A new Prison Service directive states only convicts who have earned the highest level of privileges will be allowed access to games consoles such as PlayStations.
The document bans prisons from spending taxpayers' money on buying hardware or computer games for inmates with immediate effect.
Last year the Government admitted spending more than £10,000 on 80 PlayStations and 15 Xboxes for young offender institutions.
The directive states that all prisoners will be banned from playing 18-rated computer games from the end of September this year.
Only inmates on the highest level of Incentives and Earned Privileges (IEP) and those at risk of suicide will be allowed to play computer games.
Showing posts with label service. Show all posts
Showing posts with label service. Show all posts
Friday, 25 July 2008
Wednesday, 23 July 2008
Passports strike threat to holidays
A three-day strike that may hit holidaymakers needing swift passports is starting.
Nearly 3,000 passport staff will leave their posts in a row over pay and the Government's office closure programme. The strike will hit the UK's seven regional passport offices and 68 interview offices, the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) said.
The stoppage - which comes at the start of the school holidays - means that anyone who discovers their passport has expired may have to miss their holiday.
For an extra charge, new documents can usually be obtained in one day but this service will be unavailable during the strike. Travellers waiting for ordinary passport applications to be processed will also face delays.
The protest is over a 2.5% pay deal. The sum has not been awarded to all staff, with longest-serving employees receiving no pay rise for the fifth year running.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "The closure of the Glasgow passport office and the threat to a further unnamed three is fuelling the anger over the government's policy of below inflation pay.
"It is disgraceful that long-serving passport staff should receive no pay rise for the fifth year in a row and that efficient hardworking staff should be rewarded with a pay cut in real terms."
The seven regional passport offices affected by the strike are London, Liverpool, Belfast, Glasgow, Peterborough, Newport and Durham.
An Identity and Passports Service spokesman said: "IPS will strive to maintain a service to the public and keep any inconvenience to a minimum during the period of the strikes.
"All IPS regional office counters will remain open and we are able to issue passports for those in emergency situations or with urgent needs. Any customer who has booked for premium services or an interview will have the appointment honoured. We believe that the pay deal was fair for staff while keeping in line with Treasury guidelines."
Nearly 3,000 passport staff will leave their posts in a row over pay and the Government's office closure programme. The strike will hit the UK's seven regional passport offices and 68 interview offices, the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) said.
The stoppage - which comes at the start of the school holidays - means that anyone who discovers their passport has expired may have to miss their holiday.
For an extra charge, new documents can usually be obtained in one day but this service will be unavailable during the strike. Travellers waiting for ordinary passport applications to be processed will also face delays.
The protest is over a 2.5% pay deal. The sum has not been awarded to all staff, with longest-serving employees receiving no pay rise for the fifth year running.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "The closure of the Glasgow passport office and the threat to a further unnamed three is fuelling the anger over the government's policy of below inflation pay.
"It is disgraceful that long-serving passport staff should receive no pay rise for the fifth year in a row and that efficient hardworking staff should be rewarded with a pay cut in real terms."
The seven regional passport offices affected by the strike are London, Liverpool, Belfast, Glasgow, Peterborough, Newport and Durham.
An Identity and Passports Service spokesman said: "IPS will strive to maintain a service to the public and keep any inconvenience to a minimum during the period of the strikes.
"All IPS regional office counters will remain open and we are able to issue passports for those in emergency situations or with urgent needs. Any customer who has booked for premium services or an interview will have the appointment honoured. We believe that the pay deal was fair for staff while keeping in line with Treasury guidelines."
Tuesday, 15 July 2008
The Service
One Sunday morning, the pastor noticed little Alex was staring up at the large plaque that hung in the foyer of the church.
It was covered with names, and small American flags were mounted on either side of it.
The seven-year-old had been staring at th e plaque for some time, so the pastor walked up, stood beside the boy, and said quietly, "Good morning, Alex."
"Good morning," replied the young man, still focused on the plaque.
"What is this?" Alex asked.
"Well, son, it's a memorial to all the young men and women who died in the service."
Soberly, they stood together, staring at the large plaque.
Little Alex's voice was trembling and barely audible when he asked, "Which service, the 9:45 or the 11:15?"
It was covered with names, and small American flags were mounted on either side of it.
The seven-year-old had been staring at th e plaque for some time, so the pastor walked up, stood beside the boy, and said quietly, "Good morning, Alex."
"Good morning," replied the young man, still focused on the plaque.
"What is this?" Alex asked.
"Well, son, it's a memorial to all the young men and women who died in the service."
Soberly, they stood together, staring at the large plaque.
Little Alex's voice was trembling and barely audible when he asked, "Which service, the 9:45 or the 11:15?"
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