Prisoners have keys to own cells

Thousands of inmates have been given the keys to their own "rooms" to protect belongings and ensure privacy.

An inquiry has disclosed that some prisons call inmates "trainees" or "residents".

Gerry Sutcliffe, the prisons minister, said keys were handed out in the interests of rehabilitation and "decency" after requests under the Freedom of Information act revealed that 5,747 of Yorkshire's 9,577 prison population have been issued with keys for "privacy locks".

He insisted that the system did not pose a security risk as staff keys could override those used by prisoners.