A letter to my fifteen year-old self... “If violence is the answer to almost every question you get asked it is going to leave you with a lot of scars” Comment // page 26
a voice for prisoners since 1990 September 2016 / Issue No. 207 / www.insidetime.org / A ‘not for profit’ publication / ISSN 1743-7342 An average of 60,000 copies distributed monthly Independently verified by the Audit Bureau of Circulations
DJ slams ‘witch hunt’ historic sex crime accusations
“I stood waiting to meet His Royal Highness. We shook hands & I soon felt at ease, chatting about my book & how his Trust helped me” Cell Workout Jailbreak // page 47
“Just be yourself!” Chair of the Parole Board Nick Hardwick CBE talks exclusively to Inside Time
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“To empower prisoners to do something good in a place they have been sent to for doing bad… Now that is a great gift!” 25 years of saving lives Comment // page 19
“It is a mixture of mind-numbing, nit-picking on trivia and areas of vagueness that defy belief” Star Letter of the Month Mailbag // page 2
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“What we are assessing in the parole process is whether someone is at risk of committing further offences. We’re not assessing whether a person is now going to be a model citizen. Sometimes prisoners think that they have to do this or that, or I have got to come over in this way - but actually the most convincing thing for a Parole Board is when they think people are simply being themselves.”
Prisons within prisons Special units within prisons to hold Islamist extremists most likely to radicalise other prisoners Justice Secretary Liz Truss has also announced plans to strengthen the vetting of Muslim prison chaplains and remove extremist books from prison libraries. Defending the moves she said, “We are taking action to reduce extremism in prison within the mainstream population.”
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Erwin James For over four decades American broadcaster Paul Gambaccini has entertained listeners and viewers across the broadcasting spectrum of Radios 1, 2, 3, 4, Classic FM, TVAM and GMTV as well as numerous documentaries on a multitude of channels. Nicknamed ‘Gambo’ from his student days and known as the ‘professor of pop’ for the breadth of his musical knowledge Gambaccini, 67, has enjoyed a special place in
British popular culture almost since he arrived on these shores from the States at the age of 21. Currently the presenter of Saturday afternoon’s Pick of the Pops on Radio 2, and the host of Counterpoint, the general knowledge music quiz on Radio 4, he has agreed to speak to Inside Time ahead of his planned campaign alongside Cliff Richard and Nigel Evans to have the law changed to protect the anonymity of those accused of sexual assault and rape. Read more on page 16
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Insidetime September 2016
Dartmoor supports transgender prisoners
Star Letter of the Month
a voice for prisoners since 1990
Miss Katie Marie Matthews - HMP Dartmoor
Congratulations to this months winner who receives our £25 prize
the national newspaper for prisoners published by Inside Time Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of The New Bridge Foundation, founded in 1956 to create links between the offender and the community.
I recently had a letter published in your pages in which I stated that I felt alone and isolated as a transgender prisoner. Recently a new transgender prisoner has arrived and I have been told that it is because of my letter in Inside time. I now have someone who is going through the same as me who can help me and I can do the same and we can support each other through our gender realignment.
A not for profit publication. Inside Time is wholly responsible for its editorial content. Comments or complaints should be directed to the publisher and not to New Bridge.
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Any transgender prisoner who wants help or support should come here and feel at ease. There has been a lot of change in my life and the support I get from healthcare, officers, and even governors is excellent. There is good support and we have an excellent custodial manager on D wing. So please come to Dartmoor if you want help and support through your gender realignment. Born into the wrong sex page 27
40% work levy Carl Hudson - HMP Kirklevington Grange I’ve heard from several prisoners during the course of my sentence that there is a way to claim back some of the employment levy that Cat D prisoners pay when they have an external paid job. Is there any truth to this and if so, how would we go about claiming such money back? We pay the full 40% levy here at Kirklevington Grange and this is a massive chunk of our wages, which makes saving money for release very difficult. I’ve been told that there is a link
somewhere on the NOMS website to claim some of the levy paid but have been unable to find it. Any help with this matter would be much appreciated.
Writes The Prisoners Earning Act 1996, which came into force in September 2011, made it possible for people in prison who are undertaking paid work in the community (and earning in excess of £20 per week) to be subject to a levy amounting to 40% of their remaining earnings. It is something we challenged when it was first brought in, and although the policy remains in place, there is some discretion.
Unfortunately, it isn’t possible to claim back any of the 40% surcharge that you’ve already paid. However, the prison governor has the discretion to reduce the amount of levy to be imposed, and can decide to exempt a prisoner from the levy altogether. If you believe that the original calculation of the levy was incorrect, or your personal circumstances have changed, then it could be worth you putting this in writing to the governor. It’s not clear how many prison governors are exercising their discretion in this way - we’re keen to hear from anybody who has experienced this.
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Eagles allowed but not paperbacks Name Supplied - HMP Highpoint Shortly after sentencing, I arrived at HMP Wandsworth and one of the first questions to arise, after my family had sent me in a book, was the obvious, what am I entitled to receive or have in my possession? I was referred to the NOMS manual on Incentives & Earned Privileges, PSI 30/2013. After some difficulty I managed to obtain all 66 pages of the official bumph. The front page announced that it was valid until September 2017. I have now read all 66 pages, and it was a desperate experience.
“It is a mixture of mind-numbing, nit-picking on trivia and areas of vagueness that defy belief” At various times, over my long career as a writer (news reports, speeches, scripts, magazine articles and books) it has been my misfortune to have to read and deal with many lengthy documents cobbled together by committees of bureaucrats. PSI 30/2013 is right up there with the best (or should that be ‘worst’?). It is a mixture of mind-numbing, nit-picking on trivia and areas of vagueness that defy belief. Assembled and endlessly amended over many years, no one has ever had the courage and tenacity to attempt rationalising and making coherent this chaotic hotchpotch of house rules. Meanwhile, I am much comforted by the thought that I can have a ‘caged bird’ in my possession, and it can be a linnet, blackbird, eagle, peacock, ostrich or penguin. After all, they are birds that can live in cages. I am also allowed an ‘organ’, though mouth or Wurlitzer is not specified. So either would be acceptable according to the vagueness of this PSI. Meanwhile, my family can continue to send me books, but not soft covers or paperbacks because according to the PSI these might be ‘magazines’ - and they are not allowed. Maybe I’ll get an emu!
Mailbites Accessing funds I am trying to access funds from my outside bank account. I have nobody outside who can help me with this so I wrote directly to my bank and explained the situation. The bank is happy to send me a cheque for my funds, but they need to receive confirmation that I am in prison from somebody official on prison headed notepaper. Every officer I ask just passes me on to someone else. The lack of help offered here is disgraceful. Matthew Bryan - HMP Leeds Editorial note We would suggest placing an application asking for a letter confirming you are in prison.
Staff cuts I have met some really nice prison officers here, who go out of their way to give us the support we need, but just lately the prison is going downhill. We have so many shut-downs, the visits are generally late by up to 25 minutes, education and workshops only open very infrequently and hot water is not always available. We have been told that Houseblock 3 is shutting down because of the lack of staff. The Government needs to look after prison officers as they are the ones who can help us with rehabilitation. Marcus Azzopardi HMP Highdown
Thank you from One to One Maths I am very grateful to Alan Crickmore from HMP The Mount and Inside Time for the piece last month about One to One Maths. I would like to say a very special ‘thank you’ to all our mentors, whose inspirational leadership helps so many learners. At HMP Bulllingdon, our mentors are introducing maths to 30 learners, just weeks after starting the project.
John Sidwell MBE
Champions Leicester City FC were written off, tipped for failure and relegation was almost a certainty. But they overcame the odds and went on to become champions. With hard work and dedication, we can all succeed and prove our critics wrong and show that we can achieve good things, putting our criminal behaviour behind us. N Jordan - HMP Littlehey
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‘Mailbag’, Inside Time, Botley Mills, Botley, Southampton SO30 2GB.
Insidetime September 2016
Prisoner learners can be prisoner teachers JK - HMP Lindholme I recently saw the Review of Prison Education by Dame Sally Coates published, with the recommendations it contains scrutinised by the education providers, learning professionals and ‘learners’, who all play their parts in a constantly shifting and often reactive relationship. The review is to be welcomed, its intent applauded, proposed changes advocated, and any potential impact thoughtfully discussed alongside significant, transparent and well-constructed measures for success. As with all these things the devil is in the detail and the delivery. How the report is received by those it is aimed at empowering, the potential ‘assets’ residing in our prison estate, myself being one, will filter out over the coming months: actions speak louder than words. The unfortunate reality is that there are no votes in prisons, and this often echoes around the learning environments in prisons. The complex and confusing way (even to many staff) in which education contracts are delivered ‘in the classroom’, and coupled with both personal experience and stories of many other learners, appears to be static and unresponsive, with few examples of meaningful engagement (i.e. the learner voice), best practise, initiative, and calculated risk-taking on behalf of the residents. That said, the work of the PET in attempting to shine a light and amplify best practise is to be commended. However, these people delivering in the classroom who do demonstrate initiative are often reminded that it is ‘not their job’.
“One way prisons can start to sow the seeds of cultural change is by seeking out those skilled, qualified and experienced residents and attracting them to be co-creators of the learning and skills portfolio” In providing a balanced view of prison education, we should not forget or overlook these passionate, professional and dedicated individuals who are wholly committed to the principles and power of education. Though these values are (as with all professions) not shared by everyone, prisons are punctuated with special individuals whose impact cannot be understated. Not undervaluing their ‘good will’ is crucial in providing the best possible learner journey. One way prisons can start to sow the seeds of cultural change, and entirely re-imagine the dynamic and perception of education, is by seeking out those skilled, qualified and experienced residents and attracting them to be co-creators of the learning and skills portfolio; there will be no losers, indeed, examples of this approach have seen success; the mentoring and peer support offer at HMP Dartmoor, and the learning environment created at HMP Swaleside, to name just two. Lindholme too has its own beacon of good practise through the Virtual Campus (VC); a dedicated computer suite for anyone to use, offering online exams, the VLE, E-OU access, online driving tests and tools for enhancing employability. The VC, although not quite at the standards of what one would see in college or universities (MS Office is over a decade out of date), it is a fantastic step in the right direction. Of course, any use of IT is strictly controlled and overseen in the prison environment and in acknowledging this, Lindholme, and in no small part through the positive attitude of the VC guardian, manages to retain the feel of a relaxed and welcoming learning space. The first words the Guardian presented to me when I had my induction have stayed with me; when you walk through those gates you are not a prisoner, you are a learner, and we want you to feel like you are in a college’. This was completely refreshing and the language, along with its intent could so easily be adopted throughout education departments. If you want to change a culture, you need to change the conversations, and for at least this ‘potential asset’, the challenge for prison education is to be brave enough to be disruptive, altering the interactions and conversations, to include and engage prisoners, and in so doing involve them to gain their commitment.
