Why isn't work compulsory in UK prisons? Would you agree with it?

Question

As far as I know, work isn't compulsory in UK prisons, and I'm pretty sure some prisons don't even provide work.
If work (not necessarily hard-labour) was compulsory then prisons should pay for themselves without public money and at the same time provide products/services for society outside.
I recall hearing about some prisons that operate industrial laundry & product assembly lines but I don't think these are very common(?)
It would also keep prisonsers physically & mentally active, potentially with less time to cause trouble. In some cases it may even provide skills that would be of use in the outside world. Isn't it a win-win situation?
With our prison population increasing anyway and a lack of prison space, surely it's unlikely the situation would arise in the near-future where people were sent inappropriately to prison by the authorities as a source of free-labour!

Answer 1

they do it in China

Answer 2

They do work in prisons. But the income from the products sold (things as varried as sheds to liscence plates) is very low. Add to that the fact that they have to pay the prisoners (human rights laws). There was even a case where a prisoner claimed that he was entitled to holidays because he was a working man.



Plus if they increased the scale of the operations to produce on a mass scale then they would have the upkeep of a factory and a prison to pay for - they would never be able to be self sufficient, as they would not be able to afford to run both. It's cheap labout compared to any other business in this country, but then these other businesses don't provide meals and accomodation on such a mass scale.

Answer 3

Yes I would agree with it. I saw the chain gangs in the US when I visited and I was impressed. They were doing manual labour that would otherwise have been paid for by the council for example. They were focused and working hard. I have heard of UK prisons making prisoners work, but like you say this isn't that common.



You look at many of our prisons and it is easy to see why recidivism is so high - prisoners would rather be inside than outside!

Answer 4

It would require enormous organisation and it would be important to check that prisoners were working in a way compatible with their physical and mental capacities, that their work didn't give them access to dangerous equipment unless there were some safeguard to ensure that this equipment didn't fall into the wrong hands; that only remand prisoners who specifically applied for the privilege of working were allowed to do so (human rights) and that prisoners were paid. I have visited prisons where work was encouraged. In Brussels, for example, there is what one might term a "white collar" prison for educated inmates where some serious work was taking place for the government -- the printing of legislation, for instance, and creativity was encouraged among the prisoners -- such as self catering as an alternative to communal meals. I was a frequent visitor to two other prisons in the Caribbean where work of various kinds took place and where some prisoners discovered practical gifts which they had been unaware of before and where the most trustworthy and industrious prisoners were allowed to go out into the community and do work of the kind normally associated with community service in the UK, something which they loved, as it gave them a change of scene and made them feeling being genuinely useful. They were paid for their work and it gave them an incentive, as they would have a little nest egg for their release. Properly handled, this system can work and give prisoners a sense of self-worth.

In reply to your final comment, I did know of one prisoner in a Caribbean prison who was not released on licence at the proper time because he was such a brilliant electrician that they couldn't spare him and of another who was such a remarkable carpenter that he was finally retained at the end of his sentence -- as a member of staff in the carpentry workshop! The officer in charge of agriculture was also a former inmate.

Answer 5

Do you want Cherie Blair QC to make even more money than she does now?. Having had the Human Rights Act foisted on us by Bliar mainly for his wife and the other lawyers benefit why do you think prison, which believe it or not was meant to be a form of correction and punishment has turned out to be a holiday camp?.

You are probably going to be visited by Bliar's Thought Police very shortly.

Answer 6

when I was a prison officer we used to have four workshops. One made light fittings, one made moulded plastic car headlamp covers, one made prison uniforms and one worked waste recycling. This kept them busy but as in the outside world there were people who were quite happy to just lie on their lazy backsides all day long and then complain that they never had any money. If it was up to me id make them work in chain gangs picking up litter and stuff like that, prison is meant to be a punishment and it should be compulsory to work to repay your debt to society

Answer 7

Totally agree with you, not only would it help pay for their chosen accommodation but it would also help in their re-rehabilitation by creating a work ethic in prisoners. All these left wing do-gooders keep saying prison doesn't help or reform people, with your suggestion it would. Why don't you write to your MP and see if he /she is brave enough to raise the subject in Parliament?

Answer 8

Work should be compulsory in UK prisons, they appear to be holiday camps from what I've seen

Answer 9

boy o boy have you got it wrong,work is very much compulsory,you have to pay a pound a week for your tv,if youve earned one that is,the canteen is profit making,they say that is to teach you to budget and pay for things and its dearer than an outside shop,you are lucky to earn eight pounds aweek,and prisoners do all the laundry,cooking and cleaning of the prison,you are brainwashed pal,and that is the tip of the iceberg

Answer 10

section American trolls masquerading as British, decrease than the psychological well-being Act. Then Evacuate British troops from Afghanistan Abolish classes expenditures Tax all earnings above £100k at seventy 5% and all above £500k at ninety% Abolish NHS costs Renationalise without reimbursement, each and every thing stolen from the British human beings for the reason that 1979 placed Thatcher and Blair on trial for homicide, treason and corruption.

Answer 11

They would think work was a luxury if prisons were the way I`d like them to be!!!

Answer 12

* yes i agree it would be far better to have compulsory jobs for prisoner give them some training to do a proper job when then come out.

Answer 13

Good idea i think maybe then they could afford to build more prisons and start making punishments fit the crimes....

Answer 14

probably they would prefer to work rather than be stuck in their cells all hours day and night, but it would tie up resources in supervising them if they were let out to work and I think the idea is not to give them what they want isnt it?

Answer 15

they can't work, they are busy smoking pot ....