Would you live very near a prison?

[Miltonglade]

Went to see a house in a lovely modern housing estate this morning. Great house for us near a bluebell wood - idyllic even - but with on flaw as far as I am concerned. Coming out of the estate across a dual carriageway is a prison with Category A male prisoners and also young offenders. We would be at the back of the estate so a few roads away but still this makes me a little uneasy what with a young family but my hubby loves the house and does not see an issue at all. AIBU?

Well, probably not Dartmoor. Or one of the 3 on the Isle of Sheppey. But the streets of Victorian houses near Maidstone nick are mostly lovely. I'd buy one of those like a shot.

I'd be more bothered about being so close to a dual carriageway.

I remember saying that to my dad when I was a teenager ‘ugh why would anyone want to live beside a prison, so dangerous’ and he told me that’s the safest place to be - they’ll get as far away as possible although there have been cases that disprove this but I think that’s more mental hospitals

The last thing ex cons want to do is hang around causing trouble. They get picked up and go home.

I spent years working in a prison and young offenders. It was a running joke that it was the safest neghbhour hood there was. On the slim chance one escaped no way he was hanging around the local area

@Waxonwaxoff0

What exactly do you think is going to happen?

That.

They're all locked up, for goodness' sake! I'm really trying to understand why you should be bothered by it, but I can't. As a pp said, the dual carriageway would put me off far more.

When I was a kid we looked at a house which was about the nearest house to Rampton. The women who was selling it from said if anyone escaped and came to the house just make them a cup of tea and call the prison! Not sure if she was joking or serious.

We viewed a lovely house directly opposite a young offenders centre...it really put me off. I'm sure I will be flamed but my biggest worry was people who were coming for visits...yes, I'm aware that plenty will be law abiding people but I was still worried.

Other worry was 're selling.

I live in Bristol and the prison is in a really nice area- if I could afford it I would definitely live around there! But a 3 bed house would be 500k +

I used to live VERY near to HM Prison in Leeds. like, two streets away. it was fine op. i mean, it's a bit of a rough area anyway but we had a lovely house and never had any issues related to the prison. you might hear sirens often but that's normal to any urban area i guess.

But I wouldn’t be put off a Cat A prison, no. They don’t escape and if they do will be out of the area pronto. Visitors parking in nearby streets could potentially be an issue and the guards parking all day, hopefully not if it’s the other side of a major road though.

Depends. I used to work somewhat near a prison and walking past it always made me uncomfortable. Mainly because the area itself was rough and ghetto, as were the people that were just “about” on the streets. Think gangs of teenagers or creepy men that would shout explicit things at you. I certainly wouldn’t live there but I’m not sure to what extent I’d blame the prison itself

I think I would yeh, It's not like they'd be coming and going on a regular basis!!

It wouldn't bother me.

@NotJust3SmallWords

I used to live opposite a women's prison in London. It wasn't the nicest view ever, but we didn't have any major problems.

My sister lives near the (in)famous London one. Again no problems (from that anyway) There’s a big YO institution in our small town. Apart from being the second biggest employer in town, there’s very little impact.

My DJ used to live next to one, the only downside was the prisoners bashing metal cups at bedtime but it never lasted long.

We have a prison not too far from us. People who live in the houses close by say that it can be v noisy at night. Also I know that there is a significant issue with people trying to throw drugs in to the prison, so yes you may have more undesirable people hanging around. Prices are significantly lower for those houses v close to the prison than other houses locally.

Wouldn't bother me. Though I understand why others are unnerved. Maybe the thoughts of criminals in such close proximity en masses, despite the rational knowledge of walls, locks etc.

Growing up we lived about a mile from an open prison. We frequently had police helicopters overhead when someone escaped (and despite it being an open prison there were some people there who'd committed serious crimes). Although to my knowledge no-one was ever attacked /robbed/anything else and the helicopters are rarely out now.
Still I'm not sure I'd want to live that close to a, prison. I'd maybe make an exception if absolutely everything else was perfect

If it's a Cat A, it's very secure. There was one escape from a Cat C in England last year and none since.

Visitors tend to use the car parks, not local streets to park.

I'd only be twitchy near a Cat D (open conditions).

Used to live near a notorious youth offending institute. No problems ever.

I live less than half a mile from a Cat B prison, have done for more than 20 years.

I've never come across any problems arising from being so close.

We live near a cat A prison and a police station. In 3 years there's never been any issues, I don't even think about it to be honest.

I’ve lived walking distance between Pentonville and Holloway prison. Wasn’t an issue in anyway for me. Never had any trouble.