UK Prisons Banning 18-rated Games July 26, 2008

Read more Consoles , Entertainment , Gadgets , Games , PS3 , Xbox

prison.jpgYou've had a hard day making licence plates, or scratching your arse at Her Majesty's Leisure, and all you really want to do is get back to your cell with Grand Theft Auto IV and shoot some coppers in the face but, Oh No, you're faced with Harry Potter & His Do-Gooder Mates.

Well, tough luck [in]mate. From September 30, the Prison Service will remove and ban all 18-rated games from prisons in England and Wales. Under new rules, prisons will no longer be allowed to buy consoles or games but, eligible prisoners with good behaviour will be able to buy their own. Those on suicide watch will also be allowed to play games.

Last year, the government forked out over £10,000 on 80 PlayStations and 15 Xbox 360 consoles for young offender institutions but that's now been canned.

Geoff Dobson, deputy director of the Prison Reform Trust told the BBC:

Continued...

"The bottom line is access to computer games is no substitute for purposeful activity like work or education classes, both of which are being cut back because the government is failing to tackle the underlying reasons for the rise in the prison population."

"Prisoners who are being managed under suicide prevention measures will be allowed access to a games console to occupy them while they are vulnerable."

While I'm chuffed that the government is going to save a piddling £10,000 of taxpayer money, I can't help thinking there's something deeply ironic about it stopping criminals already behind bars from playing crime-oriented/violent games.-Martin Lynch

[BBC]

Comments

I don't even think that prisons should be allowed to have games, they are there to be punished not play xbox and ps2!

posted-by Anonymous | July 26, 2008 11:38 AM

If they're playing Sony that's punishment enough.

posted-by Stolencheese | July 26, 2008 10:58 PM

agree with above. what sort of message does it send to criminals if all they get is free meals and games consoles for committing offences rather than any form of rehabilitation or punishment??

posted-by Anonymous | July 26, 2008 11:00 PM

The government should get them out in chain gangs to clean up run down areas, No wonder loads re-offend straight away to get back in.... nice life playing games all day, accomodation, meals etc - in prison!

posted-by Nicky | July 26, 2008 11:50 PM

No more gta4 for em

posted-by dirtywarez | July 27, 2008 1:13 AM

This news story says nothing about only certificate 18 games being banned, but rather that all games and consoles will be taken away. Another case of sensationalising less than interesting news, or just missing information in the post?

posted-by Anthony Hobday | July 27, 2008 5:19 PM

what about my human rights? what is gizmodo doing to protect me, tell me!!!

posted-by kellog | July 28, 2008 12:26 AM

Agreed with all above, I don't even have GTAIV yet and these douches have them? Scrap the whole idea, prison is a *punishment*

posted-by Anonymous | July 28, 2008 1:23 AM

No wonder there is so much reoffending, even though every reoffence is a sign of a total failure of the system. The UK should learn from Japan's prisons.

posted-by Tim | July 28, 2008 12:17 PM

they shouldnt be playing anything! its supposed to be prison!

posted-by Anonymous | July 28, 2008 3:13 PM

"OH NOES, I MUST STEAL THIS CAR SO I CAN GET BACK IN AND RETAKE MY HI-SCOAR!!!11" - I can just see that happening. Games consoles in jail is just so wrong!

posted-by JS | July 28, 2008 3:58 PM

that's good to hear, people who commit crimes forgo the things we have to pay for. having consoled and games payed for for them to play is a disgrace, i agree with the above statement in that they should be made to don bright overalls and clean up roadsides and actually do something productive. Its not about what they want they lost there human rights when they decided to break the law.

posted-by Karl | July 30, 2008 12:53 AM

I read the press release on this & what it says is that all adult prisoners over 21 years in our prisons will be banned from 30th September from playing 18 rated games. However, they still won't be banned for juveniles as the Youth Justice Board still has to approve it. This is a no brainer, BAN ALL PRISONERS FROM PLAYING ALL GAMES.

posted-by Anonymous | July 31, 2008 6:28 PM

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