree however that they should not be able to play 18 rated games, they don't need to be exposed to any more violence than what's in prison already.

  • jazzplaya44

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 2:12 pm GMT

    First of all prison is is for punishment and is also for rehabilitation for those without life sentences. The problem is that prison's are a business instead of an institution making money by the numbers, and thus rehabilitation is forfeit. Prison is designed so that many will come back like legal cocaine addictions thus increasing state revenue. Prisoners who are willing to accept the program should be rewarded for their work, many prison work goes towards construction projects that better our infrastructure mainly transportation. The media demonizes prisons by focusing on the pad-locked violent individuals involved with gangs and other violence while straying away from the rest of the farm. This ban on video games in prison is masking the true problem, that is the lack of constructive rehabilitation from the system. Video games does not create violence, there was violence before the creation of Pong centuries ago men were killing their own brothers over a false holy claim which we call the Crusades. It all comes down to responsibility. Video games in prison are a PRIVILEGE! that inmates have to work for they don't get it when they get their state issued orange jump suit. Video games are always going to be the patsy when high end officials need to blind the mass media for noticing their flaws, and business scams. People on this forum should really look t the rich high class criminals like Enron and our President who has stolen from 100's of millions of people. Look at Martha Stewart stole millions due to insider trading went to Club Fed for a few months where she ate the most expensive meals did not have to do any manual labor had all the luxuries in the world because she had money, people are not complaining that she is the highest ranked Halo 3 player after stilling millions while a thief in prison who is probably there due to socioeconomic status who stole maybe a $1000 (which can be considered grand theft). If prison is there to promote rehabilitation whom may have a chance in making in the real world should be rewarded to promote that progression, taking away the smallest liberties will only promote disobedience when their efforts go unrewarded, the reason why many are in the system anyway. I won't got in racial matters because thats a whole different topic on the laws about prison.

  • Galen20K

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 2:12 pm GMT

    The UK has Prisoners??? I thought that Crime was Only us, Hmmmm
    Interesting

  • Blazius2

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 2:11 pm GMT

    Exactly twistedT. They've got this whole thing going on with violent behaviour and videogames. I think they're putting video games down because they make you think, and you get to choose what you do in a game, unlike television, where you drool in front of your idiot box and you get stuffed with whatever crap the media chooses to feed you with.

  • amkalfus

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 2:06 pm GMT

    wow... thats a lot of money bein spent...

  • I_Helios_I

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 2:03 pm GMT

    Look although there would be some resentment with me being the taxpayer and my money going toward buying these people video game consoles to play on while in prison, I do understand that the people in there are still human beings and I would think that them being able to play some videogames would cut down on prison violence and make it a minutely safer atmosphere for the guards who are working there lol

  • proud722

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 1:56 pm GMT

    @TwistedT as much as I resent the statement that its making them violent to say that the uk government is trying to create an anti video game atmosphere is rediculouse. I mean it was a rule brought in by the prison authorities for a start, also what motive you could conjure up for them to want to do such a thing I don't know. I'd believe the press was trying to do that with the ian huntley case, stir up a bit of contraversey, sell a few papers but other than that really what are you on about?

  • akiwak

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 1:47 pm GMT

    This is where M$ is sending all their RROD 360's so inmates can pretend to be playing games. Ohh you just got pwned an my make believe halo match with you. OH Yeah! well you just got pwned in real life, how does my shank feel?

  • marvster21

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 1:47 pm GMT

    you people are pretty stupid saying its not a 5 star hotel or whatever. do u think they spend every hour of the day playing? obviously not, they still have to spend time in a confined jail cell with the risk of getting stabbed or fed a cock meat sandwich. its not a place for fun because to get in u have to have done something bad so think before you say anything or else your obviously ignorant and it looks like we have enough ignorant people here.

  • Dryker

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 1:46 pm GMT

    This is ridiculous on so many levels. It boggles my mind that world leaders are this confused about a simple issue as if they had never even heard of the word Logic. Personally, I wouldn't allow any consoles in prison. It's prison! How many free folk spend all their supposedly "free" time playing videogames in their tiny room? Quite a few, I'm sure. Hell, lock me up, so I can spend my life being taken care of, while reading, writing, and playing videogames, on the taxpayer's dime. That's about all I do anyways. It'd be great! Well, except for family visits, but for loners and social outcasts, which criminals generally are, it's a perfect solution. As for maintaining order in over-crowded prisons, clean up legislation. Stop locking people up to keep dumb people happy. If they're not a threat to humanity or humanity's welfare, leave them alone. Stop busting people for lifestyle choices. If they want to be dumb and die early, let them. Stop worrying about their family. It's probably the family's fault the person is dumb and self abusive anyway. Stop charging the hardworking Americans for other people's foolishness. Well, I'd better stop now.

