North East Inmates "Lavish" Christmas Dinners
Check out the festive feast prisoners were given.
Roast Turkey with all the trimmings. Pigs in Blankets. Black Forest Gateaux... No its not an advert for a high end supermarket - this is what some prisoners in the North East were given to eat on Christmas Day.
We've got the menu selections below - and they haven't gone down well with some.
Helen volunteers at a soup kitchen in South Shields and says she's disgusted at the comparison.
"You see people who are absolutely desperate. There may be families who come in who rely on food banks every day. To witness that people are being rewarded with roast turkey, pigs in blankets, black forest gateaux... it makes me feel very angry. I've spoken to people at the shelter and they're looking forward to toast and beans, things that you would take for granted and yet if they were in prison they'd have a better life than they've got now. This isn't punishment it's like an all-inclusive restaurant. I wouldn't have some of this stuff on my Christmas dinner and I work full time."
A prison service spokesperson said:
"Christmas meals in prisons are met within existing budgets and at no additional cost. The budget for food and drink in public sector prisons is currently set at £2.02 per prisoner per day."
Well you can see for yourself what's on offer in all our prisons for Christmas day - let us know what you think - tweet us @TFMRadioNews
HMP Durham
HMP YOI Low Newton
HMP Frankland
HMP Holme House
HMP Kirklevington
