Prisoners using PS3s to commit crimes

By Ellie Gibson Published 14 May, 2009

So say the men fighting the good fight.

The Prison Service has denied claims that prisoners in UK jails are using games consoles to organise crime on the outside.

As reported by The Times, the claims were made by the Serious Organised Crime Agency. SOCA director general Batman, sorry Bill Hughes, was speaking at the launch event for a new report.

"We know that one of the issues is that if you are locked up, how do you communicate with others? And we have been highlighting the fact it is not always with mobile telephones," he said.

"There is other technology used. People are using PlayStations to charge their mobile phones and are playing games interactively with others, so are able to communicate with them."

According to Hughes, prisoners are using "interactive games" to chat to their criminal chums. "Communication is the name of the game and criminals are looking to exploit new technologies. Prisoners have rights and they have access to the internet," he said.

"Some new prison guards are also being used without knowing it, but they soon become streetwise." Presumably they stop handing out WEP keys, routers, ethernet cables etc.

But according to the men in charge, it's all a load of nonsense. "Prisoners have never been allowed access to wireless enabled technology such as that used in some games consoles. Nor would they ever be allowed access to such technology," said a Prison Service representative, jangling a huge bunch of keys.

"A decision was taken some years ago that the then-current generation of games consoles should be barred because the capability to send or receive radio signals is an integral part of the equipment."

SOCA says it's heard otherwise, though it won't reveal how.

Meanwhile, Eurogamer is launching its own investigation into outside communications after a company Xbox 360 was used to send the message, "PLS HLP THEY R TORTRING ME W/ BAD GAMES. SEND A BIG CAKE WITH A FILE IN IT."

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (54) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • The_Inquisitor #1 3 years ago

    We should replace them with 360's that are past the warrenty period, then wait till the RROD hits and laugh at them. That'll teach them.

  • penhalion #2 3 years ago

    Naw just go back to the old bread, water and a cold floor to sleep on. Work houses for the unruly kids on the streets and I guarantee the crime rate would be seriously low!

  • Innes #3 3 years ago

    Third.

  • Shinji #4 3 years ago

    Naw just go back to the old bread, water and a cold floor to sleep on. Work houses for the unruly kids on the streets and I guarantee the crime rate would be seriously low!

    Yeah, because back when we had workhouses and really grim prisons, the crime rate was really low wasn't it! .... Oh, wait, it wasn't. Hmm.

    If we really want to be cruel to the prison population, surely just passing on Ellie's Wii minigame collections to them after they've been reviewed would do the trick?

  • Canyarion #5 3 years ago

    Bah, those disgusting prisoners, they should lock those people up!!

  • ZuluHero #6 3 years ago

    I think Penhalion was being facetious.

    And eww, Ellie's wii....

  • Golgo #7 3 years ago

    Are they bludgeoning prison guards with them?

  • JohnnyWashnGo #8 3 years ago

    Hell, prison sounds great. Free accomodation, food and PS3.

    What the bloody hell am I working all day for when I can get all I need for free?

  • 3william56 #9 3 years ago

    Are they any good at GTA?

    "We should replace them with 360's that are past the warrenty period, then wait till the RROD hits and laugh at them. That'll teach them. "

    More like they'd be on the blower to get Lenny The Mallet and George Three Toes round Bill Gate's house quick sharp for a word in his shell-likes, sort the slag out and get the Xbox design fixed pronto.

  • Triggerhappytel #10 3 years ago

    They get PlayStation fucking 3s and Internet access...?! Looks like I'm in the wrong business.

  • Skurmedel #11 3 years ago

    They don't get them, they buy them for their miniscule allowance.

  • Bigglesworth #12 3 years ago

    *sigh* Media sensationalism. I'm surprised the story isn't actually about convicted paedophiles setting up their virtual lairs in Home via the prison PS3s...

  • merkweasel #13 3 years ago

    My sisters boyfriend is in an "open" prison, which is the lowest security level and he isnt allowed a PS3, nobody is, for the sole reason that it is internet enabled. He makes do with my old PS2 I gave him and Grand Theft Auto SA!!

  • Moz #14 3 years ago

    are MS and Sony going to start making prison additions of consoles with internet connectivity removed!!

    And remember just cos the PS3 has a Cell doesn't mean it can be used in a cell

    /run to hide from the humour police

  • Moz #15 3 years ago

    Gaz40
    The mean sods so what if they use the internet and contact their chums, they are human being not animals

    part of the point of being in prison is that your cut off from the out side world except for visiting hours which take place in a controled monitored way.