  • twistedT

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 1:37 pm GMT

    I think most of you are missing the main point here, this is an easy way to get people to begin to rally against video games. They mention the fact that someone who killed two girls was seen in a photograph using a ps2...imagine someone in a photo with the most popular console ever! I wonder if they have a photo of him drinking a soft drink then they can rally against coke too. As far as the porn issue, maybe they should hire decent gaurds, I work in corrections here in America and 9 times out of ten the gaurds are aware of the contraband and thats if they are not the ones who brought it in to the inmates. A disc can be a serious issue, you can do quite a bit of damage with a disc...in the compund I work in all discs music, video, games are contraband in the possession of a inmate. I agree that life is difficult in prison, and it probably should be, you can reform someone without making it easy for them to be there. playstation is not a right they need or should have, except in reward based situations. We use ps2 at my compond and anyone can use it at almost anytime, sadly it's used to occupy their time so they are easier to babysit. But again remember the context in this case in the UK, they are obviously trying to create an anti-video game trend in the UK. "part of the reasoning behind the crackdown was that playing games was making prisoners more violent" THAT IS BS! I see them playing them and in situations where it has been taken away as a form of punishment and there is absolutely NO DIFFERENCE in their behaviour. Politicians in the UK are obviously using this to create an anit-game atmosphere.

  • JonhMan

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 1:31 pm GMT

    @Blazius2

    Of course prisoners are people. What we're trying to say is, prisoners should only be allowed their basic needs. Not pampered with stuff. These people all committed crimes and the should be doing something to repay their debt to society instead of sitting around playing video games. I agree with the positive reinforcement, but isn't that what parole is for?

  • darfvader

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 1:29 pm GMT

    depends on what prisioners i mean if its something like tax embezllers than seriously, they might as well put their cash that they have and didnt get caught into the market. remember that prison isnt just double murders and rapists, i mean i knew a guy who sat in prison for a rediciouls amount of time on alamony rlated crap, he wasn't a criminal in my eyes just some guy who messed up.

  • BigDaddy973

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 1:26 pm GMT

    Haha, now the prisoners can't play.

  • LOXO7

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 1:14 pm GMT

    Is this going to cause a surge of people to commit terrible crimes in the UK more than anywhere else in the world?

  • Flipyap28

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 1:09 pm GMT

    they should give them old atari's then they will wish they never got themselves in prison and I really don't see why governments should buy consoles for prisoners even if they do behave, they shouldn't be there in the first place, think about how someone who behaves at school may not get to play a console and the school wont give them one but the boy who misbehaves and gets himself in prison does, the best a prison should get is a tv

  • Viral-venom13

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 1:09 pm GMT

    Well here we go again, yet another reason for the bashing against games 2 continue!!

  • shaggyaz

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 12:54 pm GMT

    tonkas knows what hes talking about,prison is NOT a hotel

  • jcspanky

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 12:53 pm GMT

    They should just allow them to play those games that come from "popular" movies. A few hours of that kind of torture and they'll be begging for hard labour.

  • dr_jashugan

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 12:50 pm GMT

    Game Over Inmates!!!

  • Ash_Korsair

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 12:48 pm GMT

    in prison u should be prepared for reintegration in society.
    if they dont, the inmates go back to what they knew best, crime.

  • amber_jade

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 12:36 pm GMT

    And they wonder why prisoners reoffend... *sigh*

    I believe that all prisoners should be made to do hard labour 9 - 5 or else take up an educational course. If they play up on the course then they get sent away with the others. They should all do hard labour at the weekends.

    They certainly shouldn't have luxuries like game consoles...

  • Mudcaked

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 12:20 pm GMT

    Funds will be better spent elsewhere. There's nothing wrong with books.

  • galduke

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 12:19 pm GMT

    "When Ian Huntley isn't masturbating to the memory of snuffing his two child victims, he spends his time playing Crash Bandicoot and Kingdom Hearts."

