Clink and collect Prisoners on day release help pick Tesco orders

PRISONERS on day release are being employed to work at a supermarket distribution centre in Bristol.

Tesco distribution centre in Avonmouth has been bringing in prisoners to work as order pickers.

It is understood the prisoners are from HM Prison Prescoed, commonly known as Usk Prison.

People working at the centre say the move to employ convicted criminals had left some staff ‘concerned for their safety.’

One employee at the distribution centre who contacted the Post said some staff had threatened to leave.

The employee said: “They have been struggling to get staff to work for the low wages working as order pickers in a cold environment, so they have just taken on 20 prisoners from HM Prison Prescoed, with more to come.

“This has caused great concern with the current staff, especially the women, who are concerned for their safety, with some threatening to leave.”

The prison service said all prisoners released on temporary licences were ‘carefully risk assessed.’

They face a return to a closed prison if they fail to obey the strict conditions which are set.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice said: “By employing carefully risk-assessed prisoners on day release businesses cut crime and protect their local communities by helping offenders on to the straight and narrow.

“These prisoners value the chance they have been given and know they will be returned to tougher conditions immediately if they don’t follow their strict licence rules.”

Tesco is not the first business to employ serving prisoners with other companies across the country using them to help plug vacancies.

Serving prisoners work as HGV drivers while on day release.

Prisons like HMP Ford already partner with sectors facing staffing shortages including construction, hospitality and agriculture.

The prison service said the vast majority of prisoners – well above 99 per cent – abided by their day release conditions.

The Government is keen for prisons to build more links with local employers and wants every resettlement prison in the UK to have a board of businesses providing advice so that training reflects the skills employers are looking for and challenge so that prison staff are focused on getting people into work.

Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab said: “Giving an ex-offender a second chance can be win win for them and their employer.”