Doing porridge? Sorry it’s a security risk, prisoners told
PRISONERS have become fed up of doing porridge in one of Britain’s jails – after bosses outlawed their favourite breakfast oats.
Inmates at HMS Parc have been told porridge is off the menu as it has been declared a security risk.
Officials at the Category B jail in Bridgend, south Wales, are said to have raised concerns it could be used by crafty lags to “block up” door locks.
The popular oats cereal was immortalised by the BBC prison sitcom Porridge, starring Ronnie Barker and Richard Beckinsale in the 1970s.
Now furious prisoners have said the new ruling would be enough to make Norman Stanley Fletcher [Barker’s character] go stir crazy.
Writing in the May edition of prisoners’ magazine Inside Time, inmate Stephen Bruno said: “Here at Parc we have been told that we cannot purchase porridge from the canteen as it is a security risk.
“They claim it could be used to block up door locks.”
He said prisoners can still buy Ready Brek, which is less thick and lumpy, from the canteen tuck shop.
Mr Bruno added: “Porridge was served in prison for over a century, hence doing time in prison was known as ‘doing a bit of porridge’, so it seems incredible that they will not serve it for breakfast here for the same reasons.
“Instead we get chocolate covered rice crisps – how crazy is this rule?”
A former prisoner at the 2,000-capacity prison which is run by G4S said: “It seems doing a bit of porridge is now doing a bit of Ready Brek – Ronnie Barker would be turning in his grave.”
Janet Wallsgrove, Director of HM Prison Parc confirmed that porridge was “not available in the prison shop”. She said: “Ready Brek is on offer for prisoners to buy.”