Prison guards told: Be kind to prisoners

Nov 26 2007

"Yet the governor, Mike Shann, is encouraging these new recommendations.

"He is judged by these reports, so he has set up teams to implement the findings.

"There is also a group of inspectors in place at the moment to ensure we are following the guidelines.

"They will even ask inmates if they're being called by their first names or not, and then report back to the management."

The shock measures would have seen former notorious inmates like Charles Bronson and Stephanie Slater kidnapper Michael Sams treated on first-name terms by Birmingham guards.

The policy would have led to prison officer Mr MacKay from TV's Porridge addressing Fletcher as Norman Stanley.

Last night, a Prison Service spokeswoman defended the new measures and revealed that convicts will now have their own 'Decency Agenda'.

"We recognise the Inspectorate's concerns regarding staff knocking on cell doors before entry.

"We are considering how we will build this into local staff training, although it is not within national training policy.

"First names of prisoners are now given on all cell cards. Members of the Senior Management Team address prisoners by their first names, preferred names or by using the term 'Mr'.

"We are raising awareness of this requirement across the prison, including liaison through the Prison Officers Association.

"All new prison officers are now trained in the Decency Agenda, which includes this requirement."