The Prison Restaurant

This programme contains strong language.

-BANGING

-Officer!

British jails are filling fast.

HAMMERING AND SHOUTING

More than half of adult prisoners will reoffend.

INDISTINCT SHOUTING

Stopping criminals from coming back is more crucial than ever.

But one extraordinary restaurant in the middle of a prison

led by an inspired chef believes it can change criminals for good.

Rehabilitation, to me, is if a prisoner comes in here

with no hope and goes out with hope.

Oi, oi!

-High Down, Butlins.

-I've already booked up for next year!

High Down Prison in Surrey is home to 1,100 criminals.

It has one of the highest reoffending rates in the UK.

Fucking welcome to my cell!

70% of people discharged from High Down

will reoffend within a year of being released from here.

Since 1993, prison numbers have nearly doubled to 85,500.

Once someone's come to prison, there's nowhere to send them,

so society might give up on people

and might want some respite from people and often with good reason.

But you can't afford to give up on people.

Like all jails in the UK, prisoners here can get paid jobs

and learn skills to help steer them away from crime.

But High Down is known for a unique rehabilitation revolution.

A restaurant almost entirely run by criminals.

Let's go, one mutton, one ravioli, one beef and put it on here.

One sea bass.

One spinach and cheese omelette!

Give me the potatoes for the bloody mutton, please!

It's the brainchild of professional chef and prison kitchen manager, Al Crisci.

Yeah, it's a real restaurant. These are paying customers so they expect a service.

The Clink is bang smack in the middle of the prison and there's always a security risk.

If there's any violence, the prison will shut the restaurant down.

In the Clink it's my way or no way.

If I speak, you stop and you listen to me, yeah? Go!

It's a dictatorship so I'm the dictator, they have to do what I say.

You know, it's gotta be like that. I've got 18 prisoners in here. I can't have anarchy.

I'm allowed to work with knives, other tools.

Whatever tools we need, basically, to do our job.

I'm in prison for a stabbing.

The restaurant is funded by the Clink Charity and a discerning clientele.

We have MPs, we have Lords and Ladies, we have some celebs, we have all sorts.

In its first 18 months the restaurant has released

13 fully-trained chefs and waiters from prison with a catering job.

-So this is Jason.

-Jason.

-What cake did you make today? What is it?

This is a coffee and walnut.

So he made a coffee and walnut today.

-All right?

-All right.

-From scratch.

From scratch. Ha-ha!

When I came here I couldn't make it. But now...

I'm very professional now.

Oh, a professional now?! >

He's a professional now.

I'll tell you when you're a professional.

In a nutshell, the idea of The Clink is a prisoner comes in

and a very well trained chef leaves us with a job.

And society's better off.

It's the last week in November.

Just as the Christmas rush is about to start, Al has caught two prisoners stealing food.

I've sacked two prisoners from The Clink,

I'm just about to go and tell another one he's being transferred,

which is a shame, but the prison doesn't revolve around The Clink,

The Clink has to revolve around the workings and the runnings of prison.

So we just have to deal with it and I'll recruit some more.

The first place he looks for a new chef is in the main prison kitchen.

28 prisoners make 3,000 meals here each day and earn £14.20 a week.

Hold tight. Welcome to Hell's Kitchen, you get me?

This is Hell's Kitchen right now.

19 year-old Dominic Fritz Campbell is a street robber.

He's hoping to become a professional chef.

Right now, I'm trying to make it over to The Clink, because it's a good place, you get me?

You learn how to cook professional, quality food.

That's what I want to cook. Hopefully, I will come out...

..a deformed character.

That's what I want to be, a deformed character.

Dominic. Yeah. AKA Phat Pantz.

-Dominic!

Al's had his eye on Dominic since he started in the prison kitchen two months ago.

He wants to get out of prison with qualifications.

Soon I 'm hoping to get him into The Clink so he can take it to another level.

In The Clink we do things like fresh crab, fresh lobster.

It's a bit different to what he's doing now.

This is what we cook in The Clink. Do you know what it is?

Yeah, cra... Eurgh!

-Hold the shell here.

-Bruv, the mouth's moving!

If it moves its claw, don't worry, it can't get you.

What do you mean it can't get me?

Well, it can't move its claws backwards. It's fine.

He's more scared than you, isn't he?

He's gonna end up in the cooking pot.

Dominic is awaiting trial for two robberies.

