Prisoners get laptops to order treats from their cells

Prisoners are being handed laptops so they can order treats from their cells, it was revealed yesterday. Inmates use the laptops, called net books, to buy food including chocolate bars, tinned fruit, tea bags and coffee, toiletries, stamps and batteries from the prison shop system. ‘Prisoners whose net book was removed for poor behaviour or who chose not to have one could access the same services using kiosks in communal wing areas.’ Inmates use the laptops, called net books, to buy food including chocolate bars, tinned fruit, tea bags and coffee, toiletries, stamps and batteries from the prison shop system A list of available products, approved every three months by the National Offender Management Service, has up to 1,000 items on it. Inspectors said: ‘Access to in-cell telephones and secure laptops that eased access to administrative systems was, in our view, the way forward and an example of good practice.’ There have been calls for greater use of technology behind bars to boost prison education programmes and the ability of inmates to stay in touch with their families. In his report on HMP Wayland, Chief Inspector of Prisons Peter Clarke said: ‘The prison was very well led, while plans for improvement were active and substantive, taking the prison forward in a positive direction.’ Michael Spurr, of HM Prison and Probation Service, said: ‘The Chief Inspector has commended the positive work being done at Wayland to tackle violence and drug use and to support effective rehabilitation.’ There are strict controls to ensure inmates are unable to abuse the technology, with in-cell phones limited to pre-approved numbers with ‘robust restrictions’, says the MoJ.