Ex-inmate in curry smuggling claim

Jul 31 2007 By Adam Smith, Birmingham Mail

PRISONERS at a Midland jail are tucking into Indian and Chinese takeaways smuggled in to them by daring delivery drivers, it was claimed today.

A recently-released prisoner said inmates are playing a game of cat-and-mouse with prison officers at Hewell Grange open prison, Redditch, as the authorities try to stop their contraband curries.

Unable to 'poppadom' down to Redditch town centre, prisoners with a penchant for fine food are ordering feasts with their mobile phones.

The former inmate, who did not want to be named, said: "The prison officers can't stop it because the takeaway drivers are just as clever as the inmates when it comes to making a delivery.

"Because it's an open prison the drivers can get into the grounds, run through the gardens to the bottom of prison wall, wait for a line to be thrown out of a cell window with the cash on, attach the food and then run back to their van.

"The orders are massive - because the prisoners have got money, every dormitory smells delicious and that just winds up the other prisoners to order food for themselves."

He added: "I've never seen anything like it. Usually people are thinking up ingenious ways to smuggle in drugs or tobacco but at Hewell Grange it's all about getting a midnight feast."

Hewell Grange is a Category D adult male open prison and was the Earl of Plymouth's family home before being converted into a Borstal in 1946.

It is usually the last stop for prisoners before being released in to the community and they are trusted with privileges they are unable to get at other prisons.

A spokesman for the Prison Service said officers had not intercepted any of the curry runs.

She said: "The prison has no records of prisoners receiving a takeaway. If a delivery van appeared at the gate it would be turned away immediately."

She added: "Prisoners are not permitted to order a takeaway and will be disciplined if they are found doing so.

"The prison also employs methods to intercept anyone trying to receive food into the prison."