Gay prisoners are to be allowed to kiss and cuddle their partners during visiting time at jails in England and Wales.

The Prison Service is also planning to allow gay offenders to "marry" their partners when civil partnership ceremonies begin next month.

Staff who try to prevent gay prisoners kissing their partner could face disciplinary action by governors. Disciplinary action could also be taken against other prisoners who are offensive towards same sex couples.

The moves are the latest public recognition within the service of gay offenders. Prison doctors were advised by the service in 1995 that they should supply condoms to inmates "if in their clinical judgment there is a risk of transmission of HIV infection during sexual activity".

Martin Narey, the departing chief executive of the National Offender Management Service, said straight and gay prisoners must be treated in the same way during domestic visits.

Courtesy of the Times online