PRISONERS who apparently took photographs in their cell and uploaded them to social media have been disciplined, according to bosses at HMP Doncaster.
A series of prison selfies and a group shot boasting of “all the lads back together” sparked outrage when they were posted on Facebook.
Mobile phones and the use of social media are banned in jails, but the men had not only managed to take photographs, but boasted to their friends on the outside they were “kickin back”.
Serco, the company behind the running of HMP Doncaster, vowed to prosecute those involved after carrying out an investigation, and has now confirmed to the Telegraph & Argus that all the men involved have been punished.
A spokesman said: “I can confirm that all individuals have been subjected to disciplinary proceedings.”
The Telegraph & Argus was sent one of the photographs by a concerned resident in Shipley – who recognised one of the men - and we found other selfies on Facebook profiles seemingly belonging to two of the prisoners.
One of the selfies has been liked 30 times and when one friend comments “hope you boys are well”, he is told they are “kickin back my son.”
The group photograph was found on one of the men’s Facebook pages and has received 86 ‘likes’.
One comment claims ‘The lads are back together again’ and another asks “How have you seriously not been caught with that phone yet?”
One of the men replies: “I have now haha got security spun other day.”
Shipley MP Philip Davies condemned the photographs, but was sceptical about the further punishment the men have received.
He said: “Jail has become such a soft touch, they will only understand a longer sentence.
“If they were told they were no longer eligible to be released halfway through their sentence, they might think again.”
Commenting on the lack of information about what disciplinary action the group has received, he said: “I’m sure it was just a slap on the wrist.
“That’s why they won’t say, it won’t be an addition to their sentence.”
Mr Davies has already backed new legislation which would block mobile phone signals in prisons and prevent anyone from using a phone for any purpose.
A similar scheme has already been trialled by The Scottish Prison Service (SPS).
This summer, a national newspaper published revealed hundreds of prisoners were using Facebook, Twitter and Instagram after getting hold of mobile phone.
The paper's Freedom of Information request showed that some 527 social media accounts were deleted in 2017 after they were updated by prisoners exploiting lax security to smuggle phones into jails and then uploading images.
At the time, fears were raised that inmates had been able to contact and taunt their victims while serving their jail terms.
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