Inmates are to be given hundreds flat screen televisions in an attempt by prison bosses to meet energy efficiency targets.
The Scottish Prison Service has ordered 1,600 of the 19-inch flat screen television sets to allow prisoners to watch programmes in their cells.
Opposition politicians criticised the move, but the prison service insisted that the televisions will not cost the taxpayer any money.
Among the prisons where the TVs will be distributed is the maximum security Shotts prison, which houses some of Scotland's most dangerous criminals.
Richard Baker, Labour's justice spokesman in the Scottish Parliament, said: "Many of my constituents can't afford new televisions, and particularly not swanky 19-inch flat-screen affairs. What sort of message does this send?"
The SPS said TVs have been "a feature" of prisons since 1999 when Labour began eight years in administration at Holyrood.
A spokesman for the service said: "SPS are seeking a future supply of in-cell televisions which are energy efficient to meet SPS green targets.
"It will require that the supplier holds stock that prisons will draw down as required."
The spokesman added: "Prisoners are charged £1 per week for televisions and we have around 7,800 prisoners at the moment. There is, therefore, no cost to the taxpayer.
"Televisions are not a right but a privilege, and prisoners have them at the discretion of the governor."
Comment: Herczegfalvy v Austria established that TV is a human right therefore it is incorrect to say "Televisions are not a right but a privilege, and prisoners have them at the discretion of the governor."
The spokesman added: "Prisoners are charged £1 per week for televisions and we have around 7,800 prisoners at the moment. There is, therefore, no cost to the taxpayer.
ReplyDeleteShould have added, "therefore we make a profit on the deal". Especially if you are in Wandsworth where prisoners can now be charged £1 per week each for a TV, where on average there are 2 to a cell ... and that's for a crap 14" Dixons' reject Matsui TV where the only thing you get is Radio Wanno all day long.
Jailhouse lawyer’s Blog contains the Prisoners to be given flat screen televisions to meet green targets. And also it contains the A mixture of law, politics, autobiography and humour.
ReplyDeleteImmigration on a whole is very beneficial to Canada and its residents. History tells repeatedly that it is human kind that loses its previleges. Immigration is good for Canada and its people in any way you consider but the undeue advantage taken by a few people in the name of refugee act bestowed by Canadian government is being highly misused. We have to wait and see how far Canada can allow people in the name of refugees. Of course, humanitarian concerns are to be given the highest priority for human kind’s development and survival but misuse of a syustm is highly deplorable. Let us all pray that the gates of immigration be not closed for all those good people and eligible aspirants just because of the refugees who infiltrate this country and can be a bigger and unsolvable problem. As of now Canada is large in heart and resources.
ReplyDelete