Insight into Archer's new prison

Wayland Prison boasts modern facilities for inmates

Lord Archer will be able to settle in to his new home at Wayland Prison in Norfolk, knowing there will be plenty to occupy him in this modern jail.

The Category C jail near Thetford, whose most famous inmate was gangland killer Reggie Kray, was built in 1985.

It is situated in a rural location in East Anglia and exercise forms a sizeable part of the prison regime.

Prison inmates are said to have described the jail as a "cushy number" with televisions in cells.

Tight timetable

Even so, inmates have a tight timetable of activity and education, which leaves them few hours to themselves.

The regime includes provision of farms and gardens and workshop places and domestic duties.

It's considered a very cushy number. I don't think he'll be in any danger there

Mark Leech,
Unlock

The education unit has four full-time and 35 part-time teachers running a range of GCSE, literacy, numeracy and vocational courses.

Wayland Prison also has a drug rehabilitation unit which provides extensive treatment for up to 36 prisoners with a history of drug misuse.

Recently-retired Chief Inspector of Prisons Sir David Ramsbotham praised the institution after his last visit there in 1999.

"Healthy prison"

He described it as "a healthy prison" which was "an example of all that is best in HM Prison Service".

There is a high proportion of inmates serving life at Wayland. The jail also runs a sex offender treatment programme.

Archer could find himself working in one of the workshops and is likely to participate in gym exercise.

After his induction the peer can expect to be allocated to one of the main wings. There is also a Vulnerable Prisoners' Unit.

The chief executive of ex-offenders' charity Unlock, Mark Leech, said Archer was unlikely to find life at Wayland threatening.

"It's considered a very cushy number," he said.

"I don't think he will be in any danger there. He will probably settle in and become one of the boys, like Jonathan Aitken did."

Daily routine

Archer will have to get used to prison routine of being unlocked from his cell at 8.15am, working from 9am to 11.15am, followed by exercise and lunch at noon.

He will then be confined to his cell between 12.30pm and 2pm, before starting work again until 4.20pm.

The peer will face another 50 minutes in his cell before tea at 5.30pm.

He has the chance to spend time with fellow inmates during two-and-a-half hours of association from 6pm before lock-up for the night at 8.30pm.