Why are we treated like children?
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Mailbag
Craig Bird - HMP Chelmsford
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“I have to fight the urge to self-harm and I long for Monday to come”
I completely agree with the letter by ‘Robbie’ in the July issue about prisons treating us like children. Even National Prison Radio chop out swear words and violent lyrics from the songs we hear, and what is the point of that? The banning of 18+ games and movies is crazy when you consider what we can see on television.
Newsround
We are grown adults, not fluffy little munchkins that have to be protected by the prison nanny. For god’s sake, National Prison Radio even cut a line from Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody - ‘Put a gun against his head, pulled the trigger now he’s dead’ - why? We all know the lyrics anyway; it has been played millions of times on the bloody BBC. It is time the prison system stopped this mollycoddling and treated us like adults.
Comment
Writes National Prison Radio exists to support people in prison to successfully return to the outside world and avoid returning to jail. Most of this work is done through our speech content - broadcasting information, inspiring stories and discussion. But we also broadcast music because a big part of getting through a prison sentence successfully is about keeping morale high. Music is a difficult area for all broadcasters, and all broadcasters will routinely play ‘radio edits’ of tracks which are suitable for their particular audience. National Prison Radio’s audience is unique because it includes many people who have committed very serious crimes. Because of this, we must also consider and respect the point of view of victims of crime. When selecting and producing content, members of the National Prison Radio team ask themselves: what would a victim of crime feel if they heard that particular piece of content was played on National Prison Radio? In this context, the reason for editing that particular song should be very clear. Andrew Wilkie, Director of Radio & Operations, Prison Radio Association.
Shame on you Tony Blair Ben Barnes - HMP Frankland May I take this opportunity to congratulate Sir John Chilcot on his extensive report, which finally exposed the illegality of the Iraq War and the wholesale slaughter that ensued. In his report Sir John not only pointed out, in the strongest terms, that the brash invasion of Iraq was not a last resort, but a catastrophic decision based on flawed information supplied by the British intelligence services. The invasion and killing of Saddam Hussein continues to have an impact on world safety and the security of many nations. This is the
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“It is going to be a massive challenge, incredibly hard and demanding” 16-28 “Whenever I was with these guys it was like I was on holiday - I was working but not in prison any more”
Information
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38-43 “There has been an improvement in the technology which has increased reliability and accuracy” 44-56
Jailbreak
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“We’re missing a chance to change lives for the better and make society safer”
Legal
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“This is one for the good guys. These people cheated him and took all his money.”
biggest mess since the battle of the Somme during WW1. Due to this war, a decision taken by the most infamous war criminal of the 21st century, Tony Blair, 179 British military personnel and thousands of Iraqi civilians have been unnecessarily killed. And for what? The world is no safer now than it was when the war began. In fact, it’s worse. To watch Blair on television flapping his arms about and making insincere apologies made me sick to the stomach. This pathetic drama was an insult and a slap in the face to the families of the dead. Blair should not be on TV, but impeached, arrested and dispatched straight to The Hague. Shame on you Tony Blair.
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Think yourself lucky…
Erlestoke riot the truth
Daniel McKay - HMP Durham I write in response to the letter in your July issue from OJ at HMP Huntercombe, about being strip-searched and feeling ‘violated’. You should think yourself lucky, mate, because within the walls of this prison we are routinely told to pull our foreskins back and to bend over and pull our cheeks apart and show where the sun doesn’t shine during strip-searches. Let the indignity of that sink in for a couple of minutes and then tell me again about how you feel ‘violated’. I have been placed on report twice for refusing to do it, and it goes on here daily. The governors and staff here tell us that it is Home Office policy, but I don’t know how true that is. Anyone know whether it is or not? The Rule Book: Searching the Person PI 2016-007 page 36
Sexist or not?
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One way ticket to HMP Jack Swarez - HMP Lowdham Grange Having just read that private companies who now run prison transport charge the government £1,500 to ferry a prisoner from one prison to another, I started to wonder how this can possibly be value for money. So I went to my trusted Sunday supplement and compared that cost against an Etihad Airways Business Class deal currently on offer. Below is a comparison. Destination GEO Amey: HMP Liverpool to HMP Lowdham Grange. Etihad: Manchester to Dubai. Departure lounge HMP Liverpool: Smoke-filled, piss-stinking room with spit-lined walls, toilet with no paper, sink with no washing facilities, metal seats, no food and dishwater-style tea. Manchester Airport: Executive lounge area with air-conditioning, leather seats, TVs and magazines, toilet and shower facilities complete with complimentary toiletries and towels, unlimited cuisine and hot drinks. Departure HMP Liverpool: Escorted from the building, wanded and searched, then led to a 30 x 30 plastic-lined tomb with a solid plastic, cushion-less seat, complete with dirty and dried spit on walls and floor. Manchester Airport: Carpeted short walk to an array of newspapers, magazines and a waiting smile. Escorted politely to seats that convert fully into a bed. Entertainment GEO Amey: Your entertainment comes in the form of 12” x 12” window, etched in graffiti so that you can have a read during your long journey, plus the odd jolt forward to bounce off the walls when your driver suddenly applies the brakes.
Etihad: For your entertainment an in-flight, built-in computer with numerous TV, movie, music and games channels with complimentary headphones for personal use. Menu GEO Amey: A packet of generic crisps, a dry sandwich, one biscuit and a bottle of water passed via the gap under the door. Etihad: A selection of pre-prepared gourmet meals, with a choice of snacks and unlimited drinks throughout the journey. Toilets GEO Amey: A ‘piss-bag’ is provided for your convenience. There are no facilities to wash your hands, no antiseptic wipes offered, which means you could easily end up eating your crisps and sandwich with urine-tainted fingers. Etihad: Super hygienic toilet and wash area with ample toiletries. Slippers and blankets also provided. Cost GEO Amey: £1,500 Etihad: £1,250 GEO Amey offers a one-way trip for their obscene cost, whereas Etihad offer a return journey. Are taxpayers getting value for money? Obviously not. How can the government just sign off on private contracts without looking at the price? Who decides these things, how much in kickbacks are they getting?
Ashley Allen - HMP Barlinnie Full strip-searches are very rare and must be risk-assessed in female prisons. Yet they are common practise in male prisons. Isn’t it a bit
sexist that a male prisoner can be stripped naked whenever a member of staff sees fit, sometimes 2 or 3 times a day, yet in female prisons this has to be risk-assessed? Surely men are entitled to the same amount of respect and dignity as women, even in prison?
Nottinghamshire healthcare not up to standard James Hartlett - details supplied I write following several articles in recent issues of Inside Time raising concerns and complaints about healthcare provision in prisons where Nottinghamshire NHS Trust provide services. The Offender Healthcare Directorate is based at Rampton Hospital and the Trust is one of the largest healthcare providers in the prison system. In an article in The Doncaster Free Press (January 2016) it was reported that in 2015 there were 11 inmate deaths in prisons in South Yorkshire where the Trust provides healthcare facilities. In May 2016, again in the Doncaster Free Press it was reported that a man died in HMP Doncaster from Malaria, staff treated him for flu and prescribed paracetamol! This was also reported in the July issue of Inside Time. Inmates have complained about healthcare in Doncaster, Lowdham Grange, Lindholme and Nottingham prisons. In The Times (May 17th 2016) Nick Baker from NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) said that “NICE guidelines state that prisoners should receive the same level of healthcare as people outside” He went on to say that this should include diet, exercise, preventative screening, and help to manage chronic conditions such as Asthma, Cardio Vascular Disease, Diabetes, & respiratory conditions. He also made the case for better provision for elderly prisoners (who are increasing in number) as they tend to have more complex healthcare needs. I think in general, prisoner healthcare falls well below the standards achieved in the community and certainly this seems to be the case with Nottinghamshire NHS Offender Health. The question I’d like to ask is: Why have lessons not been learnt from the mistakes that led to these deaths and how many more mistakes will it take before procedures and services are improved?
Insidetime September 2016
Scurvy on the Menu Robert Shaw HMP Channings Wood It is incredible that the Governor and Service Management here at Channings Wood should take it upon themselves to withdraw all fresh fruit, dried fruit and other items such as granulated sugar etc, from the prison supplied menu as well as from the DHL purchase sheets. Naturally, this will completely stop prisoners from making hooch, for which this decision was taken in its great wisdom. Of course it will not do so. Yes, it may well curtail the practice of making hooch. However, what will be removed next from the menu? Potatoes, rice, bread, breakfast cereals, porridge etc.? All of these can be made into alcohol with a little knowledge involved. Depriving prisoners of a healthy diet with fresh fruit and vegetables is not the solution to this age-old prison practice and will only deprive prisoners from receiving a healthy nutritionally and vitamin balanced diet. Recently I read about a young lad who died of scurvy because of the lack of fresh fruit and vegetables in the diet served up by his parents. Will scurvy be next on the menu here at Channings Wood?
M Macgillivray - HMP Wormwood Scrubs I was an inmate at Erlestoke when the riot started over the 11th-12th of June. We were locked up all over the weekend due to ‘staff shortages’. This caused a lot of tension amongst some inmates and two wings kicked off to the point where some offices, cameras and cells got smashed up by a select few. At around 2am on 11th of June, I was in bed (on a different wing to where the riot was going on) when my door was opened by staff and another inmate was put in my cell, even though I had informed staff days before that the bunk bed was broken and unsafe for someone to sleep on. Regardless of this, the inmate was left in my cell and ended up sleeping on the floor. The next morning, I spoke to staff about the problem but was told to shut up! Later that day inmates on the wing started to vent their frustration by flooding the landings and smashing glass panels as they had been ignored by staff. We had been in our cells for three days with no exercise or hot water, and controlled unlock for food, so tensions were high. At teatime the Specialist Team brought our meal using riot shields in case anyone kicked off. Despite all of this, I kept quiet and did what I was told. After a long weekend I assumed the riot on the other wings was over and normal regime would resume on the Monday. So I went to bed. At around 10pm I heard activity on the wing and the talk was that people were being shipped out. I assumed these would be the rioters from the other wings and went back to sleep. At 11pm my cell door was opened by the Specialist Team, with riot shields and German Shepherds. They rushed into my cell and pulled me out of bed, all the while shouting for me to ‘comply’. I was dragged, unresisting from my cell and placed onto a waiting prison transport with several others. The Specialist Team did not film our removal, they used excessive force and did not follow the correct procedure. One of the inmates on the transport had a broken wrist due to the brutality of the team, and another was bleeding heavily and had a bloody and bruised face. His wrists were also bleeding as the handcuffs were being used as weapons on us by the Specialist Team. We were then taken to Wormwood scrubs, miles from our families. Staff at the Scrubs have done all they can to find out why we are here, but there seems to be no explanation why those of us who took no part in the riot were treated like this and brought here. After writing to HMP Erlestoke several times asking why we were removed, the OMU Manager at Erlestoke wrote to our families saying that we were on the wings where the riots started and were ‘removed for their own safety’. Staff shortages, lockdown and the smoking ban have all contributed to the riot, which has resulted in us being brought to the Scrubs and most of our property going ‘missing’. We have since been informed that the staff at Erlestoke let other inmates pack our property after we were gone, so they helped themselves. Please put this in the paper so that people know the truth about what happened at Erlestoke.
