This isn't exactly what the story says. I wouldn't be at all surprised if staff preferred having smaller, better supervised groups of prisoners out at one time. Adequate staffing would allow this. Whole big wings of prisoners unlocked doesn't often work well- ask the prisoners https://twitter.com/russwebt/status/1314126385313587202

A lot of people are going on about "permanent lockdown". But no-one is calling for that. But our prisons have been so incredibly chaotic, for so long, that I know for a fact that some staff are just walking around in a daze- "So we can be SAFE?!?". They forgot, or never knew

Wings of 150ish in Victorian Locals used, in some cases, to have DOUBLE the number of staff supervising association that they have now, or more. We used to look forward to evening association- lads who'd been to work that day, making a call, having a shower or a...

Quiet game of pool. I'd position myself on the 4's, cup of tea, leaning on the railings, watching from above. You notice a lad nearby, a bit sheepish, you offer an "OK mate?" He comes over for a chat. A few issues, nothing major, getting them off his chest mainly..

But not stuff he wants to shout out loud with others to hear, as weakness is exploited in there. Normally I'm teaching him to fish, not giving him a fish, as they say. Sometimes someone might drop that it might be worth me checking the cleaning cupboard at bangup..

Couple of razors melted in a toothbrush maybe. Worth taking off the "street". Sometimes I'll get told of a lad too afraid to queue for the phone, and I'll lock him up last- 2 mins on the phone with mum without the dickheads taking the piss

Sometimes someone will come up to me, saying all the right things, pushing all the right buttons, but just trying to get me to go into the office, to fetch something, so something else can go down. I know how to deal with him too.

Often, cellbells will go on, from people still locked up. They've not been to work or education today, or they're on Basic. They want a paracetamol, an application form, a phonecall, anything, to get unlocked. I have to make judgement there too.

People on Basic Regime, often predators, wanting to be out, showing their ass on the landing, dominating, being the big man. Nothing violent, just wanting to show how tough they are. Nope.

A million different things, but when I'm on, you leave the phone queue, you miss your turn, don't care who you intimidate into giving you theirs. Not happening big man. Good deeds are rewarded, bad one punished, and people get a fair go on the pool table

But then someone reduces the number of staff supervising. Reduces the back office admin so theres always another paperwork issue to draw you into the office, eyes off. Then someone says "Why not just get them all out, it's easier. It's more humane. We've gor cameras now"

But it's not about a ratio, or the number of "fights". It's about whether you're in charge. Because, to be clear, either you're in control, or someone else is. And some people will never understand the dominance dynamics if theyxlive to be 100

Because they interview the prisoners, in an office, with coffee. They don't watch the tidal flows across the association floor for years. They can't see the predatory behaviour that's so engrained in a culture that EVEN THE VICTIMS think it's "fine". Just life.

If I had a £ for every drug-dealing, predatory scumbag who'd wrapped IMB, Governors, charity workers and academics round their little finger as they articulately regurgitate back what they know they want to hear, I'd be a rich man. It's little Johnny I worry about

Some 23 year old bellend who's gone too far, been locked up, then we say "THIS IS FINE, LOOK AT ALL THE TIME OUT OF CELL YOU'RE HAVING" as we throw him to the wolves

Prisons are incredibly complex, living, breathing, deadly organisms, but people are happy to treat them as if the residents are a random selection of ordinary people, who's behaviour is driven by the conditions they find themselves in. Fucking nope.