Bring Back Borstal

First of a fascinating four-part series which follows a social experiment in which 13 young offenders volunteer to experience the strict regime of a 1930s-style Borstal for four weeks.

Four of the boys have already left and those remaining have to learn to take responsibility for the running of the institution including cooking, laundry and washing duties. Tensions between the lads and staff increases.

In the third week of the experiment, the Governor challenges the boys to learn a trade skill, but before they even get started, former London rioter Scott Valero has a falling out with the man in charge. Meanwhile, after two weeks of lashing out at everyone else, the Kearney brothers turn against each other. However, working in the community and helping out at the local village show yields surprising results and leaves criminologist David Wilson facing a big decision.

CAsey Spence, who left the Borstal in week one, is in trouble and the Governor tracks him down in Blackpool in an effort to convince him to return. The Governor then turns his attention to preparing the lads for their life back on the outside.