Entertainment News
- 11 June 2012, 17:56
Gordon Ramsay fumes over prison system
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has taken aim at the country's jail system, insisting prisoners are given an "easy" life behind bars.
The cook's latest TV show, Gordon Ramsay Behind Bars, shows the chef setting up a kitchen in London's Brixton prison to teach inmates domestic skills - and the star admits he was stunned at the "comfort" the criminals live in.
He tells Guardian Weekend magazine, "What I wasn't prepared for was how easy it was for them in there. I was astounded at the comfort zone they carve out for themselves. Five meal choices a night - that was the one I really struggled with. I just thought it was a bit of a joke, to be honest.
"Coupled with 24-hour television, Xbox, DVDs, gym. We can't watch television until four o'clock in the morning. I'd like to have a gym (session) seven days a week, by the way. (I was) angry, yes, clearly - but quite embarrassed, really. I thought we were a nation of grafters (workers); I thought we had the spirit of working harder than anyone."
Speaking about his experience in the prison system, he rants: "From day one, just sat in that f**king waiting room, trying to get in, with no phone, and then being treated like a piece of s**t. Everything was going against me; the system was completely screwed, the governor was treating me like one of his b**ches. And I was banging my head against a brick wall."
The star was also less than impressed with the work ethic of some of the prisoners he encountered, adding, "Why would they want to come and bust their a**e for 10 hours a day when it was easy for them to do nothing? I find that hard to come to terms with."
Update:
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what do you think?
Geoff
This sorts out the pension crisis. Just commit a crime prior to retirement and you'll be set up for life.
the massons
Going to prison is not a deterrent any more, the lifestyle in there encourages people to commit crime. Our forces don't get fed that well!!
Nicky Parker
Well my husband is currently in Prison and I think he would love to swop to one of these other "easy" prisons. He is locked up for 22 hours a day. Yes he has a gym session of 1 hour twice a week. He certainly does not have an xbox/playstation or any other amusement equipment in his cell. There are 3 prisoners crammed into a 1 man cell. He ordered fish fingers for dinner thinking it would come with chips - all it was was 4 fish fingers on a plate - that was dinner! He asked to see a Dentist 8 weeks ago as his tooth broke - hes still waiting and probably wont see him at all. I too thought that Prison was a doddle until my OH went into one. He is there because he did wrong and that is right that he should be there but no-one knows what it is REALLY like until they are there for real.
Andy uHarrod
Well said not all prisons are the same untill you have been banged up in a sell 22 hours a day doing nothing you shudnt say it is easy because it aint and what people dont realise is that prison takes away you freedom thats the punisment
Ruth Roofio Sweetland
People in prision have broken the law why should they have any kind of an easy life, our prisions should be more like Americas, hard labour, they should be locked up for 24 hours a day, no tv, no game consoles, no fun and games at all, why should they have the option to order food? they should eat what their given and be grateful for it, they have a higher budget for food than any of our forces do, I can't see how that's right, if your going to break the law then you should be prepared to take the punishment, I'm fed up of all this human rights rubbish, if you go to prision you should lose any rights you ever had, maybe people would think twice about re-offending!!.
Gordon Wright
I never thought the day would come when I found myself in agreement with Gordon Ramsay but that day has now arrived. I cannot speak for all UK prisons but I had the misfortune to work in a privately run prison for almost two years (1994-1996) and could not wait to leave, (Only the unemployment situation at the time kept me there). In the case of our establishment, everything Ramsay says is true (and more besides). Not only did the inmates enjoy benefits and conditions the average pensioner would kill for, they also had an all weather football pitch and a fully eqipped recording studio!!. It his high time that prisons in this country were made more "uninviting" since at present they do not deter the majority of the inmates from re offending in the slightest.
LORRAINE
This comment has been removed for violations of our Terms and Conditions.
john lonsdale
WELL SAID GORDON SAY WHAT ALL PEOPLE ALREADY KNOW BUT AFRAID TO SAY
LORRAINE
GORDON MAY WELL THINK OF HIS OWN 'FUTURE CAREER'
Jan N Andy Oakley-Hills
Yes have to agree with him on this one, prison should be punishment first, rehabilitation after it has been earned, and no parole, full sentence to be served!!! Our prisons should follow the American system and I really don't care what the do-gooders say, anyone who breaks the law deserves punishment first and foremost, ie. no privileges, no choice of food, tv, entertainment, mobile phones, or drugs,,just plenty of time to reflect on the error of their ways, make them suffer, then they can start to earn their privileges!
Mary Steel
5:46pm on 11/6/2012
Old aged pensioners, cannot live like prisoners, sick people in hospitals don't get treated as well as prisoners, I learnt that years ago when I lived near Holloway prison and saw how the likes of Myra Hindley was treated, outings, birthday parties, special meals and exceptions regarding her furnishing her own cell, makes me sick to my stomach.
Andy uHarrod
9:09am on 12/6/2012
you lived nr Holloway or in it because you canot coment on what her sell looked like unless you have seen inside it