‘Mailbag’, Inside Time, Botley Mills, Botley, Southampton SO30 2GB.
Insidetime September 2016
Mailbites Treated with the utmost respect My name is Ruby Wilks and I am a transgender woman serving a prison sentence at HMP Parc. This establishment has treated me with the utmost respect. I have no issues with having clothes brought in and I am in the process of getting a wig. The prison has also recognised my official name-change. Staff and prisoners have been very supportive. If you are a transgender prisoner hold your head up high because every one of us is a human being regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation. Ruby Wilks - HMP Parc
Tips for doing bird Do not expect anything for nothing and you will never be disappointed. Just do your bird, everything you need is free. Anything else is either a luxury or an earned privilege. D Doolan - HMP Highpoint North
Thank you for caring I wish to thank all the people who attended the IPP demonstration on 25th of May 2016. It meant so much to me, an IPP currently fourand-a-half years over a tariff of 36 months. Thank you for giving up your time to do an amazing thing by standing up for us IPP prisoners who do not have a voice. For calling to an end to this great injustice and protecting our human rights. You give me a bit of hope, peace of mind, and you lessen my anxiety about being forgotten. Thank you, peace and healing for all. John Harris - HMP Littlehey
Thatcher Mk II John Kelly - HMP Risley Those of us doing time should be very nervous about the appointment of Thatcher Mk II as our Prime Minister. The May family are privately heavily invested in such as G4S. Therefore Michael Gove’s drive to reduce prison numbers had to be halted. Goodbye Mr Gove. You will recall that Thatcher was fiercely opposed to sanctions against South Africa, but then her family were privately heavily invested there. Even her son sought to increase such investment.
“The May family are privately heavily invested in such as G4S” Given Theresa May’s avowal not to reward failure and the privatised running of too many services which fail the public daily, we are hostages to fortune. Recently the MOD had to declare to the Public Accounts Committee that they ‘seriously misjudged Carillion Amey’s capacity to deliver a service’. The firm admitted it was not equipped to deliver. Alarmingly, this same firm is entrenched in maintenance of the Prison Estate. Perhaps this is why our entire wing has had no hot water for five months. Also, why it took a full fifteen months for me to get a disability seat and grab rails in the shower. Only the robust intervention of social services finally got the job done. Evidently, prison numbers are not seen as a goal for the new PM unless it is to see them increase. That she may profit from this is purely coincidental. Or is it?
emailaprisoner The emailaprisoner service enables family, friends, solicitors and other organisations to send messages to prisoners from any computer. It’s faster than 1st class post and costs less than a 2nd class stamp! Available in 98% of UK prisons. If you would like to know more call:
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Racketeering by DHL
Excessive negative comments
Mr Keeler - HMP Dartmoor
Stephen Shiels - HMP Leeds
Surely I cannot be the only prisoner with strong objections to DHL’s cornering of the market when it comes to bedding? A 9 tog quilt is £22.99, a fraction of this price when purchased from Argos (who as reputable retailers must surely conform to the same high safety standards as DHL), yet we are not permitted to buy bedding from any other supplier. DHL will charge us £54.96 for 1 quilt, 1 quilt cover, 1 pillow case, and a flat sheet when the exact same goods can be purchased from Argos for about £20 less. Surely this is nothing but racketeering by DHL? I thought monopolies were illegal. Editorial note Prison bedding must conform to the same fire standards as such places as hotels and is covered by BS 7175 1989 0 crib 6/7. The full information is given in PSI20122-022 which can be read in prison libraries.
I am a convicted prisoner serving 4 years for burglary. I am ashamed that I let my substance abuse drive me into breaking into people’s homes and removing property in order to fund my heroin and crack cocaine addiction. The court sentenced me to 4 years, and rightly so. Unfortunately I have been placed on Basic for having ‘excessive negative comments’ written in my file by prison staff. It is my understanding that whilst on a restricted regime prisoners are entitled to a minimum of 30 minutes in the open air every day, plus 30 minutes for showers and phone calls daily. We have been told here that at weekends we are only entitled to 30 minutes out of our cells per day, whether it be exercise or shower/ phone, we cannot do both. Is this lawful? Due to my medical problems I usually spend my 30-minutes out of cell at the weekend in a queue waiting for my medication to be dispensed. When I question this, I am told that it is down to each Basic prisoner how he spends his allotted 30 minutes per day. Surely this is not right? If I break the laws of the land then the whole criminal justice machine will be used to chastise me and put things right; but if prison officers/governors break the laws who polices and acts against them? Official complaint forms are ignored and not worth the paper they are printed on, the IMB are less than useless and tell us to go through the official complaint procedure before asking them to act. Is there anyone who can help us get the prison to abide by laws and rules that we have to abide by?
Speak up I can’t hear you Carl Linden - HMP Highdown I am a former barrister and am both blind and deaf, and would like to point out that prisons as public institutions are subject to the Equalities Act. Yet, disabled prisoners face a very hard time whilst incarcerated. As an example, staff call out visits, etc. from the landings, and as a hearing-aid wearer I do not hear them, which has caused problems. Also when staff come to my cell and speak through the locked door I find it very difficult to make out what they are saying. If you get a new officer on the wing who doesn’t notice the hearing-aid they think I am deliberately ignoring them and this has led to negative entries on my file until they realise. My suggestion would be to put a sign on the cell doors of deaf/blind prisoners so that staff know we can neither see nor hear them if they are standing outside talking through a locked door. I am also quite surprised that no prison staff seem to be trained in sign language.
Mailbag
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Religious beliefs not being respected LMB - HMP Isle of Wight Here at HMP IoW people’s religious beliefs/practises are not being respected. They are doing this by allowing the following to happen - we have 5 set choices of food both at lunch and tea. Choice number 1 is non-Halal, No 2 is Halal, No 3 is a fish option, No 4 is vegetarian, and No 5 is vegan. Now, some faiths, such as Islam or Buddhism, require you to follow a specific diet, be it Halal, vegetarianism or even vegan. So when it comes to serving choice number 3 or number 4, surely it cannot be served by someone who has handled meat because you then run the risk, no matter how slight, of crosscontamination. Yet this is exactly what happens here. Should people be forced into playing ‘Russian Roulette’ on whether their food has or has not been compromised? Should not the beliefs of an individual matter, regardless of who they may be? I say ‘Yes’, but my experience here tells me I am one of the few who believes in equality and respect for others. Editorial note A new Prison Service Instruction has been published concerning faith and pastoral care PSI 2016-005. This should be available in your prison library, can be downloaded from our website at: www.tinyurl.com/j5z5fot, or write to Inside Time and we will send you a copy.
Contributing to Mailbag Appeals & Prison Law Specialists • Appeals against Conviction (Joint Enterprise) • Appeals against Sentence / IPP Sentence • Parole Board Reviews • Licence Recalls • Independent Adjudications before the Judge • CCRC • Judicial Review • Re-Categorisation • Sentence Calculations • Home Detention Curfews • Prison Transfers • Family/Care Proceedings • Housing • Community Care LEGAL AID AVAILABLE Contact Us: 228 Rye Lane, London, SE15 4NL Tel: 020 3601 9425 Fax: 020 3490 3323 Email:
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If you would like to contribute to Mailbag, please send your letters to the address on the left. It is very important that you ensure the following details are on all paperwork sent to Inside Time: YOUR NAME, PRISON NUMBER & PRISON. Failure to do so will prevent us responding to you and your submission being withheld from publication. Please note letters for publication may be edited. NB The shorter and more concise letters are more likely to be published. To avoid any possible misunderstanding, if you have a query and for whatever reason do not wish your letter to be published in Inside Time or appear on the website, or yourself to be identified, please make this clear. We advise that wherever possible, when sending original documents such as legal papers, you send photocopies as we are unable to accept liability if they are lost. We may need to forward your letter and/or documents to Prison Service HQ or another appropriate body for comment or advice, therefore only send information you are willing to have forwarded on your behalf.
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Mailbag
7
If only our media would start telling the truth
We hear you!
Name supplied - HMP Shotts
Sue Stephens and Bruce Kent - Prisoners Maintaining Innocence
When a crime is committed, especially a violent crime, the public feel scared and angry and understandably they want to see the perpetrator locked up. However, there are generally two schools of thought about the most effective prison regime and the most effective sentencing policies. The first school of thought can be found in America. They have punitive sentencing policies, like the death penalty and extremely long prison terms. They also have severe prison regimes and their media and politicians actually boast about the nasty treatment of prisoners. The result is that they have some of the worst reoffending rates in the world and much of the torture that they force prisoners to endure gets passed onto the public when the enraged prisoners are eventually released. The second school of thought can be found in Scandinavia. The judges have liberal sentencing policies. They also have some of the most humane prison systems in the world. They treat prisoners with humanity and try to help them heal themselves, in the hope that they will make a positive contribution to society once they are released. The result is that in Scandinavia they have some of the lowest reoffending rates in the world. Ultimately, the punishment of criminals is for the protection of the public, so while it may be tempting to panic when a crime is committed and feel the need to brutally punish the perpetrator, the evidence from backward countries like America proves that such vindictive measures are not an effective tactic for public protection.
Kesar & Co SOLICITORS
The only way prisoners can get the opportunity to reflect is when there is no oppression from the prison regime or the staff. There can be no rehabilitation without reflection coming first.
I write in response to the mailbag by Linda C - The forgotten victims. We are still here, why won’t you help us? Linda, we hear you. The Justice System does create VICTIMS, and we are trying to help.
