Last weekend the almost farcical scenes at Ford Open Prison in Sussex reminded us of what I and many others perceive to be a deterioration in our prison system.
Mark Freeman, deputy general secretary of the Prison Officers’ Association (POA), likened the sight of his officers pursuing inmates with breathalyzers, to “a scene out of Benny Hill”.
More seriously, though, it became apparent that the two prison officers and four support staff on duty were completely unable to control the 496 inmates under their care.
The result – 40 drunken prisoners burned down part of the prison in a rampage, causing damage estimated at £3 million – was serious.
The open prison works because of a tacit agreement between prisoners and staff.
Prisoners are willing to abide by the rules in exchange for a reasonably liberal regime.
In an open prison, they have their own rooms, bathrooms and televisions.
They are encouraged to go out to work, in preparation for a life outside prison walls.
Alcohol and drugs are officially banned.
But Ford Open Prison was already notorious for its lax regime – a report on the prison highlighted low manning levels and the easy availability of alcohol two years ago.
Lord Brocket, a former prisoner at Ford, has written this week about how drugs, booze and even women, were lifted over the perimeter fence into the waiting arms of inmates.
Even so, the system worked – until now. What has changed are the prisoners themselves.
Ford Open Prison was designed to hold non-violent, mostly white-collar criminals.
But it’s now emerged that budget pressures have forced them to take higher category prisoners, who are completely unsuitable for open conditions.
The POA has warned this problem is likely to get worse around the country.
Naturally, they are concerned. And so am I.
Ford was supposed to provide an incentive for good behaviour, not a reward for bad.
It is no good threatening to confiscate privileges from hard core criminals.
They have nothing to lose, while those on the cusp of being released have every reason to behave well.
They should be separated and treated differently.
Most importantly, prison officers must be given the support they need before there are more riots.
Otherwise our prisons will become no go areas. And that would be a disaster for us all.