Colin Campbell – HMP Woodhill
- I recently tried to order bedding from Argos (an approved catalogue of the prison system) and was told that I have to buy my bedding from the prison canteen. The bedding sold by the prison canteen is two-to-three times more expensive than any sold by Argos.The bedding sold by the prison canteen is two-to-three times more expensive than any sold by Argos.
When I queried this the reply I received was ‘Prisoners are only allowed to purchase bedding from the prison canteen because of the particularly high fire standards that apply to the materials used.’
But, strangely, prisoners are allowed to purchase clothing, towels, face-cloths, in fact, we are allowed to purchase a whole range of items made from many different fabrics from catalogues – it would seem that the only proviso is as long as the supplier is not in competition with the prison canteen.
According to Prison Service logic all other outlets in the country are selling goods that put their customers lives at risk, but the prison system so cherishes us as prisoners that only the best is good enough for us! I think the truth of the matter is that somebody is making a pro t from this monopoly and they should stop looking after their own greedy self-interests and stop pretending that they are interested in health & safety whilst lining their own pockets.
Instead of constantly lying to us perhaps they should try setting an honest example for a change. Stop preaching and start doing.
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