Sometimes I really have to wonder who thinks up the policies here at Wakefield. Just a few weeks ago a notice to prisoners was published to say that, from now on, anyone who wants to order an item from one of the catalogues can only do so if they are not already in possession of a similar item. If they are, they must destroy or otherwise get rid of the item in their possession before ordering a replacement.
What they didn’t consider is that nearly half of all orders end up being cancelled due to such reasons us the required item being out of stock. The time taken to receive an item you have ordered can be up to six months. I have waited this long myself in the past. If a prisoner wants to order a new stereo, they now have to get rid of their current one first, leaving them unable to listen to the radio for up to half a year. If they want a new pair of flip flops, they have to go into the shower barefoot for six months. If they need a frying pan, they cannot fry anything at all for that long.
The new rule is completely ill thought out and within days of it being introduced it has been put under review. I just don’t understand how anyone could have thought it was a good idea in the first place.
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It is exactly the same in Longlartin. If they were more organised they would keep inmates much happier which would ensure much easier running of establishment & save money. Is that not their goal. Also why on earth they don’t allow the use of electronic bank transfers for receipt of money from inmates families. It is much faster, more efficient, cheaper and saves money. I am amazed that no one seems to be interested in trying to run a calm, kind & caring institution that saves money.
I didn’t realise that they were doing this at Longlartin too. I should say, management here have just changed the system again to say that prisoners can now order an item even if they have one in possession, but they must swap it for the old one on delivery. Still, a step in the right direction.
With regard to electronic money transfers, I’m told there is a facility to do this via emailaprisoner.com, but Wakefield does not allow this and I don’t know the details. Has anyone else heard of this and where it is allowed?