Pampered prisoners offered reflexology [UK tax dollars at play]

Telegraph (UK) ^ | June 1, 2005 | David Sapsted

[Constitutionalist Conservative]

Holistic massages and aromatherapy to soothe away the stresses of life behind bars are to be offered to inmates at Britain's newest prison.

To a chorus of protests, the managers of Peterborough Prison are advertising for two part-time holistic therapists to "offer treatments such as reflexology, aromatherapy, acupuncture, Indian head massage, reiki and shiatsu alongside general relaxation and other health promotion groups".

United Kingdom Detention Services, which runs the £65 million jail, opened two months ago, yesterday defended offering prisoners the sort of treatments they would have to pay dearly for on the outside.

"We look at the whole person and try to treat them in the round," said a spokesman. "There are some prisoners for whom holistic therapy will be extremely beneficial."

But, Stewart Jackson, the new Tory MP for Peterborough, said that the move suggested that the 216 male and 95 female inmates were spending their time in a holiday camp rather than prison.

''It reflects badly on hard-working families in the city that prisoners - men and women guilty of committing serious crimes - are being pampered instead of punished," he said. "Inmates should be taught basic skills, such as reading and writing, to aid their rehabilitation."

David Sanders, a member of the Cambridgeshire Police Authority, said that while there might be a time when an individual prisoner needed reflexology, he felt it was "ridiculous" for holistic therapies to be available for a total of 40 hours a week at the prison.

''I question whether it is good use of taxpayers' money," he said. "If I was a victim of crime, I would feel very let down by this."

However, Mike Conway, the prison's director, said: "The incident of self-harm among female prisoners is very high and this was part of an initiative to help resolve that problem and help to save lives."

[martin_fierro]

They oughtta treat 'em like we do in the States:

Female hormone injections, cocaine, and all the gay sex they can handle. < |:/~

[HiTech RedNeck]

It's enough to make a body want to go to England and commit a crime.

[Critical Bill]

Iraqi Reflexology