Thankfully the SNP Government in Scotland have worked with the management of the Scottish Prison Service in an effort to drive our system in a far healthier direction with regards to the way Scottish prisoners are treated. (SPS Organisational Review 2012) Things are not perfect, but they are slowly heading in the right direction. Unfortunately the Scottish media continue to manipulate the public with scare stories, demonization and lies. So we still have destructive sentencing policies with long sentences and more people per head of population being locked up in prison than in more civilised regions of the world who have higher crime rates than Scotland. When the Scottish media tells lies about crime being out of control (when it is actually at a 41-year low) or lies about our prisons being holiday camps, they are not hurting prisoners. They are hurting the victims of crime and their loved ones, who don’t believe that the perpetrators are being punished. If only our media would start to telling the truth about crime, punishment and imprisonment then maybe our judges and courts could start to head towards the sensible and humane system which they have in Scandinavia, a system which is by far the most effective way to protect the public. SPECIALISTS IN PRISON LAW, PAROLE DELAYS, EQUALITY CLAIMS, PERSONAL INJURY, CLINICAL NEGLIGENCE, MENTAL HEALTH, IMMIGRATION AND DEFENCE.
Our clients regularly receive compensation for the delayed parole hearings, ranging from £300 to £4,500. We offer a free, no-commitment assessment of the merits of your case. We recognise that life in prison can be dangerous and injuries frequent. Our solicitors assist with claims based on assaults by other prisoners or officers who resort to unlawful use of force. These matters include injuries at work or avoidable accidents resulting in substantial amounts of damages. Another area of concern is the growing number of complaints about direct and indirect discrimination based predominantly on age, disability, gender and religion. Our specialists assist prisoners who have received delayed or inadequate medical treatment, as well as those who have been refused medication or experienced abrupt, unjustified withdrawal of opiate substitutes used for overcoming addiction. We also assist prisoners who feel that their mental health has been ignored or neglected. This includes, but it is not limited to, assessment of the custodial environment and alternative treatment arrangements. Serving prisoners may receive further charges based on the allegations pre-dating their current conviction or triggered by incidents in prison. If so, we may be able to help with criminal defence and/or representation in the confiscation proceedings. We offer legal aid, subject to assessment in the areas of prison law, criminal defence, immigration, mental health, action against the police and public law. In the alternative, we accept instructions from privately paying clients as well as “no win-no fee” agreements.
Contact us in writing at: Kesar & Co Solicitors, 2nd Floor, 20-25 Market Square, Bromley, BR1 1NA Or by telephone on: 020 8181 3100
Prisoners maintaining innocence are held to ransom B Stanford - HMP Wymott It is clear to many within the system, that as prisons and psychology departments are funded via the provision of courses, rather than the successful process of offenders; there is a perverse incentive to generate income by not progressing offenders, but continuously adding further hurdles to cross. With the increasing number of prisoners maintaining innocence, offenders with indeterminate sentences or those awaiting parole post-tariff are literally ‘a captive population’ for prisons to hold onto for income. By allowing convictions in our courts on uncorroborated hearsay the prison population is rising and the costs are spiralling out of control. There is little or no evidence of benefit to SOTP courses, but those delivering these courses have a vested interest. Those prisoners maintaining their innocence are harassed and held to ransom in order to undertake courses despite statistical evidence that they already have a lower risk of reoffending than those who complete the programmes. It should also be noted that the founder of these programmes (Canada) has stopped courses of this nature, followed by America, as they are ‘not fit for purpose’. Which is their statement! I would suggest that when psychologist’s cosy up and suggest you do more courses, you should ask the following questions: 1) What cognitive defects do you claim that I have? This pins them down and makes them explain whether you actually need the course to reduce your risk, or are they just after bums-on-seats. Once they give you a list of deficits you should ask: 2) Is the person who is claiming I have these deficits qualified to do so? What are their qualifications and do they have any specialist knowledge of forensic psychology? It is an offence for them to claim abilities that they do not have. Forensic psychology is a specialist field, and most prison psychologists are not qualified to practise it. 3) Ask them to explain exactly how these deficits are related to your offending. They could, and do, give prisoners lists of deficits that have no connection to your offending behaviour. Beware of the words ‘may benefit’. 4) Ask for the background paperwork for the course, the course assessment criteria and the course selection criteria. You must be in a position to give properly informed consent. 5) Ask for any evidence that the course will actually address your deficits. 6) Ask for the possible negative consequences of taking part in the course? These questions are taken directly from the British Psychological Society - code of ethics and offending behaviours; every prisoner is entitled to have a copy of this document and should make the necessary enquiries with their solicitor to obtain a copy, or write to the British Psychological Society, 48 Princess Road East, Leicester, LE1 7DR.
On July 6th our small voluntary organisation, Prisoners Maintaining Innocence, held a public meeting in Central London to raise awareness and concern about prisoners maintaining that their convictions are false. Our aims are to challenge the current means of progression through the prison system, as currently prisoners who maintain innocence are penalised for not admitting guilt. Juliet Lyon, former Director of the Prison Reform Trust, spoke to the meeting. She was particularly sympathetic to those maintaining innocence, and expressed deep concern for those in prison over tariff. The abolition of Indeterminate sentences for Public Protection (IPP) was achieved in 2012. This was a huge success for reformers, and occurred through the pressure of the European Court, but was not made retrospective, so many prisoners are still held without a release date, and their term is often way beyond the intended length of sentence envisaged by the trial judge. But the horrific experiences of the wrongly convicted and their families also need to be told. They are victims, just as those who have been abused. Our group has started the task of gathering information about the numbers of prisoners in this situation, and we are seeking specific examples of prisoners’ experiences, for example those serving sentence well over tariff, or suffering loss of privilege. Any reputable sources of data would be welcome. While it is important to gather actual numbers of cases, we would like to back this up with individual stories. Please respond to: Prisoners Maintaining Innocence c/o 3-5, South Street, Havant, Hants PO9 1BU
8 Mailbag
‘Mailbag’, Inside Time, Botley Mills, Botley, Southampton SO30 2GB.
Charged with murder by fax CAS - HMP Belmarsh Jonathan King is right about how British ‘justice’ works (or doesn’t), especially if you are already a serving prisoner.
offence, even if there is no concrete evidence. So your past crimes are being used to prove your guilt in lieu of evidence.
I am a serving prisoner who has already served 19 years of a discretionary life sentence and I was on the verge of being released after reducing my risk from Category A to Category C over nearly 2 decades. A few days before my Parole Board hearing I was ghosted to a Category B local prison and left in limbo for several weeks not knowing why. Then I was called into the governor’s office one morning and was given a fax, charging me with an unsolved historical murder case. This was a surprise to me, my family and solicitor. I was then made a high security Category A prisoner and again, ghosted to a high security prison.
At the actual trial the judge was far from ‘impartial’ and allowed full disclosure of my past admitted crimes. I then found out why this case had been reopened after two ‘cold case reviews’ had failed to uncover any further evidence. There was an online campaign to the local MP, pressuring him into getting the case reopened, and this MP attended my trial every day.
I was really surprised that I could be charged with murder by fax, without having my rights read to me - but this is apparently legal if you are a serving prisoner. When I was originally arrested for the case I got my discretionary life sentence for I was questioned in relation to this new case, but was never charged as, basically, I didn’t do it and there was no evidence that I did. Today, there is still no evidence. This was purely a circumstantial case with no actual physical or forensic evidence, no witnesses or scientific evidence to support it. Because of this, I was quietly confident as my own naïve belief was that I did not commit the crime so I could not be convicted. What I did not know then, but I was to find out later, was that the law had been changed via the Criminal Evidence Act 2003, and it allowed previous convictions and bad character to be used against the defendant. Basically, this means that anyone with a criminal history can be charged with an
“I had a further 21 years added to my tariff, not because anyone had evidence that I committed this crime, but because they knew I had committed other crimes” During the trial the witnesses for the Prosecution, friends of the victim, were allowed to sit in court and watch proceedings after they had given evidence against me. But my family and friends were barred from entering the public gallery. No reason was given for this, but it left the jury thinking that I had no support. The judge again reiterated my previous bad character and convictions in his summing up and after a 6-week trial the jury decided I was guilty. I have no doubt I was tried on the basis that my past would tell against me and that the Prosecution could get the jury to dislike me. I had a further 21 years added to my tariff, not because anyone had evidence that I committed this crime, but because they knew I had committed other crimes. It was an impossible situation. So if you are coming to the end of a long sentence, beware, it could happen to you.
When you feel no one’s helping YOU...
Prison slavery
Mediocrity of management
Mr Hunter - prison supplied
David Cox - HMP Wormwood Scrubs
It stops now! Forced labour is slavery, no matter how the prison authorities try to word it and it is illegal. You are by law, sentenced to a term of imprisonment, which means we are locked away from the public for a period of time stated by the Courts. Nowhere in your sentencing does it say that you should be forced into slavery. It is not right that we should be forced to labour for commercial companies. The so-called ‘wages’ are such a pittance that even those prisoners who are putting in a full week’s work still have to rely on friends and family outside to send in money for toiletries, phone credits and stamps. Why do we not get the minimum wage as laid down for workers? Why do we get none of the benefits, or be allowed the same rights as other workers? This is why a lot of prisoners have little work ethic because once in prison we are forced to work, if you do not work you will be nicked and lose days or privileges and spend time in solitary. Canteen prices are shooting up at a rate of knots but so-called wages never go up. It is 2016, no adult, whether in prison or out, should be forced to work for a weekly wage of less than £10.
I was sentenced in January for a ‘white collar’ crime. I am 47 years old and this is my first time in prison. I spent 9 months here before sentencing and I have been categorised as a D cat prisoner suitable for open conditions. I have 21 months left and I am anxious to provide for my three children. Despite my categorisation six months ago I am being held in this category B prison. The parade of excuses from management here on why I haven’t gone to an open prison is beyond satire, with each department blaming the other. Leaving aside my own personal desperation to get out of this appallingly run prison, how can the Prison Service justify D cat prisoners languishing in what, if nothing else, are presumably more expensive conditions than are necessary? We are clogging up the system, incurring unnecessary security costs and denying cells to B cat prisoners whilst open prisons have all the spaces, yet prison managers complain constantly about overcrowding. As someone who has previously run much larger organisations than Wormwood Scrubs I am staggered at how this prison is managed. It is almost as if these high walls serve not only to keep us inmates in, but also serves to preserve a 1970’s top heavy management style whereby over-promoted prison officers leave behind what they are good at (opening and closing cell doors) to run teams and manage budgets without any of the core skills needed. I can tolerate the bunny-sized rats scampering around the wing or yard at night, as well as the small army of cockroaches that make my cell their own each night. I can even survive the daily drug use I am surrounded by, the violence, the widespread possession of weapons and even the occasional naked inmate jumping from the landings high on Spice. These are still the reality of life in the Scrubs in 2016. But what I cannot tolerate is the mediocrity of management, the shrugging of shoulders from staff and constant passing of the buck that could so easily be eradicated if only for some Blackfords new ad 24.1.14:Layout 1 24/1/14 12:59 Page 1 inspirational leadership.
