Ministers admitted that nearly 3,000 prisoners in privately-run prisons ââ¬Åwere eligible to access subscription channels provided by British Sky Broadcastingââ¬Â.
Criminals are offered the perk for good behaviour but critics condemned the disclosure as ââ¬Åastounding.ââ¬Â
The figures were condemned by MPs and prison officers, who said it was outrageous that taxpayers could be picking up the bill for the subscription television.
The news has emerged days after new Justice secretary Chris Grayling pledged to stop jails being like holiday camps for inmates, including a review of access to satellite television.
Mr Grayling warned last week: Prison is not meant to be a place that people enjoy being in. I donââ¬â¢t [want to] see prisoners in this country sitting in cells watching the Sunday afternoon match on Sky Sports.
He said: ââ¬ÅAccess to in-cell television for prisoners in contracted-out prisons is dependent on a prisonersââ¬â¢ status under the Prison Serviceââ¬â¢s Incentives and Earned Privileges Scheme.
ââ¬ÅAs part of the recent digital switchover, all eligible prisoners have access to the locally determined free-to-view channels in their cells.
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Criminals are offered the perk for good behaviour but critics condemned the disclosure as ââ¬Åastounding.ââ¬Â
The figures were condemned by MPs and prison officers, who said it was outrageous that taxpayers could be picking up the bill for the subscription television.
The news has emerged days after new Justice secretary Chris Grayling pledged to stop jails being like holiday camps for inmates, including a review of access to satellite television.
Mr Grayling warned last week: Prison is not meant to be a place that people enjoy being in. I donââ¬â¢t [want to] see prisoners in this country sitting in cells watching the Sunday afternoon match on Sky Sports.
He said: ââ¬ÅAccess to in-cell television for prisoners in contracted-out prisons is dependent on a prisonersââ¬â¢ status under the Prison Serviceââ¬â¢s Incentives and Earned Privileges Scheme.
ââ¬ÅAs part of the recent digital switchover, all eligible prisoners have access to the locally determined free-to-view channels in their cells.
Full article
Your thoughts on this?
