Former prison governor Vanessa Frake shares insights into how criminals celebrate Christmas in UK prisons. Inmates enjoy festivities like pool competitions, card games, and Christmas carols, while watching TV in their individual cells. Despite the festive atmosphere, the day is devoid of visits from loved ones and presents are not allowed.
There will be around 88,000 prisoners locked up over Christmas in the UK this year, including some of the country's most notorious killers.
She said: "Prisoners and staff just wanted to make the best of it and each prison has their way of getting through it. This might be pool competitions or playing cards. Staff do try and make an effort and they should be commended for that." She said: "The days of Porridge where you have one TV, put a film on and everybody sits down and watches it have gone. But TVs are a privilege not a right."She said: "You can send their money in to put in their account to spend in the canteen. But there are no presents - sometimes the churches will do a little thing, maybe a Mars Bar or something but nothing like a present you'd see under the tree.
Vanessa said: "Before Christmas you always do a search of the wings to find any hidden hooch brewing. At Scrubs we had the first 'Hooch Pooch', which was trained to sniff it out.
Christmas Prisons Inmates UK Holiday
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