A national prison radio station beaming programmes into cells is being rolled out across England and Wales. Prison Service bosses have sanctioned the launch of the station broadcasting to jails across England and Wales at a reported cost of £2 million. It will see material including messages and “educational programmes” beamed 12 hours a day to around 140 prisons.
The Ministry of Justice said the go-ahead for the operation was given after it was found keeping inmates locked up for longer each day was saving £17 million a year. Running costs will come from existing budgets, the ministry says, with help also coming from the Prison Radio Association charity.
A Justice Ministry spokesman said: “The new prison core day, which saves the prison service £17 million a year, means prisoners spend more time in their cells. “The prison service national radio service will allow us to communicate messages and educational programmes to them during this time, and while they are working in the prison. It can also be used to communicate to prisoners in the event of an incident.”
There are currently over 80,000 prisoners in England and Wales. Some prisons already have their own radio service. How the station will be distributed hasn’t been announced, but it will presumably not be available to the general public.
