UK Prisons Introduce Alarm Clocks to Calm Inmate Wake-Ups
In a novel approach to prison management, inmates at two British jails are being given personal alarm clocks to wake them up gently each morning, replacing the traditional method of prison officers banging loudly on cell doors. This initiative is part of a broader effort to reduce violence in prisons, with the hope that prisoners will start their days in a better mood, thereby decreasing the likelihood of harming fellow inmates or staff members.
Trial Locations and Background
The calmer wake-up strategy is currently being trialled on a wing at HMP Wandsworth in south London, a prison that has faced significant scandals, including the high-profile escape of inmate Daniel Khalife and the incident where prison officer Linda De Sousa Abreu was filmed engaging in inappropriate conduct with a prisoner. Additionally, HMP Pentonville, a Category B men's prison in north London, is participating in this trial. The introduction of alarm clocks, which grants prisoners more autonomy over their waking times, is a key component of a 10-month trial that commenced seven weeks ago.
Expanded Activities and Training
Beyond the alarm clocks, the initiative will provide 120 inmates with increased time out of their cells, offering a wider range of activities as an alternative to being confined for up to 22 hours daily. To support this programme, some prison officers from HMP Wandsworth and HMP Pentonville underwent five days of specialist training in Sweden, as reported by The Telegraph. These officers are now expected to spend more time engaging with inmates, discussing personal issues, and encouraging efforts to avoid reoffending.
Monitoring and Selection Process
Prisoners involved in the trial have been allocated to the units randomly, rather than as a reward for good behaviour, ensuring a diverse sample. Their performance will be closely monitored by academics from King’s College London, who will assess whether the intervention effectively reduces violence among inmates. A Ministry of Justice spokesman stated: 'We're determined the criminal justice system creates better citizens, not better criminals. We will continue to look at what works—including evidence from overseas—to improve safety, reduce reoffending, and protect the public.'
Context of Broader Justice Policies
This move occurs within the context of Labour's justice programme, which has seen nearly 50,000 criminals released from jail early between September 2024 and September 2025, according to Ministry of Justice figures published in January. The early release scheme, aimed at alleviating prison overcrowding, has sparked controversy, with scenes of freed inmates celebrating outside prison gates and some committing new offences shortly after release. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood defended the programme, warning that the justice system would otherwise grind to a halt.
While sex offenders, terrorists, and those convicted of serious violent crimes with sentences over four years are excluded from early release, violent offenders with shorter sentences, including some manslaughter convicts, can be freed early. This contrasts with a previous Tory government scheme that released inmates up to 70 days early, resulting in 13,325 offenders freed over 11 months—a rate one-third lower than Labour's current programme.
The alarm clock trial draws inspiration from similar methods already implemented in Scandinavian and American prisons, highlighting a growing trend towards more humane and rehabilitative approaches in correctional facilities.
