Chelmsford Prison said the figures were being used to "remind people of the consequences of breaking the law".But Frances Crook, of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said the cut-outs were "insulting to staff".
The Prison Service has now made the decision to remove the 7ft (2.1m) tall figures "to avoid confusion". Earlier a spokesman said there had been "no removal of CCTV" and the cardboard figures were "an additional measure only". Ms Crook said the cut-outs "sounded like a bit of a joke, but the trouble is there is a serious problem".
"I shouldn't think they cost very much, but it just makes the prison look a bit silly," she said. "I think it's insulting to staff. They have to do a very professional, dangerous, difficult job, and we should be treating them with respect. Having cardboard cut-outs of coppers outside is insulting."
1 comment:
Okay, 7' figures are a bit over-the-top, not to attempt a bit of humor here.
But--
It's been shown in studies that live-size cutouts of police officers standing in department stores _do_ seem to deter shoplifting.
So maybe there's a bit of science behind the silliness.
Lurker111
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