  • Wastelander #16 3 years ago

    To be fair, all the PS3 time in the world probably wouldn't make up for the forced bumming.

  • asphaltcowboy #17 3 years ago

    Does the Serious Organised Crime Agency really need to have the 'Serious' at the front?

  • Vice.Destroyer #18 3 years ago

    This is Living

  • themorganator #19 3 years ago

    Seriously Eurogamer, was there anything really worth printing here. I'm gutted I gave you the hit for this rubbish.

  • Monsta #20 3 years ago

    Am i the only one that feels that Prison shouldn't be quite as much fun as it is.

    Is not having to work, getting 3 meals a day, TV, Pool table, games consoles etc a punishment.

    These people have broken the law and should maybe suffer a little.

    Make prison a place you never want to end up in.

  • PearOfAnguish #21 3 years ago

    "Does the Serious Organised Crime Agency really need to have the 'Serious' at the front?"

    'SOCA' sounds much cooler than 'OCA'.

  • Sunyavadin #22 3 years ago

    The very fact that criminals in prison are allowed luxuries like this is shitting on the faces of their victims.

  • Collymilad #23 3 years ago

    "There is no punishment in this country anymore, kill someone and you get a few years, a PS3, and like Jade's husband tan yourself on sunny days behind bars wearing a rolex watch. If you're sent to prison you should have no fucking luxuries, you should do hard labour, and if you're in for murder you should be in their to rot for the rest of your life. Most people in prsion are total Scum who should be beaten on a regular basis, not given mobiles or consoles or even a fucking tv. Maybe then our children wouldn't be getting knifed on the way home from the pub on a saturday night.

    If you want any improvement in this country you have to kick out new labour. They are the most useless corrupt morally bankrupt bunch of crooks ever seen in this country. "

    I love you. Are you sure you're not me from another reality? Sad thing is everyone i speak to still has the attitude of "aww, they're not that bad"

    WHAT EXACTLY DO THEY HAVE TO DO? As a member of the police federation said, the expenses scandle would shame a 3rd world dictatorship.

    labour have dismantled this country, and sadly a lot of the things they've done are irreversible. Emmigrate.
    Edited by 1 at 14/05/09 @ 11:20

  • Spekingur #24 3 years ago

    My suggestion would be giving them a non-internet enabled and a non-backwards compatible PS3 and only PS2 games.

  • Shinji #25 3 years ago

    I like how the hang 'em and flog 'em shower of idiots are posting without even reading the story properly - it's perfectly clear from it that they do NOT have PS3s in prisons, as all wi-fi enabled devices are banned. (So are mobile phones, under broadly the same set of rules.)

  • Collymilad #26 3 years ago

    "I like how the hang 'em and flog 'em shower of idiots are posting without even reading the story properly - it's perfectly clear from it that they do NOT have PS3s in prisons, as all wi-fi enabled devices are banned. (So are mobile phones, under broadly the same set of rules.)"

    personal attacks, nice moderation.

    Maybe EG should make their headlines more accurate?
    Edited by 1 at 14/05/09 @ 11:34

  • Shinji #27 3 years ago

    It would be "moderation" if I'd edited or deleted your nonsense. It's a "response" when I call you out on it. Try reading the damned article properly and posting something intelligent if you want any other kind of treatment.

  • Wastelander #28 3 years ago

    Who would of thought EG had a crossover readership with the Daily Mail?

    I, for one, am outraged!

  • schachmatt #29 3 years ago

    A quarter of the users in posting a response to this article seem to be prisoners, no respect for them.

    Also, it's a Times Online article, which may be regarded a bit better. But who reads articles on here fully anyway, not even mentioning the link to the original.

  • olilan #30 3 years ago

    "it's perfectly clear from [the story] that they do NOT have PS3s in prisons"

    Then what's going on with the headline?

  • Wastelander #31 3 years ago

    The mods aren't tough enough around here.
    Any perceived slight against the EG authorities should be met with a full-screen animated gif of Shinji's thrusting groin on your logon page.

    Right at you. Like a shark from the depths.

  • FWB #32 3 years ago

    They should get a cell and book on calculus. That's it.

  • El-Dev #33 3 years ago

    "Meanwhile, Eurogamer is launching its own investigation into outside communications after a company Xbox 360 was used to send the message, "PLS HLP THEY R TORTRING ME W/ BAD GAMES. SEND A BIG CAKE WITH A FILE IN IT." "

    Eurogamer admit the 360 is shit. Now that's news.