Most of the money he's made in life has come from crime.

With crime you go out there now and rob someone and that's money in your pocket.

I enjoy doing it.

You know like that? Like, I get excited, "Yes, let's go, we're getting money.

But I'd give it up if I've got a legit job, I'd give it up.

If I come out and get that nice job. You see? It's a fresh start.

But turning your life around in prison can be tough.

Coming in here just educates you in crime.

You come in here a shoplifter you'll come out a robber.

People need to get educated in good ways.

They spend 40 grand a year on us to be in here.

I mean, you could be spending 40 grand a year on keeping us in college.

I just got too old for it. Now I started getting grey hairs and that,

I have to settle down and kick back, get myself a girlfriend and behave.

Or try.

Hey, come here, man!

Levan Page is 21.

He, too, wants to work in The Clink.

This is his 15th time in prison.

"Dear Mummy, hi, how are things at home?

"First, I'd like to say how sorry I am for fucking up again.

"I know how upsetting it is for you, as it is for me.

"I'll try so hard to do better this time round.

"I will be out soon and when I am

"I promise to be a better son, brother and man of the house.

"I'm going to go now. Time for dinner. Love you loads.

"I miss you much, Levan."

I mean, you're never too old to say "Mummy", are you, really?

Well, I guess you are but you have to be sort of brave

and just not have a care in the world.

The last time Levan got drunk he attacked and robbed a man.

He's waiting for the court case to start.

I'll get out of this. I want this to be the last,

because I can't keep doing this at 21.

BANGING

I want to say one thing. I love my Mum and I miss you!

No, this table...

Today, Al's interviewing for the three job vacancies.

Dominic and Levan hope to get work that pays £14.70 a week,

50p more than in the main kitchen.

Yeah, I am a bit nervous. A bit sweaty, right now.

It's a kind of new thing this, you know?

Also here for a job as a chef is 24-year-old Robbie Lister.

It's his first time in prison.

I was caught with an ounce of cocaine then three ounces of skunk,

of cannabis. It was hard enough for me to try and get a job

when I was out anyway, cos I didn't have any qualifications.

But now I've got a criminal record it's gonna be even more harder.

Have a seat, Robbie.

Sit down, Levan.

Right, you want to work in The Clink?

-Yes, please.

-Why do you want to work in The Clink?

Um, I heard it's quite a good job to have here.

Right.

Why do you want to work in The Clink?

I'd like to get some restaurant experience and maybe some qualifications

-so I can get a job working in a restaurant on the out.

-OK.

-You'll be working in a team, so everybody works together, yeah?

-Sure.

-You're all prisoners, but when you're in here, you're a waiter.

-OK.

-It's zero tolerance, do you know what that means?

-Yeah.

That means what I say goes, end of story.

Are you nervous?

Yeah, a little bit. But who isn't on their first day?

-14 quid a week.

-That's good.

Not bad, is it? Ha-ha-ha! All right?

-All right? Cheers, I'll see you on Monday.

-See you then.

Levan and Robbie have both got a job that could change their lives.

One vacancy remains in Al's restaurant.

I've never been for an interview...

so I don't know what a job interview's really like.

You all right?

Have a seat, Dominic, come in.

-You all right?

-Yeah.

-A bit nervous?

-You're not scared of Al, are you?

-Nah.

Why do you want to work in The Clink?

I would like to become a professional chef.

-How long have you wanted to do that for?

-All my life.

-Really?

-Yeah.

-I enjoy cooking.

-Do you think you're good at cooking?

-Yeah.

OK, listen to what I'm going to tell you. If you do what I say and you behave yourself, we'll train you, OK?

Then we'll help you get a job. What would you do when you're released? You've got somewhere to go, a job,

someone to go and live with, what have you got?

Social Services will get me somewhere to live but I don't know about a job.

-What about family?

-Nah, I don't live with my family.

So you've no family, nowhere to live and no qualifications?

OK. So how would you feel if I got you some qualifications, you'd have to get them yourself,

we helped you get a job, we helped you get somewhere to live?

That would be good.

Thank you very much, yeah?

-Pull your trousers up!

-They're up.

-Good.

Levan and Robbie start in the restaurant on Monday.

Dominic will start the week after.

For Al, Dominic poses the greatest challenge when it comes to rehabilitation.

My biggest worry about him is his immaturity and his behaviour,

which sometimes gets a little bit out of hand. He gets a bit excited.