    I know a lot of people are opposed to the death penalty (more likely due to spooky 1984 than actual basic reasoning) but in the cases of these people how can anyone justify mercy to the point of allowing them ANY form of leisure? That being said, it would be kind of odd if inmates played games though replicate the activities that landed them in prison in the first place, so ditch the games that glorify crime and criminals too much and keep rewarding cooperative inmates guilty of lower leveled offenses.

  • snakes3425

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 12:17 pm GMT

    You shouldn't be playing video games in prison anyway, if your in jail you're there to be punished for a crime, not take a vacation.

  • granlonganiza

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 12:07 pm GMT

    they are complaining because prisoners have acces to video game consoles?, they should take a look to prisons in el salvador were inmates have tv's, cell phones, fans, some inmmates relatives bring them drugs, assasination orders, weapons and other stuff and they compalin becasuse somebody was playing a video game?, come on!

  • shadystxxx

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 11:57 am GMT

    The Prison's in England are now just like secure wards where Kid's aged 15 and younger go, my cousin used to be in one when he was 14 and he was allowed to have a Playstation(this was over 10 years ago) a big Tv, video player, music system,posters,books,films etc etc basicly it was his bedroom only when 9pm came he was locked in, and in the association area they had PC's, sky tv(cable) dvd players with loads of dvd's, it was like a holiday camp, also they used to have lovely food every day was like a cavery day where there was several different types of food available, when we used to visit i would purposely miss my dinner so i could have a big meal there, he also used to get a weekly shooping allowance where he could buy good trainers,clothes,video games etc, by the time he got out he had allot move stuff than the average kid had in our area, and he actually enjoyed it while he was there.

    And young offenders are basicly the same, 90% of them have consoles, tv's etc, allot of people dont mind going to prison as its better than life outside.

    Even in mens prisons like Durham prison they dont have that bad of a life, it's basicly like being stuck at home and only allowed out your room for several hours a day for association or work, allot of people do not work as they would rather play video games,watch movies in there cells than go work in the kitchen or something and so they are banged up 20-23 hours a day but they dont mind as theres plenty of entertainment.

    prison should be a boring ass place that you really do not want to visit, and it is boring still but its not terrible.

  • GrimBee

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 11:51 am GMT

    I bet some of the in-mate favourites were "Metal Gear Solid", "the great escape", "Prisoner of War", "Splinter Cell Double Agent"

  • tonkas

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 11:47 am GMT

    None of you idiots have been to prison. Most people are in jail for drugs in the US. Prison is a nightmare. Going to prison is like being thrown into a port o potty on a hot summer day. A video game might make you less likley to kill yourself or others. Prison is NOTHING like a hotel or even a ghetto motel in the US. ALSo everyone in America does things that would get them put in jail. It is only a matter if you get caught. Also being in jail does not make you un human. People have needs and at least a few rights.

  • dragonmaster335

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 11:44 am GMT

    Heh, never knew that they had video games in prison, but it's still pretty stupid how they're getting rid of these games. I'm thinking it's only cuz of GTA4 but I mean come on, it's not like they can copy what they're doing, they're already IN PRISON. From the start, video games should've only been allowed to the ones with good behavior who are locked up for years to come, or for life and that's it. Other than that it should be books for everyone else like other people have said. I love video games but to be honest I'd rather read books if I were ever in prison, so that way I can REALLY enjoy my freedom once I get out and play video games all I want. Prison isn't a vacation spot -_-

  • Cwagmire21

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 11:41 am GMT

    Taking away games from prisoners!! Sounds like "cruel and unusual punishment" /sarcasm

  • krunkfu2

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 11:40 am GMT

    if the prison wages in the UK are anything like the prison wages in the US you'd have to be in jail for a long time in order to buy a game console

  • fakeplasticlung

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 11:39 am GMT

    i wonder how many prisoners played through the training mission of gears of war hoping that would be them one day busting out.

  • getutsav

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 11:35 am GMT

    this is so retarded people who go to prison get to play games , its ok if they have to work to get that privelege but even if they are allowed they should be kept at a minimum coz they went to prison for a crime they commited not to a hotel to loung around playing games all the time yet get tv food shelter everything for free heck thats better than most peoples lives on the outside

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