LIFE behind bars at Deerbolt Young Offenders’ Institution will come under the spotlight as part of a prime time TV show tonight (Thursday, October 17).
The makers of Inside Prison: Britain Behind Bars were given unprecedented access to six jails across the UK for the four-part series.
In the final episode, to be aired at 9pm, cameras focus on the Deerbolt prison where, in response to recent unrest, a specialist search team hunts for contraband around the prison, whilst new control measures are implemented for Friday prayers.
Every Friday, Muslim inmates from all wings congregate at the chapel for prayers. Deerbolt’s violence reduction officer Nick has to review video footage in the wake of a number of fights breaking out in the chapel between inmates.
He tells filmmakers: “Friday prayers [is] traditionally a bit of a flashpoint because of the accumulation of people there.
“There are guys there for the right reasons, to worship, but there’s a lot of guys there to distribute drugs, contraband, phones. That small element causes the disruption and instability.”
Meanwhile, E-wing prison officer Cameron is tasked with looking after Leon, one of Deerbolt’s most volatile inmates who, aged 20, has already served four years inside. After Leon dealt out his own form of discipline on a fellow inmate, staff clamp down when they suspect he is dealing illicit goods from his cell.
The programme makers claim more than 70,000 illicit items were seized in prisons last year, but many more made their way into the hands of inmates.
They say at a time when the Prime Minister has promised a £2.5 billion investment in more prison places, the series aims to examine the challenges presented to staff by escalating levels of violence across UK jails, and explores how officers drawn from a broad range of backgrounds, ages and experiences build and maintain relationships with prisoners from young offenders to vulnerable women.
