Cells which aren’t locked at night prove popular with prisoners and staff

Temporary cells known as ‘pods’ where prisoners are not locked in overnight are proving popular with residents and staff, research by the Prison Service has found.

Known officially as Rapid Deployment Cells, the first were unveiled at HMP Norwich in March 2023 (pictured) and since then around 800 have been installed in the grounds of 15 prisons in England and Wales. A further 1,000 are planned, as a measure to boost capacity in the prison estate.

Built with a steel frame, they can be stacked on top of one another and provide single-occupancy accommodation with bar-free windows, en suite bathrooms, and in-cell heating and air conditioning which the occupant can control.

Because the pods can only be occupied by category D and selected low-risk category C prisoners, they tend to see fewer problems with violence and drugs than regular wings. 

In study by the Ministry of Justice Analysis Directorate, published last month, researchers interviewed 69 prisoners living in the pods, as well as 16 officers and 11 governor grades, to ask their views on the accommodation.

The researchers found that those living in them often had later curfews and more out-of-cell time than their counterparts on regular wings. The study noted: “Many walked unescorted to work, managed their own routines, and handled tasks like cooking and laundry.” 

Because the pods were so popular, some prisons used them as an incentive for good behaviour. One resident told the researchers: “Prisoners have more hope. People want to come here now. People want to work hard to get here, people who didn’t care before.”

The researchers said: “While the RDC programme was not initially designed as an incentive programme, it effectively functioned as one by encouraging and rewarding good behaviour … The RDC programme instilled a sense of hope and aspiration among the broader prison population, with prisoners striving to meet the criteria to move to the RDCs.”

They noted: “A strong sense of community developed, supported by communal events (e.g. shared meals) and peer cooperation. Absence of bullying, violence, and theft was consistently reported, with many prisoners feeling comfortable leaving doors open and sharing communal spaces. This contributed to feelings of safety among prisoners.

“Prisoners noted increased trust from staff, with less visible surveillance and more autonomy over personal spaces, encouraging responsibility.”

A governor told the researchers: “The [RDC] units give real control at a proper level, which gives a prisoner a feeling of autonomy, a feeling of self-esteem, a feeling of worth, a feeling of ‘I have some control’ – that’s really important.”

The researchers concluded: “Many prisoners reportedly viewed placement in the RDCs as an aspirational goal, and felt behaviour and attitudes were much better in RDCs compared to the main wings. The RDCs also supported prison management by enabling more efficient use of resources and offering safer environments for people convicted of sexual offences and other vulnerable prisoner cohorts. Their use has, in some cases, been perceived to reduce violence, self-harm, and drug misuse.

“Prisoners appreciated the modern, spacious, and well-equipped cells, communal spaces, and outdoor areas, which were seen as significant improvements compared to the main wings. However, some participants identified areas for improvement, including in-cell safety alarms, storage, and outdoor cover. Officers reported the RDCs offered more room availability, and improved CCTV coverage, contributing to safer and more efficient operations.”