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Adult-rated videogames banned in UK prisons

by Steven Williamson on 28 July 2008, 09:53

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The government clampdown on violent videogames continues this week with news that the prison reform trust has ruled that all adult-rated videogames will be removed from prisons in England and Wales by September 30th 2008.

A spokesperson for the trust said that videogames are"no substitute for purposeful activity like work or education classes" but it did recognise that games do help to keep the order, especially when prisoners are confined to their cells due to overcrowding.

Videogames will still be made available though, and the prison service will run an earned privileged scheme where only prisoners who "fully comply with the prison regime" will have access to consoles, such as the PS2 and Xbox.

In 2007, the government spent £10,000 on providing Xbox and PS2 consoles to prisons and young offenders institutes across Britain, but the Prison Service has confirmed that no further money will be spent.

Related Articles: Question of the week: are video games a factor in violent youth behaviour?

Source :: BBC


HEXUS Forums :: 6 Comments

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Posted by chuckskull - Mon 28 Jul 2008 09:52
Now if they'd just extend it through to ALL other games I might think the government were doing something sensible.

It's PRISON ffs :rolleyes:

EDIT: In before the OP :lol:
Posted by Ferral - Mon 28 Jul 2008 09:53
Hmmmmm, go to prisom for whatever you have done, behave yourself while in there, put your feet up and play games on a console.

Don't worry about rent or council tax and get 3 square meals per day.

Sounds good doesn't it!
Posted by nichomach - Mon 28 Jul 2008 10:03
*Puts head in hands* OK, firstly, the Prison Reform Trust hasn't “ruled” anything - it's a charitable organization that is not part of the government. Secondly, in the context of the massive budget that is spent on locking people up, £10k on a few consoles that can be used as a part of an earned privileges scheme is infinitesimally, vanishingly small, and may actually have done some good. Thirdly, before anyone goes off on one, outside of this very limited scheme, access to consoles for prisoners is a privilege (as is access to TVs, etc.) and must be earned through good behaviour. It can also be withdrawn at any time. Further more, aside from this tiny pilot, which applied to some young offenders institutions only, consoles must be bought by prisoners or their families and are not subsidised by the taxpayer. In fact, much as is the case with phonecalls etc, prisoners (or their families) must purchase the items through the prison service, which charges rather more for them than you'd pay on the high street.
Posted by Funkstar - Mon 28 Jul 2008 10:04
ok, hands up who reads the daily mail you two?

:rolleyes:
Posted by pauldarkside - Mon 28 Jul 2008 13:39
I wouldn't want to be the one getting a red ring :surprised:

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