Prison TVs will be a privilege

Inmates at the Island's new prison may get a television in their cells, but they won’t be watching Prison Break.

Home Affairs Minister Martyn Quayle admitted in the House of Keys that his department had spent more than £36,000 on televisions and DVD players for the facility.

He added inmates would only be given one of the 15-inch flatscreen sets if they had earned the privilege and, in a written answer to a question from North Douglas MHK Bill Henderson, said there wouldn’t be any satellite TV at the Jurby site.

Mr Quayle said although every cell was cabled for a TV, only prisoners who had been well-behaved would be allowed a set.

The digital sets could receive up to 40 channels, but a control system meant only BBC 1 and 2, ITV and Channels 4 and Five could be watched.

He said a number of other TV sets and DVDs had been bought for the prison, but these were used in education and rehabilitation sessions.

Altogether, including delivery, installation, testing and disposing of packaging, the equipment had cost a total of £36,568.

(Picture: Stock picture of a 15 inch flatscreen TV).