Table of Contents
- Taxpayer Spending on Lego for Prisoners
- Ministry of Justice's Response
- Criticism from Shadow Justice Secretary
- Current Crisis in the Prison Service
- Official Statement on Rehabilitation
TAXPAYERS have spent significant amounts on Lego sets for prisoners.
They allocated £1,450 for toy bricks this year, as revealed by government credit card records.
The Prison Service spent £1,450 on toy bricks this year, according to government credit card records.Credit: Lego
Last year, inmates at HMP North Sea Camp in Lincolnshire received part of a £3,000 grant aimed at reducing violence.
The Ministry of Justice did not specify what types of Lego were purchased for the prisoners or if they included the Police Prison Island set, which costs £89.99 and features "notorious crooks."
The MoJ also did not disclose the total amount allocated for buying Lego bricks.
The Shadow Justice Secretary stated: “There’s never been a better time to be a criminal.”
“Instead of punishing prisoners, criminals are being provided with Xboxes and Lego, then released after serving as little as a third of their sentence. It’s absurd.”
“Brand new Lego sets for prisoners are an insult to struggling Britons, who are heavily taxed and are trying to save for a set for their children this Christmas.”
Records indicate an additional £4,345 was spent this year at Liberty Games, a company specializing in leisure items like pool tables.
The service is currently facing a crisis.
A migrant who sexually assaulted a teenage girl in Epping was accidentally released last week and has since been deported back to Ethiopia.
This week, a man who was released from prison under similar circumstances has been charged with murder.
A spokesperson commented: “Rehabilitation reduces crime. Activities like this are designed to help lower reoffending rates and prison violence.”
They mentioned that prison governors have specific budgets that they can use “at their discretion.”
Taxpayers have spent significant amounts on Lego sets for prisoners.Credit: Lego
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is taxpayer money being used to buy Lego for prisoners?
The funds are allocated as part of rehabilitation programs aimed at reducing violence and reoffending rates among inmates.
What are the concerns regarding this spending?
Critics argue that spending taxpayer money on luxury items for prisoners is unjust, especially when many citizens struggle to afford similar items for their families.
How much has been spent on leisure items for prisoners?
This year alone, the Prison Service has spent £4,345 on leisure items from companies like Liberty Games.
