Prisoners are being encouraged to turn their backs on gang culture – with the help of therapy ducks.
Bosses at category B Dovegate jail are hoping that looking after the waterfowl while doing bird can help cons go straight.
Inmates at the rural prison include many serving time for gang-related offences.
The jail’s Muscovy ducks, which came from a rescue centre, have their own pond and wooden shelter near the perimeter wall.
A source said: “At first we thought it was a joke.
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“One of the ducks has even been named Crispy. Someone out there must be having a laugh.” The animals are part of the prison’s Pet Assisted Therapy plan.
HM Prison Dovegate in Staffordshire (PA)Other measures being used to calm inmates include in-cell yoga, chess, a choir and plots to grow vegetables and flowers.
A report from the Independent Monitoring Board watchdog revealed how the jail near Uttoxeter, Staffs, was working to help violent inmates curb their tendencies.
It said: “The prison has well-maintained and attractive gardens, with productive vegetable and flower growing areas.
“Grounds are exceptional, with ponds and ducks cared for by prisoners. These have been looked after well.”
Ducks came from a rescue centre (Getty Images/500px)A similar scheme five years ago at HMP Swaleside in Kent gave lags access to therapy goats to help rehabilitation.
Last year a new prison, HMP Five Wells in Wellingborough, Northants, was branded soft after it emerged the windows had no bars and inmates were to be called “residents”.
Retired chief superintendent Kevin Moore, former head of CID at Sussex Police, said of the duck scheme: “It’s quackers – it’s got to be a joke.
“Prison is a place for punishment and hopefully some rehabilitation. I don’t see how duck therapy is going to make things any better.”
Andy Johnson, Serco Prison Director at HMP Dovegate, said: “We’re delighted that this very positive IMB Report highlighted that we provide lots of animal related activities such as the ducks in the garden and the Restart Dogs project, which provide prisoners with purposeful activities and help support rehabilitation.”
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