Home / Crime and Justice / Screenwriter Slams Young Offenders Institute Conditions
Screenwriter Slams Young Offenders Institute Conditions
7 Oct
Summary
- Screenwriter believes isolation policy enables officer laziness.
- Young offenders are kept apart for 23 hours daily.
- The policy is defended as essential for safety by guards.
BAFTA-winning screenwriter Jimmy McGovern has voiced strong criticism regarding the conditions within young offenders institutes (YOIs) after researching for his new BBC drama, 'Time'. McGovern described the facilities as 'appalling' and highlighted a 'keep-apart' policy where young inmates are isolated for 23 hours daily.
McGovern suggested this isolation policy provides staff with an 'excuse for being lazy'. He believes it allows officers to neglect their duties while inmates remain separated. This perspective has drawn a firm response from the Prison Officers' Association (POA).
The POA has deemed McGovern's comments 'unfair', asserting that the keep-apart measures are a necessary safety protocol. They argue these policies are essential due to the constant threat of serious violence within the institutions, emphasizing their role in protecting officers.
