PRISON: SERIES 1 / EPISODE 2

TX DATE:
THURSDAY 26 JULY 2018

TX TIME:
21:00

NETWORK:
Channel 4

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For the first time in more than five years, cameras have been allowed behind bars to make a documentary series in a British prison.

With exclusive access to HMP Durham, this series offers a rare insight into the challenges that prison staff face on a daily basis.

Prison tells the human story on both sides of the door, from the perspectives of staff and prisoners, and reveals the issues that they all face.

With a vast weekly traffic of prisoners, from driving offenders to murderers to drug addicts, the prison has to cope with ever-changing demands, pressure on bed space and complex prisoner needs.

Capturing first-hand the escalating drug problem, the scale of violence that frontline staff and prisoners endure daily and the multiple challenges of dealing with people who suffer from mental health issues, the series reflects the national issues that the prison service currently faces.

This episode explores mental health and the challenges facing the staff at Durham, where as many as 600 prisoners are estimated to suffer from mental health problems, and there are only 11 beds and one dedicated mental health nurse on duty. 

​Last in series.
​

PRODUCTION CREDITS
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Executive Producer: Kathy Myers / Richard Melman
Series Producer: Paddy Wivel
Director: Paddy Wivel

A Spring Films production for Channel 4.