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Name supplied HMP Peterborough Firstly, in response to ‘Benjamin’ at HMP Holme House (July issue), why is revealing our names so important to you? You have no business knowing who we are, and for some topics that we write about there may actually be serious consequences for the writers if our names and whereabouts are published. If people wish to remain anonymous whilst writing in about sensitive subjects, then that should be our legitimate choice. My second point is about the SOTP. I was shocked to read a letter by a reader in July’s issue to find out that the SOTP (Sex Offenders Treatment Programme) is a very daunting prospect. He mentions that people are required to discuss their offences with others, all of whom would be complete strangers. After reading this I now have doubts about taking part in this programme. I do admit to everything that I have been charged for, but discussing this with a room
full of strangers I just cannot do. Whilst the programme hasn’t been made mandatory for me personally, I would still like to do the course, but not in a group. Is there an option to do the programme on a one-to-one basis? If not, then are there any similar programmes that I could do on the outside?
NOMS
Writes
Many participants who engage in programmes may experience anxiety about discussing details of their life and offending. Programme facilitators are trained to deal with the disclosure of sensitive information when discussing issues related to offending, and any such information disclosed by participants on accredited programmes in prisons, including Sexual Offender Treatment Programmes, is as far as possible directed to remain within the group. This means that no participant should discuss what they have heard from or about others in the group outside the group room. If such information is being shared outside of the group, staff will treat this very seriously. We would recommend that any anxieties or concerns held by a participant are brought to
the local programme team, as they will be able to discuss such issues with the participant and what can be done to help and support them. Regarding the Core SOTP specifically, participants are encouraged to discuss details leading up to an offence, and acknowledgement of what a person’s conviction was for is usually required. This programme is not delivered on an individual basis while in prison. However it is possible that individuals can undertake one of the community programmes when released from prison. This depends on their individual circumstances and in those programmes participants are usually required to discuss aspects of their offending. A new group programme designed for men who commit sexual offences is being introduced in prisons. This is called Horizon and it is designed for those men assessed as medium risk on the Risk Matrix 2000 and does not require discussion of your offending within a group. The programme is being gradually introduced and is not yet widely available. Until Horizon is more widely available, most participants are directed to Core SOTP.
Corrections and Clarifications The policy of Inside Time is to correct significant errors as soon as possible. Corrections will appear in the mailbag section of each issue and on the relevant web page. If you notice an error please feel free to write to us at the usual address providing the date and page number from the newspaper, alternatively have a friend or family member call or email us (see below). Correction In our July Issue, under an article about the Prisons & Probation Ombudsman we mistakenly gave the address of HM Inspectorate of Prisons. The correct address for the Prisons & Probation Inside Time, Botley Mills, Botley, Southampton, Hampshire SO30 2GB.
Ombudsman is: Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, PO Box 70769, London, SE1P 4XY. Any letters sent to the Ombudsman at the incorrect address have been forwarded to the Ombudsman. We apologise for the error. 01489 795945
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Local To: HMP Bullingdon, HMYOI Aylesbury, HMP Woodhill, HMP The Mount & HMP Grendon but Pickup & Scott will represent prisoners nationwide. We are able to assist with all Please contact aspects of prison law, including: Charlotte Lyon at: • Parole Board Reviews • Recall to Prison • Independent Adjudications • Sentence Calculation Members of the Association of Prison Lawyers
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Mailbites Repatriate the Irish
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Trapped in my mind Gareth (surname supplied) - HMP Ashfield It is Saturday evening and I have spent the whole day in my cell with the exception of collecting meds and meals. It is not that I have been locked up, my door is unlocked at 7.30 and locked at 17.45 like everyone else, rather I feel trapped by my mental illness.
“My depression consumes me. I have to fight the urge to self-harm and I long for Monday to come” I manage to get by, Monday to Friday, due to the mandatory requirement to attend education or work. But on weekends there is nowhere to go. So, because I am not forced to socialise or, at the very least, communicate with others, I go back into my shell. My depression consumes me. I have to fight the urge to self-harm and I long for Monday to come - not because I enjoy education, or enjoy the company of others (I really don’t), but because I can put on the mask, pretend I’m OK and just let the course keep my mind occupied. There needs to be more facilities at weekends for prisoners. For some it helps to keep the boredom at bay, for me and people like me it would help to keep us safe. Mental health provisions only operate on weekdays, so I cannot even go to them for support, though they are not much good if I’m honest. Our lives run for 7 days a week, so maybe it is about time prisons ran 7 days a week as well. I hope by being open like this that others who suffer know they are not alone. Mental health is a major problem in our prisons and it is about time prisons rose to the challenge.
An excellent letter from James Brennan (Irish are foreigners too - July issue) and I absolutely agree with him, the Irish prisoners should be allowed to be deported back to their own country as other European prisoners are. Why should Ireland be able to make a different arrangement and leave their citizens to rot in British prisons away from family and friends for years on end. It surely cannot be allowed to continue and the Irish Government must be made to change this disgraceful situation. Name supplied - Bristol l How can this be allowed? Surely this is a Civil Rights violation. Our prisons are over full so let’s repatriate as many foreigners as possible and have more funds to spend on our own prisons and prison staff. Details supplied l Irish prisoners should be sent home to serve their time, making life so much easier for their family and friends to visit. Surely with Brexit the time is right to totally change this arrangement and send Irish prisoners back to Ireland. Details supplied
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New secure units to contain extremist prisoners A review into extremism in prisons, led by former prison governor Ian Acheson and published last month concluded there was “institutional timidity” in challenging extremist views in prison, with staff fearful of being considered racist. As well as strengthening the vetting system for prison chaplains, prisoners behaving “subversively” will be removed from Friday prayers. The main recommendation was to “incapacitate” violent extremists by keeping them away from other prisoners which would be done by creating special units in high security prisons, completely physically isolated from the rest of the high security prisons in which they will be located. His report concluded that the National Offender Management Service, “was very far from being effective in both understanding and reacting properly to the obvious threat posed by IE (Islamist extremism)”. © prisonimage.org
Prisons Ombudsman publishes report on prisoners with dementia l Prisoners aged over 60 increased 125% between 2004 and 2014
l Prisoners aged over 60 to increase from 4,100 in 2015 to 5,500 in 2020
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) has published a ‘Learning Lessons’ bulletin looking at ‘Fatal Incident Investigations’ relating to prisoners with dementia in which he says; “I have frequently been struck by how ill-prepared prisons were to deal with this new challenge, essentially because they were designed to meet the needs of younger people and not chronic age-related conditions. Things are beginning to move in the right direction in some prisons, with examples of good practice, but there is still a long way to go. While there have been relatively few investigations which have specifically highlighted issues relating to dementia, it is inevitable that this will be a growing issue as the population of elderly prisoners is projected to continue to increase.” Those aged over 60 are the fastest-growing segment of the prison population, increasing 125% between 2004 and 2014. Those aged over 50 are the second-fastest-growing segment, increasing by 104% in the same timeframe, while the overall prison population increased by just 15%. The Ministry of Justice project the population in prison aged over 60 to increase from 4,100 in 2015 to 5,500 in 2020. Two of the main drivers for this demographic shift are longer sentences, and more late in life prosecutions for historic sex offences. The ageing of the prison population shows no signs of abating, leading to an increase in deaths from natural causes in prisons and increasing social care needs of elderly and infirm prisoners. This has been recognised in the Care Act 2014, parts of which came into force in April 2015. The Act makes local authorities responsible for assessing and meeting the eligible social care needs of adult prisoners, although prisons will need to make referrals first. The aim is to bring the delivery of social care in prisons in line with the care of those in the community. The report says; “Prison Service Instruction
l Main drivers are longer sentences, and historic sex offences
(PSI) 2015-015, Adult Social Care, outlines the services prisons can expect from local authorities under the Care Act and the responsibilities of different agencies. The delivery of care and support in eligible cases is now the responsibility of the local authority and each prison should have a local lead for adult social care to liaise with the providers. Prisons must now work with the local authorities to develop care and support plans for each prisoner with eligible needs. In the past, before the Care Act was implemented, we found that communication failures caused delays and, sometimes, neglectful treatment, “The prison estate was designed for young, fit men and not for its current ageing population. Often, small cells originally meant for one man now hold two. It is often not even possible to get a wheelchair into the cell and, in most prisons the majority of cells are not at ground floor level. There is often a waiting list for any more accessible cells. Lack of appropriate space or facilities can make it difficult for prisons to provide care that would be equivalent to that in the community.
Justice Secretary Liz Truss said that prison officers would be given training, and the authority to stop people becoming radicalised in the first place. “But there are a small number of individuals, very subversive individuals, who do need to be held in separate units.” Andrew Neilson, Director of Campaigns at the Howard League for Penal Reform said, “If the fear is that prisons may breed extremism, then the government needs to do something about our overcrowded and violent prisons. It’s the extreme conditions of the prisons themselves which pose the biggest threat to public safety.”
UKIP MEP wants to charge prisoners £40,000 a year A Worcestershire UKIP MEP, Bill Etheridge, says he wants to charge all prisoners £40,000 per year to help towards the increasing cost of the prison system and put prisoners off reoffending. He says there should be a £40,000 per year levy until all their assets and property have gone. Among his other ideas are: Removing ‘all luxuries and electronic devices’ and not allowing prisoners to leave their cells during the first six months.
“Under the Care Act, where the prisoner meets the eligibility criteria for social care, local authorities are responsible for meeting those specific needs. Where prisoners do not meet the eligibility criteria for local authority care, the local authority should help with developing each support plan. This should set out what needs to be done to meet a prisoner’s current needs, and help to prevent or delay the prisoner developing additional needs. However, responsibility for delivering the plan rests with the prison, although this responsibility may be joint with other agencies such as healthcare and voluntary sector services.”
He says; “Prisons should be there to provide shelter, toilet provision, food and access to reading material for self-advancement. Anything more than these basic essentials is unnecessary and a waste of taxpayers’ money.”
The full report can be downloaded at: www.tinyurl.com/zyelrs6 PSI 2015-015 can be downloaded at: www.tinyurl.com/jhw2mwn You can write to the Prisons & Probation Ombudsman at: Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, PO Box 70769, London, SE1P 4XY
Etheridge offered his ideas as he tries to replace Nigel Farage as the next UKIP leader in the run-up to losing his job following the UKIP backed Brexit vote.
New powers to block mobile phones in prisons Ministry of Justice figures show that 15,000 mobile phones and SIM cards were seized in prisons in England and Wales in 2015, a rise of about 30% from the previous year. A new measure has come into force called a Telecommunications Restriction Order (TRO) through which mobile networks can be instructed to blacklist the phone remotely - making it unusable. Security Minister Ben Wallace said; “Criminals are locked up to protect communities from their actions - so it is totally unacceptable for them to continue their life of crime behind bars. Telecommunications Restriction Orders will give us the power to disconnect the phones prisoners use to continue orchestrating serious crimes while in jail.”
