Convict coders learn to make apps

♦ Prisoners are developing apps that will be sold to the public, it has emerged.

A report by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons said that inmates at the 1,000-capacity HMP Humber in East Yorkshire achieved “industry-standard skills” in the jail’s computer coding workshop, the first of its kind in the UK.

The workshop, which has around 20 computers was hailed as a “success” at the category C training prison.

“The prison had introduced a well-equipped workshop for prisoners to develop computer and smartphone apps by writing computer code,” the report revealed. “Prisoners benefited from teaching by outside experts via electronic communication, as well as the prison’s instructor. Prisoners worked enthusiastically and were aware they were developing skills that were in demand in the job market.”