Porridge

The prisoners are surprised to learn that one of their own has been stealing from them. In response, Fletcher arranges a simulated court proceeding to identify and punish the offender. The aim is to deliver justice promptly within the prison community.

Rough Justice is a programme presented as an episode, falling within the genre of a self‑contained story. It follows the conventions of a short, focused narrative that centres on a particular situation and its resolution. In this instalment, the prisoners are taken aback when they realise that one among them has been stealing. The discovery of a thief inside the group catches everyone off‑guard, prompting a swift reaction. Seeing the need for order, Fletcher decides to organise a mock trial. His aim is to expose the culprit and deliver a form of justice that the inmates can accept. By staging this makeshift court, he hopes the offender will be identified and held accountable. The whole affair hinges on the inmates’ shock at the betrayal and Fletcher’s determination to restore a sense of fairness. Through the pretend proceeding, the group attempts to bring the hidden thief to account, using the trial as a way to resolve the breach of trust within their ranks.