Women's prison offers takeaway-style meals as reward for non-violence

A Derbyshire women's prison has introduced a monthly reward scheme under which inmates on the wing with the lowest levels of violence are treated to specially prepared takeaway-style meals, according to the latest report from the prison's independent monitoring board. HMP Foston Hall, which has a capacity of 320 and currently houses several high-profile offenders including Lorraine Thorpe, one of Britain's youngest female double murderers, and Louise Porton, convicted of killing her two young daughters, has implemented the initiative in response to what inspectors described as a rising tide of aggression within the facility. The scheme, detailed in the Independent Monitoring Board's most recent report published last month, aims to incentivise non-violent behaviour across the prison's seven wings, each of which accommodates between 30 and 60 inmates, with only one wing eligible to win the monthly prize.

The reward, colloquially referred to by prisoners as a "fakeaway", consists of homemade versions of popular takeaway dishes prepared by kitchen staff, with curries, fish and chips, Chinese meals, tacos, pizzas, burgers and even kebabs reportedly among the most sought-after choices. The initiative is one of several measures implemented by prison management to address what the IMB report identified as a 21 per cent increase in attacks on staff and an 11 per cent rise in inmate-on-inmate violence over the past year. According to the inspectors' findings, the introduction of the monthly reward has been accompanied by the deployment of "peacekeepers" – trusted prisoners designated as peer mentors and identified by red bands – whose role is to intervene in low-level disagreements before they escalate into physical confrontations. "There have been new initiatives to encourage positive behaviour," the IMB report states, "including a monthly reward for the wing with the lowest levels of violence, with a 'fakeaway' – takeaway food from the kitchen. The introduction of a peer mentor as a 'peacekeeper' to help resolve low-level disagreements has been another positive step."

The prison, which has previously held infamous inmates including Moors murderer Myra Hindley, Maxine Carr – the former partner of Soham murderer Ian Huntley – and Karen Matthews, who was convicted for her role in the 2008 fake kidnapping of her daughter Shannon, has faced sustained scrutiny over its management of violent incidents. An unannounced inspection by HM Inspectorate of Prisons in January 2024, the findings of which were released in April 2025, reported that the jail continued to be affected by high levels of violence, self-harm and unacceptable behaviour from staff, prompting the governor to launch an action plan, according to a Prison Service spokesperson. While HMIP noted that violence at Foston Hall was rarely serious and that violence against staff had actually been declining, the total number of violent incidents remained the highest in the women's estate, with self-harm also described as "too high" despite a reduction in incidents. The inspection found that "inconsistent care and a lack of assistance from staff were compounding the problems and causing women frustration".

The IMB's latest assessment, however, offered a more balanced view, praising the prison for its well-maintained gardens, hairdressing salon, gym and textile workshop, as well as an animal sanctuary on the grounds. Inspectors noted that the food served to inmates was of a generally high standard, with 65 per cent of respondents in a survey describing the food as "good or reasonable", and the board itself observed that meals "looked appetising, was well presented and tasted good when sampled". A spokesperson for HMIP acknowledged the prison's efforts, telling the BBC that the challenges facing the institution were being addressed through the action plan. The playing field, however, was deemed unsuitable for team games due to its uneven surface, and inspectors said the exterior environment, while "pleasant", required attention to make it fully usable for recreational purposes.

The results of the violence-reduction initiative, including the monthly fakeaway reward and the peacekeeper programme, are due to be evaluated later this year, according to prison officials. A Prison Service spokesperson, defending the scheme, stated: "This scheme is designed to encourage good behaviour, reducing violence and keeping staff safe. All food is made within the prison kitchen and is never brought in from outside." The IMB's report suggested that while the initiative represented a "positive step", the long-term effectiveness of the approach in reducing the overall rate of violence would depend on sustained commitment from both staff and inmates. With the prison's reputation for housing some of the country's most notorious female offenders, the experiment in behavioural incentives is being closely watched by penal reformers and prison inspectors alike.