Prisons ban x-rated computer games

25 July 2008 07:08am

Prisoners are going to be banned from playing violent computer games, it has emerged.

Only convicts who have earned the highest level of privileges will be allowed access to games consoles such as PlayStations, according to a new Prison Service directive.

And the document, Prison Service Instruction Number 32/2008, bans prisons from spending taxpayers' money on buying hardware or computer games for inmates with immediate effect.

Last year the Government admitted spending more than £10,000 on 80 PlayStations and 15 Xboxes for young offender institutions.

It states that all prisoners will be banned from playing 18-rated computer games from the end of September this year. Only inmates on the highest level of Incentives and Earned Privileges (IEP) and those at risk of suicide will be allowed to play computer games.

The document states: "In the adult (18 and over) estate access is to be restricted to those prisoners on the enhanced level of the IEP scheme only. In addition, no 18-rated console games are to be permitted. Governors must ensure that action to implement these changes is completed by 30 September 2008.

"With immediate effect, 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."

The directive applies only to adult prisons and not to young offenders institutions.

In the document Mr Spurr writes: "These changes will ensure that prisoners may only earn access to games consoles by a positive demonstration of good behaviour and commitment to the requirements of their sentence plan.

"This is in line with government policy flowing from the Prison Policy Update paper of January 2008."

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