- Cleared out prisoners are returned to the prison from which they came to HMP Grendon
A Category B prison has introduced a scheme to allow prisoners to vote out troublesome cellmates through Weakest Link-style voting.
HMP Grendon in Buckinghamshire houses around 200 male prisoners, many of whom are serving life sentences for crimes such as murder, rape and arson.
The prison, known as a “therapeutic” prison because of the methods used, typically only accepts inmates from other facilities who have shown signs of good behavior, and requires them to follow strict rules if they want to stay.
Now they can be kicked out by fellow prisoners at regular ‘wing meetings’, where a ‘commitment vote’ is said to be held to decide whether an individual is ‘unfit’.
Prisoners who have been voted out are being sent back to the prison they came from, with reports that five criminals have been ordered to leave since the meetings took place.
Grendon Prison in Buckinghamshire houses around 200 male prisoners, many of whom are serving life sentences for crimes such as murder, rape and arson (file image)
A source said The mirror: ‘Prison bosses will try almost any form of innovation to maintain order. This seems to work well. No wants to be voted out by their colleagues.’
Another told the paper that the mood was reminiscent of 2000s TV quiz show The Weakest Link, in which presenter Anne Robinson famously told the contestant voted out by their peers: “You’re the weakest link, goodbye.”
The method is being introduced in what is Britain’s only ‘fully therapeutic’ prison, where incarcerated men take part in daily group therapy sessions with doctors, psychiatric nurses and counsellors.
The prisoners also learn various coping mechanisms to regulate their emotions, in the hope that they will rehabilitate themselves.
Housed in a former stately home, it is complete with aquariums and potted plants scattered throughout the prison to keep inmates ‘relaxed and calm’.
The prison previously came under fire after an inmate was mistakenly released to hospital after guards mistook him for another inmate with the same name.
The confusion last year was the second time in four years that this type of problem has occurred at the prison.
The prisoner, who was referred to in the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) report as a ‘resident’, was taken from his room, as the cells at Grendon are called, before being escorted to a nearby hospital.
The problem was only discovered after the inmate appeared ‘confused’ about why he was being taken to hospital.
The inmate who needed to be hospitalized was informed of the error but missed his appointment, forcing the appointment to be rescheduled.
A prison source previously said of HMP Grendon that the prison is an ‘incredible resource’ but mistakes can happen.