I don't think it's bad,

it's just he needs to know how to control himself

and act, you know, like an adult.

Dominic spent most of his childhood moving from care home to care home.

What does "mum" mean to you, the word "mum"?

Oh, man, bruv, that is just, to me, that is some bullshit, bruv.

And that's real, innit? Yeah, real talk, bruv, that's some bullshit, bruv?

I met kids in care with mums and shit, do you get me?

Man had no-one, bruv, no-one.

Always getting me the ugly shoes and I'd go to school and everyone's

laughing at man, "Look at their shoes" and that.

It's called bullying, innit? Everyone's laughing at you.

You're embarrassed, young, thinking, "Why is everyone laughing at me?" Cos of my shoes.

Everyone's got decent shoes and you're the only one wearing these big bricks on your foot and that.

No, bruv, it had to change, do you get me?

I had to rob, steal and shit.

Beg, borrow, steal.

If he doesn't change now, Dominic could face a life in prison.

I've grown up the majority of my adult life in jail now.

My coping mechanisms are only built for prison.

So, I was kind of struggling out there.

So I thought life is just easier in jail,

rather than out there.

BANGING

Shut up!

It's Monday morning at High Down.

Levan is getting ready for his first day as a waiter.

In the previous times on being released out of prison,

sometimes they sort of just kick you out, "Here's £46,

"now you've got to fend for yourself."

But to have someone like Alberto here to say that he can help me

get a job on release, that is a really big help.

Levan will only get a job outside prison if he lasts in the restaurant.

And Al's sacked seven people in the last month.

In here it's a very, very strict environment.

They get one chance and if they blow it, they're out.

It's also Robbie's first day.

All right? Let's go.

He's never worked in a high-class restaurant.

You're going be working with Claude. One minute, please.

You do get nervous, you know what I mean?

I start messing things up when I'm nervous.

Like, I stutter a little bit sometimes, you know what I mean?

I forget things quickly when I'm nervous.

-How do you feel, all right?

-I feel all right.

-Yeah? Go on, then.

-You look nervous.

-A little bit.

-It'll be all right. He's new, all right?

-OK.

-Thank you.

Robbie, yeah?

What qualifications do you get from smoking a spliff?

It just fucks your head up, you know what I mean?

I've learnt from my mistakes, I ain't gonna make the same mistakes when I get out.

-Do you know what I mean?

-Everyone says that!

-I'm not everyone.

Today is one of the biggest days of the year.

The restaurant's hosting a charity fundraiser and expects 80 guests.

Levan's started today.

He's basically been put straight in at the deep end. We're full up.

He's never worked in here before.

But, you know, he's going to have to learn quick.

Mushrooms en croute, all right?

Wild mushrooms en croute is the first course.

Main course is guinea fowl, it's the leg and the breast.

And that's served with red cabbage and fondant potatoes for everyone. OK?

Very nervous.

Hopefully it'll be easy.

No alcohol in The Clink, so we've got non-alcoholic champagne.

We're making non-alcoholic Bucks Fizz with a twist.

If you don't tell them, they think they're getting pissed anyway.

Seriously, it's psychological.

-Here you are, ladies.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you very much. That's pretty.

-Ladies?

-My yoga class...

-Oh, thank you very much.

That looks very glamorous, thank you.

-Miss?

-Thank you very much.

INDISTINCT CONVERSATION

I've not seen a lot of women like this in one room

for...a few months now.

None really my age though, so I don't think I stand a chance.

-HE LAUGHS

-Um, I've got to get... Thank you.

Have you got any clean glasses?

-Enjoy, Miss.

-Lovely, thank you.

That's delicious, mm!

I saw you were getting stuck in.

You weren't shy, you're working hard.

-I think you've done really well.

-Thank you.

-I think you're going to turn out one of my best waiters if you carry on like this.

-I hope so.

-You will do.

-Thank you, Alberto.

-Good man.

All right, guv?

I think I can do it out there.

I mean, Alberto said today that I did really good. You know?

I could be a top waiter.

But I enjoyed today, it was great.

I can't wait for tomorrow.

The restaurant can be a release from a life spent behind bars.

For those with little to look forward to, prison can become too much.

SIRENS BLARE

Elevate his arm a bit. What did you cut your arm with?

-You got a blade in here, mate?

-He probably has got a blade.

