MoJ launches prison Facebook investigation

 

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By Matthew Sparkes

Posted on 25 Jun 2009 at 12:04

An investigation has been launched after a convicted robber was found to have been updating his Facebook status from prison, despite not being allowed a PC or mobile phone.

"Prisoners do not have access to mobile phones or the internet, and cannot personally contribute to websites," a Prison Service spokesperson told the Daily Mail.

"This form of media is totally unregulated and we have no power to remove a social-networking profile from the internet," he added.

However, Kane Barratt, currently held at Lancaster prison, managed to change his relationship status from engaged to single, and back again, and post numerous photos and status updates.

"I mite[sic] be in here but my sole[sic] is out there," read one update from last month.

The Ministry of Justice confirmed that it has launched a formal investigation, and is also holding talks with Facebook to work out a strategy to stop inmates posting on the site.

Last week a man was handed an eight-week prison sentence after trying to smuggle a mobile phone into jail "internally".

Wardens discovered during a strip search that Aaron Walker had attempted to sneak the handset into HMP Bristol.