Convicted gang members in a category B prison are being urged to turn over a new leaf by embracing a novel therapy project - involving ducks. The heads at Dovegate jail have placed trust in the power of nature by introducing ducks as part of the prison's Pet Assisted Therapy Plan.
Dovegate is a category three prison. It generally houses prisoners for terrorist offences, former gang members and convicts serving sentences for terrorist offences, crimes of violence or threat to life, arson, firearms, drugs, sexual offences or robbery.
Bosses are hoping the humane approach of introducing pets to prison life may help speed up prisoner reform. As reported by Mirror, Dovegate jail’s Muscovy ducks, which came from a rescue centre, have their own pond and wooden shelter near the perimeter wall.
A source said: “At first we thought it was a joke. One of the ducks has even been named Crispy. Someone out there must be having a laugh.” Other measures being used to calm inmates include in-cell yoga, chess, a choir and plots to grow vegetables and flowers.
A report from the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) watchdog revealed how the jail near Uttoxeter, Staffs., was working to help violent inmates curb their tendencies. It said: “The prison has well-maintained and attractive gardens, with productive vegetable and flower growing areas. Grounds are exceptional, with ponds and ducks cared for by prisoners. These have been looked after well.”
A similar scheme five years ago at HMP Swaleside in Kent gave lags access to therapy goats to help rehabilitation. Last year a new prison, HMP Five Wells in Wellingborough, Northants, was branded 'soft' after it emerged the windows had no bars and inmates were to be called “residents”.
Retired chief superintendent Kevin Moore, former head of CID at Sussex Police, said of the duck scheme: “It’s quackers. It’s got to be a joke. Prison is a place for punishment and hopefully some rehabilitation. I don’t see how duck therapy is going to make things any better.”
Andy Johnson, Serco Prison Director at HMP Dovegate, said: “We’re delighted that this very positive IMB Report highlighted that we provide lots of animal-related activities such as the ducks in the garden and the Restart Dogs project, which provide prisoners with purposeful activities and help support rehabilitation.”
