DARTMOOR PRISON

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 4432, 5 September 1939, Page 4

DARTMOOR PRISON

CHANGES SINCE 1932 MUTINY Irish terrorists who were recently sentenced to long terms of penal servitude for their parts in bomb conspiracies are not being sent to Dartmoor Prison. The authorities “do not wish to upset the happy and contented atmosphere which prevails there now. There were rumours that special precautions had been taken to deal with t mutiny which, it was suggested, had been planned for the Easter week-end. There was no sign of anything unusual when a reporter drove round the prison Prison officers were enjoying the Easter leave; there was not a policeman to be seen, and on the parade grounds the convicts chatted amicably together as they sauntered round. This was typical of the change that has taken place since the mutiny of 1932. To-day talking _ is permitted at any time, work is paid for, and, with the money, luxuries may be bought. Smoking is even permitted in the cells. When the day’s work is over convicts meet in the recreation rooms to listen to the wireless, play darts, table tennis, or billiards, or join in the discussion circles. A convict released recently said: — “Conditions have changed completely. I did not hear a reasonable complaint about food for a year. There was no talk of mutiny, for everyone was too satisfied.”