The prisoner used a blade to self-harm.

Prison turns you into a madman, bruv.

Look what I did to my knuckle, innit?

That's what prison does to you, bruv.

Look at my hand, yeah? Look at that.

Look at that and look at this, bruv.

BANG!

That's what jail does to you, bruv.

Robbie's back in the restaurant for his second day.

-Robbie, one prawn!

-Yeah, it's up there already, Chef.

Two beetroot! Three soup away!

But Levan hasn't been called to work.

He's under investigation for hacking into the till system.

He's suspended until Al discovers exactly what happened.

-All right. You ready?

-Yeah, yeah, yeah.

-Let's go.

-So long.

For Dominic, today's the chance he's been waiting for.

The reports I've had of him is that he's going to be hard to deal with, hard to control.

Um, but there are lots of people that I've worked with that I've heard that about.

Let's see, let's see.

If Dominic can last four months in the restaurant he'll get his NVQ -

or National Vocational Qualification - in cooking.

To keep his job, though, he has to impress the boss.

Stress!

OK. Watch him, yeah?

-OK. What are they called?

-Trifles.

-OK.

-What are these called?

-Berries, raspberries.

You passed the first test.

He must prepare 50 trifles before guests arrive in an hour and a half.

-Don't let me down, yeah? You going to finish all these?

-Yeah.

Getting the qualification, it means a lot, innit?

I can get a job with that and stuff, you get me?

And not just waste my time in here and just come out and be like everyone else, innit?

Try and do something different from everyone else.

-It's getting better though, innit? The line, innit?

-Yeah.

Dominic, that's it. Good. Stop admiring them. You need to do all these, mate.

We're going to be full up in a minute.

Rude boy, there's no laughs in here, boy.

There's pressure.

Stress.

He hasn't done anything wrong. He's listened.

I don't know, I can't expect more than that today.

But it's not over yet, he might still screw it up.

It's the end of the shift.

Having missed lunch, Dominic helps himself to food reserved for guests.

Beef, cheese and prawn panini.

Taking anything from here without Al's permission is a sackable offence.

And Dominic knows it.

Where is he?

Where's the Fanta?

If you had a drink, it'll be on camera.

Rewind that, then.

-What are you eating?

-A cheese and beef panini.

Who gave you that?

I asked chef man in there, he wears the same coat as you.

OK. Let me check.

-Did you say he could have a sandwich?

-Yeah.

-Cos he didn't eat, did he?

-No, he didn't eat.

-OK.

-Yeah?

-Just checking, all right.

-Yeah, yeah, yeah.

-Not everyone does.

Right, let's clear up, boys, and we're done, yeah?

Smoking in the changing room is also a sackable offence.

-Dominic, what are you doing?

-Just grabbing my-my trainers and my folders,

so when I come back, I'm leaving from there, innit?

-Good man. I thought you were having a sneaky cigarette.

-No!

-You wouldn't do that to me, would you?

-No, Alberto, never!

Got to watch him like a hawk.

'If he fails, I'll see it as a failure now, a personal failure.'

Yeah. I mean, he's a livewire, but he can be tamed, in my opinion.

Check the hat out!

It's a week since Levan started in the Clink.

He's been under investigation for hacking into the till system and Al's finally found some evidence.

OK. Levan decided that it would be fun to write,

and I quote,

"Marcus you muppet I'm going to fuck you up"

on the till receipts.

If he's playing around with the tills, what else is he doing?

I need to be able to trust them 100% and I need to maintain control.

We'll just have to see what he says now.

Hopefully it's good news, saying that I can get the job back.

-Well, let me tell you, you've been sacked. OK?

-Yeah.

You know, that might seem funny to you.

But to me that's, like, really childish behaviour.

Yeah? And what if the customer had ended up with the receipt?

Could have been somebody who's invested in The Clink, given us money.

They see that, they'll think, "What the hell have I given these people money for?"

You know, it's a bit of a joke, do you know what I mean?

-Have a good think, because you're going to end up in and out all your flipping life.

-I know.

-Just for silly things.

-Is there no way of maybe redeeming myself?

Not in The Clink.

But, yeah, there's plenty of other things going on elsewhere in the prison that will help you.

-All right?

-Yeah.

-I'll get someone to take you back, yeah?

Come on then, shall we go?

You win some, you lose some.

This one, I guess I lost.

You're never going to be a 100% successful. I know that, I'm not stupid.

