Oakwood prisoners looking after pets while they are locked up

Dogs, rabbits and guinea pigs are being cared for by inmates at HMP Oakwood to provide them with 'a sense of responsibility'.

They are allowed to feed, clean out the animals and take them for walks in the grounds but they are not allowed to take them back to their cells.

Prisoners were in a nine-hour stand-off with guards in January at the prison which is run by G4S and nicknamed 'Jokewood'.

G4S spokesman Chris Ryall said today: "Animal therapy a common technique used to develop a sense of responsibility and ownership for prisoners.

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"That is why we have a number of small animals, including two rescued greyhound dogs that are kept in kennels."

However, the animal therapy scheme has been has been greeted with some cynicism.

South Staffordshire MP Gavin Williamson said today: "I think that anything that could give prisoners a more responsible attitude to make sure that when they come out of prison is to be welcomed.

"But a number of people would question whether prisoners having access to a pet as the right route.

"What I would want to see is some reassurance that it is producing positive results to show that we are not just being too soft on people who are paying a price for crimes they committed."

The 1,600 prisoner HMP Oakwood has seen a catalogue of problems since it opened in April 2012.

In the two months before the riot in January there had been two roof-top protests by prisoners at the facility.

It emerged last week that Mr Williamson has written to the chief constable of Staffordshire Police Mike Cunningham asking for any prisoners found to have been involved in the riots to have their sentence extended and face a ban on parole.

Police say they are still investigating the matter. As yet no-one has been charged.

There were conflicting reports of what happened on January 5, amid claims that up to 20 inmates rioted at the £150 million super-prison.

It was claimed a wing of the prison was taken over by prisoners with a prison officers claiming it was a full scale riot.

A damning report revealed the prison was dubbed 'Jokewood' by prisoners who found it easier to obtain drugs than soap inside the jail.