  • Spekingur #34 3 years ago

    By the way, all those guys in the money industry that caused everyone to lose their money (or lost everyone else's money) and have made people with money into people with no money, no house, no work, no nothing - where are they? Not in prison where they should be. No, they are living the good life. Some are even still in control of money. It is highly unlikely that they will ever go to any kind of prison. Not even the people in charge take responsibility, the blame always lies with someone else that they can easily pick on without expecting any kind of serious retort.

    And also, no, mods should reply and reply harshly if needed. I like that. Not just, nod and say thank you when some stupid people march in with the 'I know better' flag. Burn that damn flag and proclaim a jihad onto them!

  • Meho #35 3 years ago

    The title of the article is clearly misleading and all, but... people posting in this thread who have clearly never seen the inside of a prison and still think they are obliged to having an opinion on how best to make the inmates 'suffer' (the word used by one of the posters) REALLY need to think before they speak next time.
    Edited by 1 at 14/05/09 @ 11:54

  • Spekingur #36 3 years ago

    Well, Meho, prisons aren't correctional facilities any more. They seem to be storage facilities for the people we don't want in our society rather than to try and 'correct' the inmates.
    Edited by 1 at 14/05/09 @ 12:02

  • Meho #37 3 years ago

    As someone who's spent quite some time researching the subject I can tell you they never were correctional facilities in anything but the name. That's not even the point. I understand people here joking about having three meals a day, a game console and Internet access FOR FREE sounds increasingly appealing, but there have been several people here apaprently thinking that prisons are actually comfortable, cosy places instead of torture dungeons they would rather have...

  • Retroid #38 3 years ago

    @El-Dev: Too true, if it was a PS3 they'd be complaining about them being rubbish ports of bad games ^___^

  • Collymilad #39 3 years ago

    "It would be "moderation" if I'd edited or deleted your nonsense. It's a "response" when I call you out on it. Try reading the damned article properly and posting something intelligent if you want any other kind of treatment."

    No, the point is if you're a mod you should be above making personal attacks, no?

    Also, maybe you should actually take your own advice and read my post, as it was directed at the labour government and not the prisoners themselves.

    Just to add, I'll post what I want within the rules, i don't post based on what you, or anyone else might think of what I have to say.

    That's all im going to say, as I don't fancy a ban.
    Edited by 2 at 14/05/09 @ 12:36

  • IneptPercy #40 3 years ago

    I could imagine prision is hard enough, please dont make me play a PS3 if I end up there.

  • Spekingur #41 3 years ago

    Meho, yes, that is very true. Prisons today are not correctional facilities. The idea behind them though, was to "change" behaviour of the ones in there. Much maybe like those institutions for the insane.

  • geeza2020 #42 3 years ago

    wont somebody think of the children!?!?!?!

  • penhalion #43 3 years ago

    @asphaltcowboy

    "Does the Serious Organised Crime Agency really need to have the 'Serious' at the front?"

    I actually laughed at that. It's kind of a nonsense when you read it out loud. It actually imples that this agancy is creating serious organised crime.

  • geeza2020 #44 3 years ago

    Yeah damn right CountFapula, what we need in Britain is more intolerance. Yeah that'll solve all our problems. nice one lol.

  • geeza2020 #45 3 years ago

    You are obviously some kind of mini hitler who believes that anyone who does not live up to your standards deserves to be put into a little oven and cooked you fucked up shit. ignored.

  • Cannibal #46 3 years ago

    You could make a shiv out of a broken up disc or sharpened micro chip.

  • Entity #47 3 years ago

    SOCA?
    Isn't that the big fail agency Blair set-up?

  • zuljin #48 3 years ago

    The cake is a lie!

    Oh come on someone had to say it! :)

  • sneetch #49 3 years ago

    @Wastelander
    Any perceived slight against the EG authorities should be met with a full-screen animated gif of Shinji's thrusting groin on your logon page.

    Right at you. Like a shark from the depths.

    Truly awesome use of imagery. Now I have to purge my brain with alcohol to remove it. ;)

  • Ryze #50 3 years ago

    Using 'Interactive games'... as opposed to using the web browser to just email or text them, eh?

    Then there's the voicechat...

    /facepalm

  • Wildsleven #51 3 years ago

    at Johnnywashngo

    u dont get raped in the ass! lol

  • dolphan #52 3 years ago

    CountFapula - "If you want any improvement in this country you have to kick out new labour. They are the most useless corrupt morally bankrupt bunch of crooks ever seen in this country."

    Given the content of your posts, you accusing anyone of moral bankruptcy is kind of amusing.

  • brommers #53 3 years ago

    @countfapula

    +1

  • Wastelander #54 3 years ago

    The only rape going on here is the raping of that poor strawman.