Kate Southern, a former prison officer at HMP Altcourse, Liverpool, engaged in a romantic relationship with an inmate, using a secret phone line and fake identities to avoid detection. Southern was found guilty of misconduct in a public office and sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for two years, with rehabilitation and unpaid work requirements. The affair was exposed when the prisoner's girlfriend discovered recordings of their phone sex, leading to investigations uncovering the extent of their involvement. Additionally, a new book alleges that another female officer at HMP Wakefield, including Levi Bellfield, engaged in sexual relationships with inmates, shedding light on a broader issue of inappropriate behavior within prison facilities.