There's some prisoners, you can do what you bloody like,

you know, offer them the world, the best help, the best rehab, everything.

And they're always going to screw you over and they probably love bloody prison.

Yeah, I've lost out on a big opportunity working in The Clink

and perhaps getting employment at the end.

I will get out of the prison system. I'm not going to do this forever.

I do need to change my ways

but no-one's going to change but yourself, you know?

It's Dominic's second day in the restaurant.

He arrives for work, but Al wants a word.

A member of staff saw him steal the Fanta.

The reason you're here is that I know you took the drink.

And that's after everything I said to you

about "I'm going to give you a chance".

How many people have said this to you, "This is your last chance"?

-Not just me. How many people?

-Everyone.

Why'd you do it, then? You nicked the flipping thing and you lied to my face.

All right, so, what I'm going to do -

I'm suspending you. You've got four days to think,

All right? "Do I want to go in The Clink or do I not?"

OK? The other thing is, you're going to pay for the bloody drink.

That's a day's pay for you, £1.80.

Like normal people - they want something, they pay for it.

You worked one day for a fucking Fanta.

Remember that - one day of work for a bloody Fanta.

Fuck him, bruv. If he don't let me get my job back Monday,

my kitchen job back, he's a prick.

Dominic's close to losing his chance of becoming a professional chef.

I just want my NVQs, bruv, that's all it is.

That's all I want from this place, bruv. Just some NVQs.

Just my name on it, my certificate, laminate it, bam! And I'm gone.

Missing. Fuck the job.

There's a fight outside Dominic's houseblock.

Let go of him.

Get your arms out!

HT from Oscar 2. Can you please ask Hotel 2 to attend...

Neither of the fighters are Dominic.

Is there stab wounds in my face there?

Who's the chap that is injured? Can we get this chap up?

You need to get some medical treatment. What we need you to do is put your hands behind your back.

Keep your hands behind your back all the time.

-Fucking waste, blood!

-Fucking waste man!

Open my cell or I'm going to cut your throat.

Since his sacking, Levan's found another job.

He now earns £5.44 a week collecting the dirty laundry on houseblock 4.

Life, life after The Clink!

Life after The Clink!

I went and got myself a job doing, er,

this laundry.

Not as good as doing The Clink, obviously.

-Downgrade.

-Yeah, this is a big downgrade.

Downgrade ain't the word, man.

You just pick up bare shit on that, man.

-All like people's hairs, everything.

-Dirty boxers.

Hey, Gov!

Levan also recently had his trial.

I got sentenced to four years the other day,

so I've got two years out of that,

so I've got two years to learn something.

Shall we put these mattresses in there?

Yeah, yeah. It's not good, man.

I mean, I even sit there and think at night, like,

"What have I really done in my life so far?"

All right, I've got a couple of qualifications in jail, you know.

I didn't go to school, I didn't get no GCSEs,

I've got fuck all to go out to when I get out

and I've got my mum sitting there on the phone to me saying,

"Ah, it's fucking stressing me out, son. I've got to get money to buy kids' presents and that."

I should be out there,

fucking earning money to give her money to pay for the kids' presents.

I don't want to do this for the rest of my life...

..though I am scared

that I could end up doing something like this for the rest of my life.

But, I mean, I am my own worst enemy really, innit?

I guess we all are.

Fuck it.

It's Friday in The Clink.

The restaurant's fully booked for another fundraiser.

Still waiting for the beef, the mutton.

Whilst other prisoners have come and gone, Robbie Lister's held onto his job.

Right, Robbie, what you doing?

I'm filling these cups up.

-OK, quick as you can, Robbie.

-Yep.

Good.

It's made me a bit more confident, you know what I mean?

I can do proper three-course meals.

So if I can find myself a nice girl when I get out...

The saying does go that a way to a woman's heart is through her stomach.

It makes sense cos the heart is just below the stomach, or behind it, so...

What table is it, Ken?

'When he came he was very nervous and he thought he wasn't up to it.

'But I asked him to give it a go and he's changed.'

You know, he is a brilliant example, in my opinion.

His personality's changed, his confidence has grown.

With 80 covers to serve today, Al's called in backup

from the best Italian chef in London - Giorgio Locatelli.

I know Giorgio cos he's a famous Italian chef,

and I always admired him.

He's given up his time for us

to do one-to-one training with the prisoners and money can't buy that.

