No hot drinks and cold prison cells - prisoners' petty complaints revealed

HMP Featherstone, which houses around 700 category C prisoners, had 1,500 complaints last year which works out at four a day .

More than 200 of the complaints have been released to the Express & Star under the Freedom of Information Act.

One prisoner complained of not being given access to his Xbox360 game console, while another was upset that his prison cell was cold.

While others spoke of prison staff 'taking a liberty' by locking them up over a weekend.

There also appeared to be widespread outrage at a ban on hot drinks during working hours with prisoners claiming it was a breach of their 'human rights'.

In some cases prisoners are given 'compensation' or reimbursed money over complaints that items have gone missing or money has been deducted from their accounts mistakenly.

One complaint from November 11 reads: "I'm not happy that you said I'm not allowed my Xbox360 . Why have others got theirs! Either recall from the others that have theirs or give me mine. It's not one rule for one! I will keep putting in complaints as till (sic) something is done about this."

In a row over hot drinks being banned during working hours, a dozen official complaints were filed.

The prisoners work sessions last for three hours at a time .

One said: "Keeping hydrated is essential. Especially as it is now November and it is getting colder by the day.

"It makes no sense. I own my own company outside of jail and if I need a hot drink I would just have one."

Another said: "This takes away our morale towards work.

"This is a working jail and is supposed to be getting us prepared for working environments outside jail but you are taking away all our benefits that go with work."

A third says: "Surely this breaches our human rights? If I don't receive an adequate response I will take this matter further e.g. prison ombudsman, local papers, European Court of Human Rights."

Another simply states: "Why have you stopped our break times at work, you dogs!!"

A further prisoner described the move as 'nothing but spite', and another warned that there 'will be trouble' if the hot drinks were not reinstated.

The prison said it was reasonable for prisoners to work for three hours without a break and hot drink

In December, a prisoner complained that there was no heating in his cell.

He said: "Surely this is against human rights. If we broke rules we are chastised accordingly. So therefore I would like to see something done about this immediately."

In another case, a prisoner is unhappy that a birthday card to his nephew, which included a £10 note, was sent by recorded delivery and he was charged the postage fee.

In this instance the prison refunded him the £5.53 cost as a 'one off gesture' with a promise to make rules of sending money clearer.

Another prisoner demanded 'full compensation' when his boxer shorts went missing on transfer to the prison.

Not being allowed an Xbox

Prison cells too cold

No access to hot drinks during work session

Being kept in cells on weekends

Angry at being charged for recorded delivery on a birthday card

Missing boxer shorts

He wrote: "I do not know how they are missing. As you know, because of inflation, such things are expensive, especially for a prisoner that unemployed such as myself."

In a complaint on November 19, a prisoner threatens to contact his solicitor after the prison refuses to refund him money over a lost record of his weekly spending allowance.

It reads: "If I do not get my refund of £18.98 I will be getting in contact with my solicitor and will be seeking legal advice to take this matter further."

A prisoner who ordered a pair of running shoes was angered when it appears prison staff lost the trainers.

He complained: "It is a bit worrying that a so called professional member of staff can't do such a simple task as put something in the right place. I would like them found if they have been misplaced or replaced if they've been stolen with express delivery at no expense to myself. I would also like a written apology and a full explanation as to why this had happened."

One prisoner complained that he and others were kept in their cells for longer than they should on weekends.

He said: "I go to work every single day and work very hard and keep my head down. Why is it at weekends we get banged up at 11.50am and then released three hours later. How come on weekdays we always go to work without any problems but when it is our time it always seems to go wrong. which is very, very unfair."

One prisoner complained that shower gel and tobacco had been taken from his cell after it was cleaned. He said: "Now I have to suffer."

Another has a complaint over how much sick pay he was given. The complaint from December 5 read: "I was on long-term sick pay of £2.50 per week, but surely because of my disabilities and my double hernias, I should have been getting your medical pay for the time spent at your establishment as it was medical reasons why I was unable to work." In response the prison told him he had been paid correctly.

There was a case where a prisoner discovered a plastic object in his meal.

He said: "If I had swallowed, I would of choked on. I would like compensation as it has affected me mentally and I don't want to eat anymore of the food."

South Staffordshire MP Gavin Williamson said: "It is utterly barmy that prisoners seem to be wasting so much of prison officers' time with spurious and completely bonkers complaints.

"When I look at some of the things they have been complaining about like having access to an Xbox or a drinks machine, quite understandably many of my constituents would be shocked that such things are allowed in the first place.

"I hope, and am sure, the prison service deals with these complaints with short shrift and that they are quickly thrown in the bin.

"The idea that prisoners are complaining and getting compensation is something that would frankly shock my constituents.

"There needs to be a good dose of common sense and I am sure the prison service does this when dealing with these sort of complaints.

"They obviously have too much time on their hands."

A prison service spokesperson said: "Any prisoner can submit a complaint and we aim to resolve any issues as quickly and as efficiently as possible."