Newsbites l In a bid to safeguard children who play the new Pokemon Go mobile phone game, New York’s state department of corrections and community services is preventing around 3,000 registered sex offenders from playing Pokemon Go. “Protecting New York’s children is priority number one and as technology evolves, we must ensure these advances don’t become new avenues for dangerous predators to prey on new victims,” New York governor Andrew Cuomo said. l The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has refused to release the names of 14 prisoners who escaped or absconded from Kent prisons and are still on the run because, they say, it would breach data protection laws. The Kent Messenger newspaper requested the information under a Freedom of Information request but was told that such personal information is exempt under the Freedom of Information Act (FoIA). They appealed and were told; “Your original request for the name, date of birth and address of the individuals you listed was considered under the Data Protection Act to be ‘personal sensitive data’ and would be released only where absolutely necessary to satisfy a risk-assessed lawful purpose and only then with robust safeguards in place.” l There are around 10,000 foreign prisoners in British prisons and MPs have warned that it will be harder to deport them when they finish their sentence after Brexit. The Commons Home Affairs Committee said; “It is Government policy to remove all foreign national offenders, but, despite large numbers of FNOs being returned, the number in the prison estate and living in the community continues to grow. The UK has agreements with other EU countries to deport European prisoners but that will cease as soon as we leave the EU. l Latest MoJ figures show a fall in the number of prisoners on Enhanced privilege level and nearly 40% increase in those on Basic level. This is caused by changes brought in under the IEP PSI2013-030 which made it easier to keep prisoners on the lower privilege levels.
Justice Committee launch inquiry into prison reform - have your say The House of Commons Justice Committee has launched an inquiry into the Government programme of reforms to prisons on the assumption that, as indicated by the new Justice Secretary, Elizabeth Truss, there will be no substantial change to the programme of reforms including the £1.3bn estate modernisation programme, the creation of reform prisons to give prison governors greater autonomy, and the implementation of Dame Sally Coates’ education review. In doing so they are seeking the views of interested parties. The Committee is asking for written evidence on the following topics: 1. What should be the purpose(s) of prisons? How should l the prison estate modernisation programme and; l reform prisons proposals best fit these purposes and deal most appropriately with those held? What should be the roles, responsibilities and accountabilities of
l prison staff;
l prison governors;
l National Offender Management Service;
l Ministry of Justice officials and Ministers and; l other agencies and departments;
in creating a modern and effective prison system? 2. What are the key opportunities and challenges of the central components of prison reform so far announced by the Government, and their development and implementation? 3. What can be learnt from existing or past commissioning and procurement arrangements for i) private sector prisons and ii) ancillary prison services which have been outsourced? 4. What principles should be followed in constructing measures of performance for prisons? 5. What can be learnt from l other fields, notably health and education and; l other jurisdictions about the creation of prison trusts or foundations and related performance measures? 6. Are existing mechanisms for regulation and independent scrutiny of prisons fit for purpose? 7. What are the implications for prison reform of
l the Transforming Rehabilitation programme and;
l devolution of criminal justice budgets now and in the future?
The Committee will be grateful for submissions in response to any or all of the topics above by 30 September 2016. The Committee’s current plans are to conduct a series of sub-inquiries into discrete aspects of prison reform as the Government’s programme develops, and further calls for evidence which will provide an opportunity for more detailed comment as appropriate. If you would like to make your views on any of the topics above known to the Committee please write to them at Justice Committee, House of Commons, Westminster, London, SW1A 0AA. If you would like fuller information and a copy of the guidelines then the Committee will be happy to send these to you prior to you making your submission. Please note that your submission should be concise and to the point and the Committee are unable to intervene in individual cases. Submissions are published but if you would like your name and prison number, or your submission, to be kept confidential then you should specify that clearly in your letter. Your correspondence with the Justice Committee is not covered by Rule 39 and may be read by prisons. If you have access to the internet you can make a submission online at: www.tinyurl.com/hgxxrf8
Newsround 11
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Brain injuries can lead to offending
Newsbites l The number of prisoners released by mistake in 2015/16 has reached its highest level in six years with 65 released in error compared to just 16 the year before. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said, in its defence, that release errors can include misplaced warrants for imprisonment or remand, recall notices not acted upon, sentence miscalculation or discharging the wrong person on escort. l The Independent Police Complaints Commission has issued statistics for deaths of people following contact with the police during 2015-16. They show: • 21 road traffic fatalities; • 3 fatal police shootings; • 14 deaths in or following police custody; • 60 apparent suicides following police custody; • 102 other deaths following police contact that were independently investigated by the IPCC. l A cab driver who was falsely accused of rape and acquitted has lost a case to have the rape accusation removed from his enhanced criminal record certificate (ECRC). He argued that the decision undermined the fundamental principle that everyone is presumed innocent until proved guilty. His barrister also argued that it violated his human right to respect for his private life. At the Court of Appeal, while Lord Justice McCombe said the man’s ECRC made it clear that he had been acquitted, he said that arguments that an acquittal could never lawfully appear on an ECRC ‘clearly go too far’. The judge ruled that the right balance had been struck between the man’s privacy rights and the need to protect the vulnerable, and the false allegation stays on his ECRC. l A 92 year old wheelchair-bound woman with failing eyesight who keeps driving, and crashing, after having her driving licence revoked has been told she will be sent to prison if she drives again. After one crash her car was written off so she bought another one which was immediately seized and crushed by police. She now has a 12 month ban and must retake a test before ever driving again. Her son told the courts she has poor eyesight, deafness and memory problems and doesn’t know she is doing anything wrong.
Row over toy cars landed man in cell A toy car collector was held in a cell for four hours and refused his heart medication over the £16 online sale of three Dinky toy cars. Charles Traynor from Glasgow was taken into custody, photographed, fingerprinted, and had his DNA taken when another enthusiast claimed he’d failed to send the toys he’d bought on Ebay. But Mr Traynor says the buyer had refused to pay the postage amount of £6 meaning he’d held back sending the items. Despite all charges being dropped and Ebay themselves saying Mr Traynor wasn’t at fault, Police Scotland refused to apologise. It was only after the findings of an independent investigation that bosses finally said sorry for “any distress” caused by the investigation. Mr Traynor said: “I was happy to discuss the case with police at my house but they insisted we did it at the station. I explained I was on medication for a heart condition and diabetes and their response was ‘don’t worry, this won’t take more than an hour and we’ll give you a lift back up the road’. But their attitude changed when we got to the station. After the interview, in which I was told I’d no need for a solicitor, I had my fingerprints, DNA, and photographs all taken. When I asked again about getting my pills, I was basically told ‘tough’. Four hours after I was lifted, they threw me out in to the street and I had to walk home.”
A new report ‘Traumatic Brain Injury and Offending‘ has been published by the Centre for Mental Health and looks at the economic consequences of people who suffer traumatic brain injury (TBI). The report says; “There is much evidence to show that traumatic brain injury can in some cases lead to cognitive and behavioural changes such as impaired judgement, reduced impulse control and increased aggression which are well established as risk factors for involvement in criminal activity, including violent crime. “In terms of supporting evidence, studies from around the world show beyond doubt that the prevalence of TBI is far higher among convicted offenders than in the general population.” The full report can be downloaded at: www.tinyurl. com/gowlv5z
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Howard League criticise soaring prison recalls According to evidence being submitted to the United Nations by the Howard League for Penal Reform, the number of people in prison due to recall has soared by 15 per cent in a year following the implementation of the Offender Rehabilitation Act 2014, which enabled the part-privatisation of the Probation Service and, for the first time, extended licence conditions to people who had served prison sentences of less than 12 months; recall is now 55 times greater than it was in 1993. They say; ‘Thousands of people have been recalled to custody in recent months, putting additional pressure on prisons that were already struggling to cope with chronic overcrowding, alarming statistics on safety and deep budget cuts.” In its evidence to the United Kingdom Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights, the Howard League argues that the possibility of recall to prison as a consequence of a breach of licence should be removed. “New crimes can be dealt with separately through the usual channels and other community penalties can be imposed for breaches of licence that do not amount to a criminal offence. In the majority of cases the initial decision to recall to custody is made by a single probation officer and invariably rubberstamped by the Secretary of State for Justice. The reasons for which people can be recalled are broad and often vague. They include: failing to be ‘of good behaviour’, ‘failure to keep in touch’ and ‘drugs/alcohol’ amongst others. These encompass a wide range of behaviours which would be of no interest to the authorities if a person were not on licence.” Andrew Neilson, Director of Campaigns at the Howard League for Penal Reform, told Inside Time; “Why are we sending men and women back to prison when they have not committed new crimes? Far from transforming rehabilitation, privatising the probation service and making more people subject to licence conditions has sped up the revolving door, returning people to prison and putting more pressure on a system that fails everyone. Removing the possibility of recall to custody would be a more sensible way to help people who are struggling to comply with their licence conditions.”
Proposed new rules for segregating Immigration detainees A new draft Detention Services Order (DSO) [similar to a prison PSI] which covers Immigration Removal Centres proposes placing detainees in solitary confinement, even against medical advice. The draft order, ‘Removal from Association (DC Rule 40) and Temporary Confinement (DC Rule 42)’would advise staff that anyone who is being ‘stubborn, unmanageable or disobedient’ may be placed into solitary confinement. Staff can wait up to two hours before telling the person why they have been segregated. Staff can authorise solitary confinement for up to two weeks; area managers only have to be consulted for longer periods.’ Sara Ogilvie, policy officer at Liberty, told ‘The Independent’ that the Government was putting the health of detainees in danger and failing to afford them “basic dignity”. All current DSOs can be downloaded at: www.tinyurl.com/qzw2266
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World prison review
Philippines If you think UK prisons are overcrowded, have a thought for the men locked up in Quezon City Jail, in Manilla, in the Philippines. It was built for 800 and now holds over 4,000. The prisoners have to sleep on stairs, in doorways, anywhere they can find a space. Individual cells hold up to 30 prisoners. Each month between 2 and 5 prisoners die of disease and the conditions lead to many prisoners suffering from depression. It is alleged that prison guards torture prisoners by electrocuting them and pouring hot wax on their genitals. France A man in Toulouse, France, had more bitten off than he could chew when the woman he was trying to rape bit off half his tongue as he tried to kiss her. Although the attacker ran away, emergency services responding to the victim’s call found a lot of blood and the end of the attacker’s tongue. Local hospitals were informed and the attacker was soon arrested. DNA matched him to the crime scene and his claim that the woman ‘led him on’ was dismissed as he was convicted and sent to prison for rape. Syria Nearly 18,000 people have died in government prisons in Syria since the beginning of the uprising in 2011, according to Amnesty International. A new report by the charity, based on interviews with torture survivors, details systematic use of rape and beatings by prison guards. Former detainees described so-called welcome parties - ritual beatings using metal bars and electric cables. New detainees are subjected to security checks that often involve women being sexually assaulted by male guards. “They treated us like animals. I saw the blood, it was like a river... I never imagined humanity would reach such a low level said Samer, who was among those interviewed. Another inmate, Ziad, described how seven people died in one day “They began to kick us to see who was alive and who wasn’t,” Ziad said. The Syrian government has repeatedly denied such allegations.
