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Government denies prisoners have ever had PS3s photo

A few days ago we railed at Rye Hill Prison after it was reported that its inmates had somehow been given access to PlayStation 3 systems and were using them to communicate with the outside world. The government has since denied this ever happened, with the Ministry for Justice stating that Rye Hill has never handed out a PS3.

"There are not and never have been Playstation 3s at HMP Rye Hill," claims the Ministry in a statement. "Prisoners in England and Wales have never been allowed access to wireless enabled technology such as that used in some games consoles.

“A decision was taken some years ago that the then current generation of games consoles should be barred because the capability to send or receive radio signals is an integral part of the equipment. Future games consoles with this ability will be banned. This ban applies to Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and Nintendo DS."

According to the spokesman, anything with access to the Internet is not to get into the hands of the inmates, which is a good thing for sure. It's bad enough that criminals are given game systems to start with, but if every new piece of hardware comes with Internet access, at least they'll be stuck playing with PS2s like idiots even twenty years from now. 

Still, it's weird that The Guardian, a generally well-respected and non-sensenational paper, originally picked this story up. Was there smoke without fire, or have wires simply been crossed? We shall never know. 








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Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize. Likes PS2, iPod Touch, Silent Hill 2, Metal Gear Solid, Dynasty Warriors 3 Meet the rest of the team



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13 comments | showing # 1 to 13
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Shadowiii's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 10:45
Shadowiii
It's called 1984.
Wintersocks's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 10:47
Wintersocks
Nu uh Jim ur wrawng.

The goverment says the truth. Jim is wrawng
CRAZYAPE69's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 10:47
CRAZYAPE69
'your wireless, internet access enabled goods are now forfeit!'
Why the hell are inmates given games consoles in the first place? Surely the whole purpose of prison is punishment, they shouldn't be given excessive luxuries. Oh well, at least some annoying little kids would have been shouted at to shut up by murderers and rapists, those imature little bastards could be seen as a form of torture lol.
ChaosTeaCup's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 10:50
ChaosTeaCup
The Guardian can be sensationalist, you know. Just it's Left wing sensationalism like "Vegetarian day will save planet" type stuff. But I know what you mean, they're seen as sensible because of their broadsheet heritage.
Kris S's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 10:52
Kris S
The Guardian well respected? Maybe by the 'privileged' people.

Anyway as far as I know - in Scotland anyway - it's PS2's they get in the cells and it's normally around one per floor, or so I've been told anyway. Might be different at one of the open prisons, but don't get me started on them!
Josh Tolentino's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 10:56
Josh Tolentino
@Crazyape69

The logic behind that would be "better these people are playing video games than shivving each other and running their drug cartels from a toilet-borne mailing system.

Seriously, there's a toilet-borne message system. Ever see an episode of lockdown?

Cost-cutting measures and the ballooning populations have seen things like job training and anger management programs cut, making reintegration into society and preventing recidivism more difficult. By comparison, having occasional game time is cheap.
JustLikeBuck's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 10:57
JustLikeBuck
Very strange... but then they don't call it the The Guradian[sic] because they're keen on checking their facts, or spelling.
psycho terror2's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 11:14
psycho terror2
"the capability to send or receive radio signals is an integral part of the equipment."

the 360 cannot send or recieve radio signals without the wireless adaptor.
aquaman13's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 11:46
aquaman13
What kind of prison is it? Is it a maximum security deal or one of those white collar resorts for bankers and the like? I think that's an important detail in what type of prisoners are getting access to consoles.
GoldenGamerXero's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 11:48
GoldenGamerXero
"This ban applies to Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and Nintendo DS."

So now children, housewives, grandparents AND prisioners are playing Wiis =)
Holyetheline's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 11:57
Holyetheline
No video games? That truly is prison.
BS3 Owner's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 11:59
BS3 Owner
Jim you've found the reason the PS2 is still around and selling... Prisoners choice award goes to the Playstation.

Now if someone mods one as a shiv sharpener... Hmmm.
laika one's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 23:52
laika one
That banana has bad grammar.
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