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| Chelmsford Prison cardboard cut-outs 'a bit silly' | Chelmsford Prison cardboard cut-outs 'a bit silly' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Life-sized cardboard cut-outs of police designed to deter people from smuggling contraband into a prison have been branded "a bit silly". | Life-sized cardboard cut-outs of police designed to deter people from smuggling contraband into a prison have been branded "a bit silly". |
| Chelmsford Prison said the figures were being used to "remind people of the consequences of breaking the law". | Chelmsford Prison said the figures were being used to "remind people of the consequences of breaking the law". |
| But Frances Crook, of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said the cut-outs were "insulting to staff". | |
| The Prison Service has now made the decision to remove the 7ft (2.1m) tall figures "to avoid confusion". | The Prison Service has now made the decision to remove the 7ft (2.1m) tall figures "to avoid confusion". |
| Earlier a spokesman said there had been "no removal of CCTV" and the cardboard figures were "an additional measure only". | Earlier a spokesman said there had been "no removal of CCTV" and the cardboard figures were "an additional measure only". |
| Read more on this story and other Essex news | Read more on this story and other Essex news |
| 'Bit of a joke' | 'Bit of a joke' |
| Ms Crook said the cut-outs "sounded like a bit of a joke, but the trouble is there is a serious problem". | Ms Crook said the cut-outs "sounded like a bit of a joke, but the trouble is there is a serious problem". |
| "I shouldn't think they cost very much, but it just makes the prison look a bit silly," she said. | "I shouldn't think they cost very much, but it just makes the prison look a bit silly," she said. |
| "I think it's insulting to staff. They have to do a very professional, dangerous, difficult job, and we should be treating them with respect. | "I think it's insulting to staff. They have to do a very professional, dangerous, difficult job, and we should be treating them with respect. |
| "Having cardboard cut-outs of coppers outside is insulting." | "Having cardboard cut-outs of coppers outside is insulting." |
| The prison recently sent letters to nearby residents asking them to help stop packets of "illicit articles" being thrown over the jail walls. | The prison recently sent letters to nearby residents asking them to help stop packets of "illicit articles" being thrown over the jail walls. |
| Last month, a woman who lives near the prison said the problem of packages being thrown over the wall was "getting quite bad". | Last month, a woman who lives near the prison said the problem of packages being thrown over the wall was "getting quite bad". |
| One former inmate said the jail was "notorious" for being "flooded" with mobile phones and synthetic cannabis. | One former inmate said the jail was "notorious" for being "flooded" with mobile phones and synthetic cannabis. |
| In 2010, a scheme involving cardboard cut-outs of police officers in shops, supermarket and petrol stations was scrapped after it failed to reduce crime. | In 2010, a scheme involving cardboard cut-outs of police officers in shops, supermarket and petrol stations was scrapped after it failed to reduce crime. |
| The figures were installed in 2009 and were meant to be a relatively cheap way to deter would-be criminals. | The figures were installed in 2009 and were meant to be a relatively cheap way to deter would-be criminals. |
| At the time, Essex Police said the trial of the cardboard police officers had little impact on crime or anti social behaviour. | At the time, Essex Police said the trial of the cardboard police officers had little impact on crime or anti social behaviour. |