February 20th 2025.
In 2023, HMP Winchester, a prison in the UK, made headlines for spending almost £8,000 on a fish tank for their reception area. This news caused a stir among inmates who described the conditions of the prison as "squalid" and lacking basic resources. The fish tank was installed in the induction area of the prison, where new prisoners spend around 45 minutes upon their arrival.
According to inmates who spoke to Metro, the fish tank was seen as a joke given the deteriorating state of the prison buildings, rampant drug use, and shortage of necessities. The cost of the fish tank was openly discussed among the prisoners, and even the prison staff themselves were said to have complained about it.
When a Freedom of Information request was made, the Ministry of Justice confirmed that the fish tank was installed in March 2023 in A Wing at a cost of £7,890 from the prison's budget. However, the amount spent on fish to populate the tank and its ongoing upkeep costs were not disclosed.
A former inmate who spent six months in HMP Winchester last year spoke anonymously about the fish tank, saying, "In the induction room, all you do is give your phone numbers and receive your bedding. You see the fish tank for 45 minutes and never get near it again, yet they spent £10,000 on it." He also claimed that the cost included £3,000 to populate the tank with fish, though the prison did not reveal the exact amount.
Describing the fish tank as 6ft long, 3ft wide, and 2ft deep with pretty tropical fish that glowed with blue lines and silver stripes, the former inmate questioned the necessity of such an extravagant purchase. He pointed out that the prison lacked basic writing materials and said, "What a joke. I understand that it can be daunting for first-time prisoners, but I fail to see how a fish tank can relieve their distress."
When asked how he knew about the cost of the fish tank, he revealed that some officers had told him, "The old school officers say that it wasn't like this before. They can't even trust their colleagues nowadays." This statement is backed up by a damning report of an unannounced inspection that was published last month, which found the prison to be "dilapidated, neglected, and filthy."
The urgent notification stated that the prison's conditions posed risks to safety and security, with some cells being in such a poor state that they might not be fit for habitation. The report also revealed that a third of the prison's CCTV cameras were not functioning, and substantial investment was needed to fix the failing infrastructure.
Former magistrate Georgia Swift, who now campaigns for better prison conditions, submitted a Freedom of Information request to the Ministry of Justice. The response stated that the fish tank was introduced to create a calm environment for newly arrived prisoners and that it was maintained by the prison staff. Local feedback from prisoners also acknowledged the fish tank as a beneficial addition to the reception area.
However, Georgia expressed disbelief at the governor's justification for such an expense, especially when budget cuts were cited as the reason for the prison's failings. She also shared her personal experience of being told by a senior member of staff that delays in distributing social and legal letters were due to a broken photocopier, and there was no money to replace it.
She acknowledged that some people opposed her campaign to highlight the issues within Winchester prison, believing that prisoners should be housed in appalling conditions as part of their punishment. However, she argued that knowing where public money is spent is essential.
After the publication of the damning report, the head of the Howard League for Penal Reform, Andrea Coomber, commented, "The photographs of filthy toilets, broken windows, and mouldy walls speak for themselves. It is truly a squalid, overcrowded Victorian jail, to the point that some cells do not even have electricity." The Ministry of Justice has been contacted for a comment on the matter.
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