Officer's Gaming Session with Inmate Goes Viral
A prison officer has found himself at the centre of an official investigation after a video surfaced online showing him playing a FIFA-style video game with an inmate inside a prison cell. The incident, which was captured on a mobile phone that should not have been behind bars, was shared widely on social media, leading to direct intervention from the Ministry of Justice.
Other prisoners watched and filmed the unusual scene, finding it amusing enough to post the clip on TikTok. The video gained significant traction online before authorities stepped in to have it removed. The Sun reported that the clip featured a caption overlaid on the footage reading, 'He try run', as the uniformed guard was seen leaving the cell.
Investigations and Official Responses
The Ministry of Justice confirmed it is now investigating the incident. A primary focus of the probe is the illicit mobile phone used to film the encounter, a serious breach of prison security. Authorities are working to identify the prisoner responsible for recording and uploading the video.
While the guard has not been accused of any specific wrongdoing, and government sources told Metro that such interactions can sometimes help build relationships and reduce violence, the fact that it was filmed and shared publicly from inside a prison is a major concern. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson stated: 'We removed these posts immediately and are investigating. Those who break prison rules will be punished and can face extra time behind bars.'
It remains unclear which prison the video was filmed in or exactly when the incident occurred. The government clarified that while video games are not outright banned in prisons, any console used must not be WiFi enabled. Furthermore, prisoners are only permitted to access televisions if they have earned the privilege and only during times when they are not required to be at work or in education.
Contrast with More Serious Offences
The incident has drawn comparisons to more severe cases of misconduct within the prison system. Notably, this year, prison officer Linda De Sousa Abreu was jailed after being filmed having sex with an inmate, Linton Weirich, at HMP Wandsworth in south London.
In that highly publicised case, Weirich's cellmate filmed the liaison on a mobile phone. The viral video captured the pair having sex while De Sousa Abreu's radio could be heard crackling with messages in the background. The cellmate was heard saying, 'This is how we roll in Wandsworth.'
While the gaming incident is not considered to be on the same level, it has nonetheless highlighted ongoing issues with contraband phones and the boundaries of staff-inmate relationships within the UK's prison system.
