<i>"This is a deceitful picture of prison life and some here have fallen for it." </i>

Care to give us the truth, then "Grouty"? ...And since you seem to be an authority on such matters, perhaps you might also explain why prisoners can't be expected to work for their keep.

Paul, Cardiff,

Our prison are like the biggest baby sitting service in the world. I say bring in a couple of Generals from Bankok to sort them out.

Bob, warrington, cheshire UK

We should consider that the reason: 1) people were getting in, is not prison service incompetence, but corruption. There is plenty of it, regardless of the majority of good prison officers. 2) many may have chosen not to escape because of the severe penalty for doing so: it just wouldn't be worth it

RJ, Woking, UK

The result of failed attempts to rehabilitate, educate and generally pamper inmates.

It is the resut of ignorant ministers, inexperienced civil servants, weak management and "anything for an easy life" POs.

Offer every retiring RSM the job of governor and watch things change. Discipline works.

R Bingham, Lauzun, France

Lets not forget all prisoners are volunteers. They would not be there if they did not commit crime. So lets make being in prison something that you do not want to volunteer for. If it is so harsh why do we still get so many repeatedly volunteering?

don, leeds, england

It is no use complaining over the latest well being of prisoners.
It is the world we now live in. The rules, and changes made to our laws by all the "do gooders" over the past 20 years is now coming back to roost.
Punishment today, as we are all aware, needs to be seriously reviewed, or else!

Keith, manchester, england

Ladders over walls and smuggling prostitutes - surely down to his own members! Prisoners KNOW only too well how the drugs get in. A breakfast pack of cereal, milk, bread, butter and jam does not constitute breakfast in bed. This is a deceitful picture of prison life and some here have fallen for it.

Grouty, Portsmouth, UK

Its shows again how disgustingly and stupidly soft and lenient the law and order system in this country is.

What is needed is a really tough zero tolerance regime just like the one they have in Singapore

Only then will this farce be stopped.

Vivek, London,

For a person who was given the wrong impression about life during their upbringing, prison is not a bad place. Where as, for a working family man who has digressed then it is abysmal. Life inside as it is now is o/k as deterrant for this type of inmate.

tiny, bIrmingham, England

wow,there are a lot of Prison officer haters out there.Ex prisoners or Governors no doubt!
The main thing is Prison management treating MURDERERS,RAPISTS,ROBBERS as customers.Wake up!The few staff that are left in the prisons have something most of you havent got and thats guts.

Pete, Southport,

Breakfast in bed,?...luxury....beats workin' down pits....nought but muck. I wouldn't mind prison too!

Nigel Sayer, Wan Chai, PRC China

Phil Wheatley must be wondering exactly who runs his prisons. Are there no external patrols checking the perimeter? Are prisoners not locked in their cells during lock-up? Are staff unable to see unauthorised items like ladders against the walss or fences? New management is clearly needed.

Tom, Dundee, Scotland

It's a good thing they arn't trying to escape!!

It's called "double speak" or "double speak" when they tell you that they are even smugling drugs out of the jail to sell on the streets!
The drugs have had to had been smuggled into the jail in the first place??? Why back out again? Pointless!

Andrew T, England,

We hear that prison warders ignore drug use because it keeps prisoners in a controllable stupor - but doesn't drug addiction fuel crime in the first place? I'm beginning to wonder if it serves the interests of prison staff to keep prisons full.

Bring back the fierce dogs and hard sticks.

J Briggs, Huddersfield, England

Problem is, who wants this job?

plato, ely, uk

How is breakfast in bed, sorry, a breakfast pack in bed, going to help reform these criminals? The last time I had this sort of treatment was in the very early stages of love. If I asked for it now, I'd probably get a bowl of cereal poured over my head.

Des, Edinburgh,

Frankly, what else can be expected in B & B ( Blair & Brown, Bed & Breakfast) Britain!

David , Sydney, Australia

Hold on! Knocking prison officers is missing the point.

Criminals should be made to work for their upkeep. Give them a very basic food intake. No TV (They can buy it themselves and pay for the electricity used) no comforts and work, work and work. Plenty to do.

Richard, London,

Typical headline-grabbing rubbish from the Prison Officer's Association.

Prison Officers have never had it so good. Bloated salary followed by early retirement and an obscene pension.

If Prison Officers cannot do the job they are paid to do, they should be sacked.

No less.

Reuben Camara, Morecambe, UK

How many prison officers does it take to remove a ladder? This is not understaffing. It is gross incompetence.Sack them and replace them with competent staff. The Taxpayer deserves better value for money!

Bill, Suzhou, China