Well, it can but we're not going to pay him.

We're not paying you, are we?

If we make a good stock, then we're going to make a good risotto.

This is the second time Giorgio has been to the restaurant.

How many restaurants you have? One, two?

I have six. So, three in London, Dubai and Italy,

-and then in Edimburgo, Edinburgh.

-Edinburgh.

At the moment, they find it difficult to see that what they do is a profession.

The idea is to really make them understand

this is a profession, something you can make money out of.

So we are the clear example of that.

It's a success story really, innit?

It's a bit of inspiration.

If you put your mind to it and work hard enough, you can get all that stuff.

Start the pasta, boys.

Al goes to check just how his food rates against a Michelin-star chef.

-What did you like the best so far?

-The tart.

-The goat's cheese tart.

-Well, we made that.

-The tart was divine.

-Better than the pasta?

The pasta was delicious but very rich. It was delicious, but the tart was outstanding.

Tart was outstanding!

Tart was outstanding.

First I want to say well done today. You've done a really good job.

Secondly, I hope, if any of you are good enough and want,

Giorgio said he's also prepared to offer somebody a job.

I told him you get paid £14.70 a week.

Thank you very much. I appreciate it, sir.

-Nice to see you, thank you very much.

-What's the restaurant called?

-Locanda Locatelli. You'll find it everywhere.

-I'll visit in seven weeks.

Yeah, is that when you are out, in seven weeks? Please do come.

-Do you need a commis?

-Yeah, we need all the time.

Maybe not the same week, maybe a couple of weeks after.

I think you'll perform well, but we'll see you down there.

-Take care. OK let's go.

-That's not bad, is it?

When Robbie leaves High Down, he'll be going for a day's trial in a Michelin-star restaurant.

It's made me realise I want to be a chef when I get out, and it's given me an opportunity to do that.

He said, when I get out give him a call, go to his restaurant and see what it's like.

Do a trial for a little bit. You know what I mean?

A job right there.

Cushty pie.

It's mid December and the Christmas season in The Clink is in full swing.

Richard, you bringing me three soup?

I need two veg without, yeah?

Dominic. Two Christmas puddings.

Dominic's back to prove himself to Al and try again for his NVQ.

One ravioli, one beef on here.

Dominic, you've got to be a bit quick so it doesn't get cold, yeah?

'Today is Dominic's last chance. I've given him the benefit of the doubt regarding the Fanta incident.'

He's young, he's got a whole life ahead of him.

I don't want to just sweep him away like everybody else has done.

Al's put Dominic back in charge of trifles.

This is my future. This is what I want to do so I can leave here and get a job.

I need a job when I get out or else I'm going to keep coming back here.

OK. Well, they look much better than last time, don't they?

Look at that. You see the lines?

-Proper, innit?

-They look like they're out of a packet, don't they?

Come on, get him involved there.

He's not stupid. Watch what he does, you do the same.

And then show him the juice and away.

'Well, he seems to be doing all right today. He's busy.'

He's keeping out of trouble. Seems like he's concentrating.

If he carries on, maybe there's hope for him yet.

All right. Just help them now clear up and stuff, yeah?

-Come on.

-At the end of a good shift, Dominic's paid an unexpected visit.

Don't use that little grin with me.

-You all right, Miss?

-Your little sweetie-pants face.

Come on.

Support Officer Jackie Burke met Dominic when he first arrived at High Down.

She's stayed in touch ever since.

About six or seven months ago, he wasn't in a very good place and he'd been a little bit naughty.

That's why he was in the segregation block.

Er...

But I just saw something there that you can nurture.

I was gutted,

absolutely gutted.

-But I have been behaving, Miss.

-So you bloody well should be behaving.

-I promise.

-Going nicking a bottle of bloody Fanta's not going to help your cause, is it?

And then you get up there and you're suspended for two days.

You've got something, Dominic, that's worth saving.

We see that side, but you give it the big 'un

in front of all your peers on the landing. Yeah, yeah, yeah, aaaah!

Caught! So you promise me and if you don't, you'll be singing soprano.

'This is all he's got.'

And if you mange to help him, then I'm happy, we're all happy.

We're all fighting his corner. For how long I don't know, cos he's like a cat with nine lives.

I think he's had eight and three quarters. He's on a quarter left.

The next morning, Dominic heads to work - but Al's heard some disturbing news.

