A new report shows that prison violence drops significantly during major sports events
Essex: A recent report has shown that when inmates at HMP Chelmsford are glued to their TVs for big sports events, violence takes a nosedive. It’s pretty wild, right?
During major events like the World Cup or the Euros, bad behavior dropped by 14%. The report highlighted how the atmosphere changes when everyone’s focused on the game instead of causing trouble.
Last year, when some TVs broke down just before key matches, tensions shot up. It’s like the inmates were on edge without their sports fix. But when the Euros were on, everything was smooth sailing, and violence dropped significantly.
It’s interesting to see how something as simple as watching a game can keep the peace. The report even noted that during the UEFA European Football Championship, incidents of violence fell by the same 14%.
But when the TVs went out, the mood shifted. Inspectors noticed that missing out on big matches created a lot of frustration among the inmates. It’s clear that having access to sports is a big deal for them.
HMP Chelmsford even has a cafe named after a character from the classic show Porridge, which was filmed there. It’s a reminder of how entertainment can play a role in prison life.
A Prison Service spokesman mentioned that inmates can only watch TV if they’ve earned that privilege and aren’t busy with work or education. It’s all about keeping them engaged and out of trouble.