USA It is hard to knife somebody while behind you a whale is peacefully grazing on plankton. Harder still to threaten somebody else with a sharpened toothbrush if you are simultaneously distracted by a peaceful satellite view of the slowly-rotating Earth. With this in mind, the Snake River Correctional Institution in Oregon has begun projecting images of nature on the walls - and shown a 26% drop in aggression and violence as a result. The film projections included still and moving images of oceans, forests and rivers, but also of aquarium scenes, a fireplace with burning logs, Earth viewed from space and cloud fly-throughs. Prisons in six other states across the US have now shown an interest in implementing the project.
Australia The Australian government has launched an investigation after a video emerged showing alleged torture of child prisoners in the Northern Territory. When six children were tear gassed at Don Dale in August 2014, government representatives said guards were forced to restrain them as they staged a riot and attempted to escape, but CCTV and videos taken by staff showed that only one boy had left his cell and was smashing a light fitting into walls and reinforced windows. The other five boys remained locked in their cells in the isolation wing when they were sprayed with tear gas at close range, with footage showing guards laughing as they coughed and screamed, with one saying he could not breathe. In another video, a guard is seen picking up a 13-year-old and hurling him across the room onto his bed. The same boy is also seen in footage from a different Northern Territory detention facility being stripped naked and held face-down by three guards after he apparently threatened to hurt himself. In another instance, the boy - then aged 14 - was shackled to a restraint chair with a hood placed over his head and left in solitary confinement. Amnesty International said; “The image of a distressed child being forcibly stripped by three men, and the sound of guards laughing while children choke on teargas, should be ingrained on the minds of Australia’s leaders, who for years have ignored calls for better protection of children’s human rights in detention facilities in Northern Territory and across the country.” l Victorian Police were called to the Gippsland’s Fulham Correctional Centre last month when it was discovered that its green-thumbed inmates were cultivating 28 cannabis plants in the prison’s nursery. The plants were identified during a routine security check on Wednesday, and have since been confiscated. 2016 hasn’t been a good year for the prison. In January, it made headlines when it was revealed that one of its inmates was keeping a highly venomous brown snake as a pet. In April, two male prisoners escaped from the facility and weren’t noticed missing for more than two hours.
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If you have no address to go to for the period of bail or Home Detention Curfew (HDC/tag), or an address that isn’t suitable - BASS can help. Stonham BASS can offer accommodation and support to defendants on bail and offenders eligible for Home Detention Curfew (HDC/ tag). We have properties across the country where you would have your own bedroom in a small, shared (single gender) house. If you have children it may be possible for them to join you in a house on your own.
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A typical BASS property
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14 Newsround // Local Prison News
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NOMS names worst and best performing prisons As part of its Annual Digest, the Ministry of Justice has published performance ratings for all of the prisons in England and Wales. The six worse prisons with a rating of ‘Overall performance is of serious concern’ are: Bristol, Doncaster, Hewell, Isis, Peterborough (Female), Wormwood Scrubs. Eight prisons got the top rating of ‘Exceptional performance’: Askham Grange, Full Sutton, Hatfield, Hollesley Bay, Kirklevington Grange, Standford Hill, Warren Hill, Whatton.
The team from Low Moss with some of the donated food
HMP Low Moss collect food for local Foodbank The Trussell Trust partners with local communities in an attempt to assist those experiencing hardship in their lives and, with this in mind, HMP Low Moss decided to give their support to one of these local community Foodbanks and held a 7 day event where the objective was to collect food donations.
Andrew Neilson, director of campaigns at the Howard League for Penal Reform, told Inside Time; “That more prisons have been awarded the worst-possible performance rating provides further indication of how the system is failing after years of rising numbers, chronic overcrowding and deep staff cuts..” The full performance data can be downloaded at: www.tinyurl.com/jfjyezt
By the end of the week there was a total of 14 boxes of food donated. This, when weighed (245.1 kg) by the Foodbank, accumulated to a monetary total of £411. To add to this there were cash contributions given by some and this totalled £194.21.
Former prisoner turned vicar on wheelchair marathon
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Newsbites l Children from a special needs school in Wimbledon are visiting HMP Wandsworth once a week for special training sessions with prisoners. Ralph Bye, a teacher at Linden Lodge, told The Mail Online that the partnership between the school and the prison had been a huge success, saying some prisoners have become so attached to the children that they use their prison earnings to buy them sweets. The prisoners recently raised more than £3,000 for the school by doing a sponsored 100,000 km row in less than six hours.. l A special prison for witches has been found in a 15th century Scottish church. Historians investigating the chapel believe they have found evidence that the chapel was used to hold witches before their trial and burning to death. An iron ring was found embedded in a wall and records from the Aberdeen city archives reveal that the ring was used to chain the witches held in the chapel. There was an infamous witch hunt in Aberdeen in 1597 during which 23 women and one man were tried, convicted and executed. l Nearly 70 prisoners signed a petition at HMP Edinburgh claiming neglect by the healthcare services at the prison. A recent inspection report said; “Doctors’ clinics are cancelled with growing regularity.” Jim Farish, the Deputy Chief Inspector of Prisons in Scotland, has advised the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) that he had received the petition and says that the SPS assured him that the matters raised in the petition were being addressed but SPS said the matters were for NHS Lothian to resolve as they provide healthcare at the prison.
Planning for the event led to a work placement for two prisoners from Castle Huntly at the front of house in Low Moss where their role was to speak about the Foodbank Initiative and process any donations that came in. Donations came from staff, visitors and professionals coming into the prison on work related business. Also contributing were the prisoners where the opportunity to donate food directly from their canteen was an option for them to get involved.
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Insidetime September 2016
The Reverend Martinson, vicar at St John’s Church in Bransholme, Hull, has a remarkable story. Twenty years ago he was convicted of armed robbery but turned his life around after release and became a vicar. Seven years ago he woke up one morning unable to feel his legs and has been in a wheelchair ever since. Now he is planning to set out on a 930 mile journey, in his wheelchair, from John O’Groats to Lands End to raise money for his church to pay for community facilities. He starts his marathon on September 12th and expects it to take about three weeks. He told his local newspaper, the Hull Daily Mail; “It is going to be a massive challenge, incredibly hard and demanding but it will be worth it. Days are completely different. Some of them are easy and some of them are really hard. It’s quite demanding sometimes. But this makes this challenge even harder and it is one that I’m really looking forward to.” If you want to sponsor Rev Martinson visit www.end-to-end.co.uk
l When Shepton Mallet prison closed in 2013 it was hoped the site would be redeveloped but a row has erupted over what will happen to the graves of prisoners executed there including American soldiers executed during the Second World War. All the prisoners executed were buried in unmarked graves around the site and a local campaigner has asked the potential developers what will happen to the graves, pointing out that bodies will have to be exhumed to make way for the new development. Walls with bullet holes from executions will also be covered up and a building built by American forces in which to execute people will be demolished. l In a crackdown by prison staff and police, 22 prisoners at HMP Leeds have been caught with mobile phones since March. Two of those caught have already got extra prison sentences. Twelve more are awaiting prosecution and seven more are ‘under investigation’. Leeds Governor Steven Robson said; “Our message is clear. We will continue to work in close partnership with West Yorkshire Police to get a conviction in every case.” l Scottish born Hollywood actor Dougray Scott who has starred in such films as Mission Impossible, Enigma and Taken 3, visited HMP Perth and attended a meeting at the prison’s Recovery Café which supports prisoners with drug and alcohol addictions. Whilst there he toured the prison speaking to prisoners and posing for photographs.
Is there a good news story at your prison? Write in and let us know. Please mark your envelope ‘Good news’.
Total UK prison population approximately
94,530
▲ 82
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Newsround // Local Prison News 15
Coroner slams healthcare at Pentonville
HMP Shotts transform children’s hospice gardens A successful link between HMP Shotts and Robin House children’s hospice has seen a massive transformation in the grounds. All of the woodwork within the grounds was made and donated by HMP Shotts which includes benches, play houses, a large pirate ship and even a formula one racing car. After visiting the hospice, Shotts Skills & Employability Unit Manager said;“The visit to the hospice was one of the most humbling experiences I have ever encountered in my life. To see how the work the staff and prisoners have put in being used by those in the hospice makes me proud to be part of this team and it is a credit to Shotts Industries team and prisoners alike. We hope to keep these links going strong.”
Prisoner dies at Bronzefield after pressing cell bell for 2½ hours
Deborah Coles, co-director of the charity Inquest, which supports and advises those bereaved by deaths in custody, said: “Bronzefield is a private prison, being paid vast amounts of public money. The new justice secretary should visit the prison and ask questions as to why they are seemingly incapable of keeping women safe.” Sodexo get £64,445 per prisoner at Bronzefield. HMP EQUITY LAW SOLICITORS
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Durham costs just £36,036 per prisoner. Alex Cavendish, a former prisoner who blogs on prison issues at Prison UK: An Insider’s View, said: “Too many prisoners are dying in custody. As repeated inquests have found, a significant proportion of these deaths might have been avoided if appropriate care - including mental health support - had been in place and proper assessment procedures followed. Based on the information that I’ve received, this tragic death at HMP Bronzefield raises very serious questions about monitoring and supervision of vulnerable women, as well as concerns over the response times when cell alarms are sounded by prisoners in distress.”
‘Ja p Se ilb a g e o re e i u r ak n t ’ s he ec ti on
A prisoner who died after overdosing on prescription medication had been ringing her cell bell and calling for help for two and a half hours at HMP Bronzefield, it has been claimed. The woman had had a major operation and was recalled to the prison three days before her death.
