> I'd hope the UK system isn't this way although I fear it likely is going that way
I fear the same, for example:
"On 16 December 2016, some 600 prisoners took part in a riot at HM Prison Birmingham, a prison in Birmingham, England, operated by G4S.[71] The disturbance was described as the worst in Britain since the 1990 Strangeways riot."
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G4S#Activities
I fear the same, for example:
"On 16 December 2016, some 600 prisoners took part in a riot at HM Prison Birmingham, a prison in Birmingham, England, operated by G4S.[71] The disturbance was described as the worst in Britain since the 1990 Strangeways riot." - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G4S#Activities