UK’s longest-serving prison officer reveals how life behind bars has changed

• Steve Ley, the UK's longest-serving prison officer, is retiring after 50 years with HM Prison and Probation Service.
• Starting at HMP Swansea in 1975, Mr Ley has witnessed significant changes in prison life, including improved medical care, inmate access to televisions and phones, and a greater focus on rehabilitation.
• One of the biggest changes has been to sanitation – there were no toilets in cells when he started, and prisoners would instead use chamber pots.
• Mr Ley highlighted the positive impact of these changes on prisoner behaviour and well-being, saying they were “all for the better”.
• When he joined the service, prison staff didn’t have a good reputation, but now he says he is “not ashamed to admit what I do for a living”.

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UK’s longest-serving prison officer reveals major changes behind bars after 50 years