Day-release lags stack M&S shelves

MARKS & Spencer, the High Street chain, is employing prisoners on day release in one of its stores and paying them up to £700 a month. The inmates, who are approaching the end of their sentences, carry customers' shopping, stack shelves and work in the stock room.

Murderers, conmen, burglars and thieves are all eligible for the 12 weeks' work experience once they have been given the all-clear by prison authorities. Only sex offenders are banned.

The pilot project in Norwich has proved so successful that other branches are being consulted about extending it. The company has so far employed six prisoners from the city's jail. Food hall assistant Ian Moore said they fitted in well. 'I did have an initial fear that we would be working with criminals and would have to watch for stuff going missing,' he admitted, 'but the experience has totally changed my view.'

The prisoners catch a bus into the city centre and work an eight-hour shift, Monday to Friday, before returning to the prison gates, where they ring a bell to be let back inside.

They are paid the minimum wage, £4.20 an hour, for duties which also include collecting trolleys and making sure cashiers have enough carrier bags.

Norwich Prison's commnity liaison officer David Damerell said: 'We carry out a rigorous assessment to make sure they are not a risk to the public. The offences they have committed in the past are irrelevant - the risk to the community is what's relevant.'

The work built up the prisoners' confidence, he said. 'They have an interview for the job, which is something many have never experienced before. Some give the money to their families or save for when they get out. I would give full credit to M&S for the scheme.'

Once their 12 weeks are up, the prisoners are given a reference by the company. One who was freed this week made such an impression that he has been offered a job at the store over Christmas.