Prisoners given Lego to play with in attempt to cut violence in jails

bosses hope inmates can rebuild their lives by playing with simple toys like .

Lags are being given sets of the kids’ bricks as part of a pioneering scheme to cut violence in jails.

Things seem to be clicking, as there have been zero serious assaults in the year since LEGO was introduced at HMP North Sea Camp, Lincolnshire. And not one prison officer had to use force to control an inmate.

Its 300 men were also given dominoes and Scrabble boards, paid for with a £3,000 grant, while a giant jigsaw has been installed in the dining room too.

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A source said: “LEGO keeps kids quiet but now we know it can have the same effect on hardened criminals. The change in inmates’ behaviour has been remarkable. Let’s just hope they remember to put all the pieces back in the box or we could end up with all manner of flare-ups.”

The scheme was praised in a report by jail inspectors. The Independent Monitoring Board added: “While there have been several minor scuffles between prisoners, there have been no serious assaults.”

LEGO, invented in Denmark in 1932, is played with by millions. Celebrity fans include and the England football team, who spent their downtime at the summer’s Euros in Germany playing it.

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