A call centre staffed by prisoners has been set up inside High Down, it has emerged.

The centre, which has been running at the Banstead prison for three weeks, is staffed by 20 prisoners who speak to members of the public on the phone and then record their answers on a computer.

The creation of the call centre has not been publicised, but the Epsom Guardian was tipped-off about its existence by a member of staff at the prison.

While working at the call centre, gathering information used for market research, inmates work towards customer service qualifications.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said the calls are made externally and then put through to the prisoners, who do not have access to telephone numbers or any personal or financial details about those they are calling - only a name and email address.

Prisoners have a script to follow on their computer screens when speaking to people on the telephone.

The prison plans to expand the scheme to 60 prisoners.

The MoJ has said the prison will not make a profit from running the scheme and that any money it has received for it contributes to its running costs.

It refused to reveal how much prisoners at High Down are being paid for the work but said that the average inmate wage per week nationally is £9.

The MoJ said inmates at High Down are not being employed directly by any third party.

Ian Bickers, High Down’s governor, said: "We are committed to providing prisoners with real work opportunities to help them turn away from crime.

"This project with Census Data Group allows prisoners to develop vital skills, and complements the exciting programmes we have at the prison.

"The prisoners are thoroughly risk assessed before taking part and are monitored during the calls.

"They have no access to customers' personal details, except for a name and email address.

"Like our excellent Clink restaurant, this scheme aims to reduce the risk of reoffending by providing prisoners with work experience that can help them secure a job when they are released."

The Clink restaurant opened at High Down, as the first of its kind in the prison estate, in 2009.

It aims to reduce reoffending rates by training prisoners and getting them jobs in the hospitality industry upon their release with the support of The Clink charity’s career mentoring scheme.

Last month, it was announced that Michelin-starred chef Adam Simmonds is to offer training sessions to prisoners working at The Clink.

The latest initiative at the prison come after friends and family of inmates at the prison have raised a number of concerns since the start of the year, including claims that staff shortages are resulting in prisoners being locked in their cells for 23 hours a day and are unable to attend rehabilitative classes - something the MoJ has denied.

Ironically, some of the concerns have included prisoners not being able to get out of their cells to make phone calls.

Last August, Justice Secretary Chris Grayling defended similar schemes operating at Oakwood prison, run by private security firm G4S, and Drake Hall women’s prison.

The Epsom and Ewell MP denied that, as part of the schemes, prisoners were able to phone members of the public and question them about the contents of their home, including queries about their valuables, and financial details such as the cost of their car and home insurance.

He said the scheme, which saw inmates paid around £20 a week at the call centres, came with stringent security measures attached.

What do you think? Leave a comment below or email Hardeep Matharu on hmatharu@london.newsquest.co.uk.

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