Prisoners in Wales petition for extra Sky Sports
One officer at Category B prison HMP Parc in Bridgend told The Telegraph, "They can spend all day watching Sky Sports 1. But they're hacked off because they don't have Sky Sports 2 and 3. They've been moaning it is a breach of their human rights.
"Some have even talked about taking it to the courts and the taxpayers may have to pay their legal aid bills."
The reports have already drawn strong criticism from Monmouth MP David Davies, who said, "It beggars belief they are complaining about this - I haven't even got Sky Sports myself."
"I am aghast that we are paying for prisoners to watch Sky TV. What next? Will prisoners be given a box at the Millennium Stadium for rugby matches?
"People should not be put in prison to spend their days watching expensive satellite packages. They should be educated and learn skills for their rehabilitation when they come out."
The prison are believed to be spending around £100 a month as it is to show Sky Sports 1 to inmates - a reward, officials say, for good behaviour - as part of a 'community premises' package.
To upgrade would cost around approximately £80 a month extra.
The prison has defended the scheme, with a spokesman saying that the current channel serves as an incentive for good behaviour.
"We offer Sky Sports 1 as a privilege that has to be earned and that is the only sports channel we offer," she said.
"These are privileges and inmates have to demonstrate that they are complying with the regime and with prison policy.
"Prisoners always complain about their lot but when you've got a lot of spare time on your hands you tend to complain about things."
UPDATE: Officials from security firm G4S, who run the prison, have denied that a formal complaint has been lodged.
While HMP Parc do run a rewards scheme which involves Sky Sports 1 access, Barry Greenberry, director of operations for G4S custody and detention services, said: "We are happy to confirm there is not, and has never been, any formal complaint from prisoners about access to TV sports channels." Prisoners in Wales petition for extra Sky Sports,
Source: yahoo
