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?

My friend bought a house in the grounds of a prison. She doesn't have to pay council tax and the inmates do her garden

IncludeWomenInTheSequel

That must be one of the safest places to live!

I’d not want to live near a busy road, a council tip, a high school, a takeaway, a pylon:sub station, or a lorry depot, Prison wouldn’t bother me.

I often drive past a cat A prison and it always gives me the creeps. I wouldn’t live too close. I would live near a graveyard though which many people feel wobbly about

I work in a prison, I assure you living near a cat A will be no different to living anywhere else. Let’s be honest if someone’s just been released ect they’re not going to go breaking into someone’s house 10 minutes after they’ve got out, they’d be straight back 😂

The chances of escape are pretty much zero.

Cat A prisoners are no worse or higher risk than any other categories, they’re just more likely to escape.

I’d say you’d be fine, go for it if you love the house!!

I live half way between two major ones (only a few miles apart) plus a young offender's prison.

Apart from the occasional flurry of sirens, which could well be the nearby hospital, fire station or police hq, and the regularly passing armoured geoamey vans, you wouldn't know unless you knew.

As long as I'm far enough away I'm unlikely to be disturbed by noise, it wouldn't bother me. Like others said, Cat A is maximum security. Cat C (closed but lower security) and D (open prison) would make me more apprehensive.

I'd find it harder to live near a psychiatric hospital, but that's because of trauma in my own life rather than any objective risk.

@superram

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

You have your own DJ?

@3ormorecharacters

I grew up right next door to a sex offenders' prison (my dad used to be the Governor). It was never a problem. It was a Victorian prison so not too unattractive from the outside. I guess if anyone ever escaped they weren't going to stop off next door. (Also being a sex offenders' prison, the inmates knew they were better off there than a higher security prison where they'd be at the bottom of the pecking order, so they tended to behave themselves.)

I just know I'd be spooked, logical or not.

A family friend live right next door to Shepton Mallet prison, in fact her bedroom was attached to the outer wall of the prison. It was a lovely house and very quiet at night.

Realistically speaking, you’re probably better to be right next to a prison of locked up inmates than 2-3 miles from a dodgy estate where they can still come and rob ‘the rich folk’.

My DN lives at the end of the road from Broadmoor, never had any problems.

If it's as far away as in your description you won't be able to hear any noise from it which would have been my only concern.

I'd be far far more worried living near a Cat D prison. With a cat A it's so self contained it wouldn't bother me. I also think psychologically, being so close proximity to a prison, might subconsciously deter people from committing any crimes very close to one, which might mean less risk of burglary/car beak ins!

Nope I don’t care

I used to live along the road from a prison. It was great in winter as the main roads were on the priority gritting route.

The only thing I'd say is make sure you have dedicated parking or a drive in case the car park isn't big enough for visitors.

Why not get some feedback from the prospective neighbours to get their opinions.

The duel carriage way would put me off. The prison wouldn’t.

One of the things that put me off moving to the Isle of Wight was the two prisons on the island. Both Cat B, so stage 1 and 2 lifers and sex offenders. What I didn't like was that apparently about 30% of them stay and live on the island after they're released. I don't blame them because it's a lovely place to live, but I really don't fancy living next door to a convicted sex offender, even if he has served his sentence.

@Arthersleep

I wouldn't. I lived near one once as a student. You could see the inmates like monkeys at the zoo. They would yell and hoot all day long like wild animals. Everyone that I walked past they would break into a rendition on 'get your tits out for the boys'. Their dodgy friends and relatives would walk past our house all the time. Never again.

It wasn't Cardiff was it? We used to walk past on our way home to Splott after a night out and get that sort of reaction. Mind you we did encourage it back then.

@user1825894133270

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

Same 🤣

Used to work not far from Durham Prison. One colleague used to maintain it was the safest place to be, as any prisoner escaping would be trying to get out of the vicinity as quick as possible, so no harm would come to anyone.

We used to tell her not come crying to us if Rose West escaped and took her hostage as a human shield.

I grew up very near cat B prison! Barely even noticed it 😊

Are you imagining a modern day version of Shawshank Redemption OP? Only with an escapee's face popping up at your kitchen window?

Yellowcakestand
Are prisoners called ‘service users’ in prison?

We lived over a dual carriageway from HMP Wandsworth. We were also right on the edge of Wandsworth Common. It was an amazing location and we didn't have any issues at all. It wouldn't put me off!

@LondonlovesLola

Yellowcakestand Are prisoners called ‘service users’ in prison?

No. They're called prisoners (or sometimes offenders).