AL: I've been told that he,

on his way back from The Clink to the houseblock,

leant in through the kitchen window and threatened a prisoner -

threatened that he was going to cut his throat.

Unbelievable.

That makes me angry and makes it also easy for me to say,

"Fine. I've tried to help you and you've blown it, go away.

"I've got other people who are much more worthy than you to help

"and I don't want to hear your bloody excuses and all your bullshit!"

-What about the threats?

-Oh, the threats. Na, yeah.

Obviously he owed someone something, someone said to collect it for them. Cos of the way I speak,

he's just assuming I'm saying bare bad things, cos of the way I'm talking with a bit of attitude.

But I never once said one bad thing.

You have to go and hustle, bruv.

D'you know what I'm saying? That's how you have to be. It's survival skills, innit?

Remember, no-one in here is good.

No-one in here is in here for good behaviour.

People say when you go jail you're meant to change, but when you know people off the road

and you come to jail and you see the same faces...

You take a left, take a right, look up, look back, look left, there's a criminal.

Dominic's unaware that Al heard about the threats.

I saw one magpie today. I think I'm getting sacked.

One magpie.

It's bad luck, innit?

Do you know why you're here?

-Why?

-Final decision, innit?

You've been sacked, Dominic,

because of a prisoner - you threatened to cut him up.

-On my Mum's life, Alberto, I swear down...

-Listen, Dominic.

-I threatened to cut him up - is that what he said?

-Dominic...

-it don't wash with me any more.

-Cool, cool.

I can't trust you any more.

And if you don't change,

in my view, you're going to end up in prison your whole life.

Or get out, get in a gang, and...

Cos you need qualifications or you're going to get stabbed up.

I don't even care no more. Just do the time and get out, you get me?

That's what I'm doing.

And then what are you going to do when you get out, then?

You'll still have nowhere to live, and no bloody qualifications.

I don't even mind about all of that, bruv.

You get me? It's nothing. You get me?

Obviously I've got friends and that, so it's nothing, bruv, I don't really care no more.

-That's it.

-There's nothing else I can say.

-Thanks.

-All right, Dominic. Listen, I wish you all the best.

Yeah, yeah, definite.

You lot hold this as well.

-THEY JEER >

-Shut your mouth, you little prick!

I don't feel like I've failed, I feel like I've succeeded by sacking him

because I've removed a bad apple.

I'm not wasting my time and energy

on somebody that doesn't really deserve it,

so I can concentrate on people that do.

As punishment for the threats, Dominic is placed on a Bully Book.

His movement on the wings will be restricted and he'll be put on basic regime -

with personal clothes, including his shoes, taken away.

-Any civilian kit you need to bag up for me.

-I'm keeping my trainers.

I'll get you a size 5 pair of shoes, unless you've already got a set of prison ones.

I don't wear prison ones.

Hey, yeah listen.

I don't want to... Me, personally, I don't want to give up my trainers.

Well, this is not a debate. It's your turn to listen to me.

I'll get you some trainers and then you'll be giving up them ones, all right?

Bag up the rest of your kit.

Taking man's shit.

Thank you.

There's no way I'm losing my shoes, and I've been on basic before

and they've never taken my shoes.

They're just bend man up to get my things, bruv. I'll just go mad, bruv.

-No arguments.

-They ain't taking my shoes, bruv.

You know why. I'm not having no arguments with you. Just get them off, now.

Go on, give us 'em here.

Anything else you want?

Do you know, I am so disappointed in you.

You make me look a right twat.

You can't even look at me, can you?

No, you can't - because you know.

You know what's right and you know what's wrong and you choose to go wrong.

You're doing that wrong.

I'm doing it, Miss.

In and out, in and out.

Right, later. Sorry. Sorry, I'm just...

Jackie's the best, bruv, I swear down, bruv.

If she weren't here they wouldn't have got none of my shit, blood, I'm showing you.

He'll be in and out. The rest of his life now's fucked.

That's it for him.

Another one bites the dust.

All right, I'll come and see you next week.

All right, you think long and hard this weekend, young man.

Can't believe it. After the talk we had yesterday,

I can't believe he could be so stupid...

and blow all his chances.

Cos I said he was a cat with eight and three quarter lives -

well, he's just lost the quarter.

When he goes on the outside I think he'll get involved with people

that are an awful lot harder than him -

whether it be a gang, whether it be drug dealers.

