By Sarah Smithon Tuesday, 7 Nov 2006 Bingo is being used as means of rehabilitating offenders and encouraging social interaction in a Nottinghamshire prison.
However, the scheme has proved to be controversial due to the £5,000 price tag, which is being used to provide prizes for the convicted sex offenders taking part.
The Prison Officers Association said that the money could be better used for other purposes such as education programmes at Whatton Jail, which houses 761 inmates.
Peter Wright, the governor of the prison, defended the scheme, which gives prisoners the chance to win up to £3 in each game of bingo.
"I don't think the majority of people would be bothered about such small amounts of money being spent on prizes against the background of this very large and complicated prison."
He added that the amount spent was not disproportionate, coming from a prison with an overall annual budget of £7.5 million.
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