He'll get caught in all that and he'll either end up dead...

..or serving life for something.

That's...my opinion -

if he doesn't sort himself out now, at 19, he never will.

-Prison's not a nice place.

-Not a nice place.

Stay in school. Don't do things that are wrong.

There's only two ways - death or prison.

-What is it going to be, my friend?

-Prison!

It's a new year at High Down.

Happy new year!

Today, Robbie Lister is out of prison earlier than expected.

Fucking hell, first mini taste of freedom.

But he's not going home.

AL: Today's a brilliant day. Today we're taking Robbie out

on what we call a ROTL - release on temporary licence -

and I'm taking him up to Locatelli's restaurant.

Robbie's going to try for a job as a commis chef.

It's the first time he's been out of prison for eight months.

I'm feeling nervous but it's a good nervous, you know what I mean?

It's a good opportunity. Turn a new page, start a new chapter.

For Robbie, this is make or break.

He's got to convince them to give him a job.

That's a lot of pressure.

-GIORGIO:

-How are you doing, Al? You OK?

Yeah, thanks.

-Welcome to Locanda.

-Thank you.

OK, marcia, one carciofolo punterella,

followed by one tortellini. To finish, one monk fish and one seabass.

Yes, Chef!

12 weeks ago, Robbie knew virtually nothing about cooking.

Now he's about to be put to the test in one of the best restaurants in the country.

I've never seen Robbie as nervous as this. He's bricking himself.

I want you to make this one time,

-so be

-careful, watch your finger.

Robbie's test is to make Giorgio a fennel and blood orange salad.

I'm sure I can handle it.

If I can pass the test of being in prison,

I can pass the test of doing this, hopefully.

OK, I'll taste it!

I hope he likes it.

-Sorry?

-I hope he likes it.

-So do I.

Hey, come here.

-OK, you made it?

-Yeah.

When you do something as simple as that,

you really need to be spot on with the seasoning and everything.

That's what we're going to test - your ability to season.

Mm.

Mm.

I think you can come back.

-Thank you very much.

-Yeah? I'll see you later, then.

I think he's going to start slow, it's going to take him a while, but he's going to be all right.

I think he's got it in him. And if it doesn't work out, I've got 1,000 more.

In 1,000 we'll find one.

-We'll find one.

-No, I think we put our faith in him. Yeah?

Robbie will earn up to £19,000 a year.

Smashed it, mate, smashed it!

Fucking smashed it.

It's late January in High Down.

Morning, boys.

Jackie's collecting dirty laundry from the houseblocks.

Dominic's no longer on a Bully Book,

but has struggled to find another job.

'I went to see him over the Christmas and he was very down in the dumps.'

He knew what he did wrong,

so I said, "Right, final...down here."

Cos he needs constant supervision, so I'm pleased.

-Good lady, Miss Jackie.

-SHE CHUCKLES

-The soft soap won't work!

-Miss Jackie sees the talent.

I don't know about the talent but there is good in everybody. It's just trying to get it out of you.

Like Miss Jackie knows

-when you can behave.

-Well, you CAN behave.

You see, good people.

It's good to know good people in your life, you get me?

Good woman, bruv.

Yeah, bruv.

You'll never get a next Miss Jackie.

I think I love her because like, she helps, man.

-Made me learn things.

-Split the load up so it's not too heavy.

It's always good to have at least one person that likes you, bruv, in jail.

-Have you done the jeans?

-Yeah, this is the last ones.

-Socks and pants?

-Nah.

Four boxes here, Jason.

Yeah I need ten of those.

-Do you think he's ever going to go straight?

-Pfft!

Dunno.

I don't know.

-Hey mind, mind, mind, you're going to trip!

-Get off the trolley!

Dominic was found guilty of two robberies.

He's serving three years and eight months.

-You have to walk a bit faster.

-No, you walk slower.

'We can give them all the support in here that they want.'

They've got doctors, dentists, absolutely everything.

When they walk out that gate, what have they got? What has he got when he walks out that gate?

Nothing.

Absolutely nothing. And his friends are the people on the streets.

How is he going to survive?

He's not, is he?

Bruv, you lot are terrible.

Like most jails in England and Wales,

High Down must now reform prisoners with less money than last year.

# And you could have it all

# My empire of dirt

# I will let you down

# I will make you hurt

# If I could start again

# A million miles away

# I would keep myself... #

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