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A senior coroner has laid out her concerns about the ‘significant failures’ of the private company which provides healthcare at HMP Pentonville. A Prevention of Future Deaths report from her follows the inquest of a prisoner who killed himself at Pentonville last November. An initial assessment by a nurse and GP should have triggered his immediate move to inpatient care and opening of an ACCT document; neither happened. The prison governor and Care UK now have 56 days to report back with a plan of action. The coroner said that a report carried out by Care UK after the prisoner’s death was not shared with the coroner until part-way through the inquest, and even then only because it was accidentally discovered by two of the inquest advocates. She said; “These are significant failures, and it seems to me are an obstacle to learning lessons that may prevent future deaths.” Care UK is the largest provider of healthcare to the Prison Service.
Pentonville IMB reflect on problems with staff shortages Pentonville IMB, in its latest report, just published, express concerns about how staff cutbacks have affected regimes, they say: “In an attempt to maintain staffing ratios ‘temporary regimes’ have regularly been in operation. Prisoners would not know until Monday morning the pattern for the week to come. Officers were regularly redeployed from one wing to another or sent from other prisons on detached duty. As a result it was difficult for prisoners to know day-to-day, shift-to-shift, who would be looking after them, and for officers to forge and maintain relationships with prisoners. We are concerned about the impact this has on those prisoners who are too frightened or overwhelmed to ask for help from unfamiliar staff, and we recognise that this instability is equally unsettling and unsatisfactory for officers.” The full report can be downloaded at: www.tinyurl.com/jozxkyy
The cost of over-tariff prisoners at HMP Erlestoke To add to the ongoing concern about IPP prisoners spending years over-tariff the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) at Erlestoke provide shocking data in their latest report of the number of IPP and life sentence prisoners over tariff and the cost to the taxpayer. They say: “Erlestoke holds 530 prisoners of which 264 are serving IPP or Life Sentences. Prison documents show 141 current IPP and Life Sentence Prisoners are over tariff with a collective total of 1014 years over tariff. This equates to 7.19 years per head. “The cost of keeping a person in prison is £40,000 per annum; therefore, it is costing HMP Erlestoke £5,640,000 per year to hold the 141 prisoners who are over tariff, or £40,560,000 for the 1014 years.” Data is from their latest report which can be downloaded at: www.tinyurl.com/hlmpbzy
Kirklevington abuse enquiry continues Almost 250 men have come forward to complain about physical and sexual abuse at HMP Kirklevington which they say took place between the 1960s and 1990s when the prison was a mixed remand centre. Cleveland Police say two men aged 70 and 61 had been arrested but were released without any charges being brought. The force said it was continuing to investigate. One of the complainants, Andrew Drabarek, told the BBC; “The minute you walked through the gate to the minute you left it was just abuse. I got punched, I went blind for three days. I was punched at the dining room table because I was the last one to leave. You accept punishment but not like that, being beaten by a grown man when you are a teenager is something else.” The Ministry of Justice has urged anyone with allegations to report them to police.
Prison governor attacked by inmate at Wayland A governor at HMP Wayland, Paul Cawkwell was badly hurt in an unprovoked attack by a prisoner. An anonymous ‘source’ at the prison told the BBC that the governor was talking to a prisoner in the canteen when the attack happened. Mr Cawkwell suffered a collapsed eye socket, fractured cheekbone and a broken nose in the attack and has had to have facial reconstruction surgery. It is likely to take months for him to recover.
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16 Comment // Interview
“Nobody should have to go through what we went through”
Paul Gambaccini Continued from front page The first thing I’m aware of as we sit chatting is the almost palpable anger that underscores Gambaccini’s instantly recognisable voice as he talks about the ordeal of the year he spent on bail, the victim of a false sex crime accuser. The DJ was arrested at his London flat at 4.38am on 29 October 2013 and taken to Charing Cross police station. A man who he could not ever recall meeting had accused him of sexual abuse which the accuser said had happened some decades earlier. Gambaccini was not told the precise nature of the allegations and he was never charged with any offence. After several hours in a police cell he was released on bail and within hours his arrest and the allegations he faced were splashed across the national media. The BBC immediately dropped him from their schedules and so began what he describes as the “darkest year” of his life. He is clear about where the blame lies for the injustice he suffered. “All of us who have been wronged in this witch hunt have to come to terms with the reality of the sadism and stupidity of the British police,” he says. “This is not something I ever wished to learn. When I was sixteen
years old Roger Millar had his hit song, England Swings with the line, ‘Bobbies on the beat two by two.’ To me, when I came to this country in 1970 the British police were the most respected in the world. But they have voluntarily turned themselves into a third rate Stasi. I have searched for understanding, because in my experience, as in the experience of all the other falsely accused, approximately ninety per cent of police officers are good honest hardworking men and women. So what rot set in at the top?” Did he ever discover why there seemed to have been such a change in the policy of the police in these types of cases? He nods his head. “In my quest for answers on one occasion I went to the former Justice Minister Michael Gove and he told me that it all began with a former Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) whose philosophy was that since it takes great courage for an abused person to come forward they must be telling the truth. But actually this is just a tautology. It’s like saying honest people tell the truth. Of course honest people tell the truth, and of course, people who have been abused are telling the truth when they say they have been abused. But this philosophy leaves no room for fa lse accusers.
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Which raises the question was that DPP being mischievous? Or was he actually naïve - and did not think that there would be false accusers once the campaign was launched?” He says that when people started being arrested on Operation Yewtree, (set up following the Jimmy Savile sex crime revelations) the common perception was that the accusers were after money.
They have empowered liars and lunatics who have been given the full weight of the state with unlimited financial resources to war against one hundred per cent innocent individuals in large numbers With no work and time on his hands he spent much of his year on bail before the allegations against him were accepted by the police as groundless researching the false accuser phenomenon. “I found out that the majority of them are
not after money. You also have fantasists and in the case of celebrities, twisted stalkers. It may be someone carrying a grudge, or even someone whose life may have reached middle age, they are unhappy and looking for someone to blame. This witch hunt has allowed an accusation of sexual misconduct to become the default position of anyone who wishes to get back at someone for whatever reason. It does not seem to have occurred to the Police Federation when they made sexual abuse a national threat on the same level as terrorism - again I’m quoting Michael Gove - that a lot of accusers would be falsehood speakers. They bought the CPS line that all accusers are telling the truth. Probably the most nefarious aspect of this is the repeated use of the word ‘victim,’ when these people are not victims. A victim is someone to whom something has actually occurred. A person who makes a complaint is a complainant, or an accuser. Similarly with the word, ‘survivor.’ A person is not a survivor unless they have survived something. Now, many people are entitled to that term - but to believe that anybody who just wants to be called a victim or a survivor deserves these adjectives is absolute twaddle and it drips from the lips of the people at the Crown Prosecution Service. I was not prepared for the institutionalised imbecility of the British police and the CPS. I had expected intellectual rigour. Case after case was launched which should never have got passed the starting gate. Idiotic cases, like the man who was accused of rape in his basement flat, but who actually lived on the third floor - another accused of sexual misconduct on the first floor of a theatre when the theatre did not have a first floor, or the man accused of a sex crime in a vehicle which had not yet been manufactured. I could go on and on these cases had such fundamental flaws.”
In the case of 75 year old Sir Cliff Richard - who spent 22 months under investigation before being cleared in June this year - one of his accusers turned out to be one of the country’s most dangerous sex offenders and another was a man who previously tried to blackmail the singer. His demands were not met and he was reported to the police. Does anything similar happen in the States? He shakes his head. “No,” he says. “Only Britain has become like this. Whenever I go to my home city of New York there is none of this. There is no witch hunt. I invite you to imagine what it is like to live in a country where the fundamental tenet of justice has been abandoned, where innocent until proven guilty has been turned into guilty until proven innocent. Well that is the country in which we now live. The police and the CPS have allowed sentimentality to trump intellectual rigour. They have empowered liars and lunatics who have been given the full weight of the state with unlimited financial resources to war against one hundred per cent innocent individuals in large numbers.” How prevalent does he believe the problem is - is it something, perhaps because of Jimmy Savile, that is particularly focused on well-known people? “At the beginning of the witch hunt I thought, this was limited to the ‘celebrity class,” he says. “But how wrong I was. I have now learned, because I get at least a communication a week from ordinary people also in a similarly desperate situation. One of t he hor r ible t h i ng s I learned, and I never wanted to learn this, I never wanted it to be the case - is that the Metropolitan police - and I mention them specifically because they were the department that I came into contact with - cosset and protect their precious false accusers without whom they could not conduct a witch hunt. There have been scores of false accusers involved in this witch hunt yet the number who have been prosecuted for wasting police time and for squandering millions of tax payer pounds for libelling the innocent is zero. Where I come from that is known as abetting criminals. That is extraordinary.” As one of the most respected figures in broadcasting it must still feel quite surreal to have
experienced such a cloud of unwarranted torment? “I never would have imagined that this could have happened to me,” he says “I never dreamt it was possible. I never believed that someone could be accused like this without any evidence. Three weeks before I was arrested, the broadcaster Liz Kershaw phoned me and said that officers from Yewtree had called her and asked if she would like to make an accusation against Dave Lee Travis, and she said, ‘No, don’t you need any evidence?’ And she was told, ‘No, we only need people who agree.’ In my naïve state I thought that was ridiculous. But no, the police only need to get a couple of people who will say something similar with no evidence required. The police learned nothing from my case, if they had then they would not have launched operation Midland.” Operation Midland was set up to examine historical claims of a Westminster VIP paedophile ring, with allegations that boys were abused by a group of powerful men from politics, the military and law enforcement agencies. The inquiry was also intended to examine claims that three boys were murdered during the alleged ring's activities. Operation Midland related to locations across southern England and in London in the 1970s and 1980s, and focused on the private Dolphin Square estate in Pimlico, south-west London. Among those accused were former armed forces chief Lord Bramall and for mer Con ser v at ive M P Harvey Proctor. Both men denied any wrong doing and neither faced any action. Operation Midland was closed down in March this year with no charges brought. It cost the taxpayer £2.5m. Along with Sir Cliff and former Spea ker of t he House of Commons Nigel Evans, 58, who was also cleared of a string of sex abuse allegations after a number of prosecution witnesses suggested they “felt pressured” by police into appearing as alleged victims in his 2014 high-profile trial, Gambaccini plans to step up the campaign for anonymity for any accused in sex abuse cases in the autumn when parliament returns from the summer recess. “Nobody should have to go through what we went through,” he says, “Nobody.”
One thing that made me interested in this job is that when I was Chief Inspector of Prisons, I was also on the Parole Board’s Serious Case Review. This is the committee that looks at cases where a prisoner has been released by the Parole Board and then gone on to commit another crime. Most of the PB decisions were reasonable, the reoffending could not be predicted. But what struck me, and I really think this is true - is that on the one hand I think that Offender Management Units (OMUs) in prisons often don’t really understand what it is that the Parole Board wants in order for a prisoner to progress. And I think that sometimes the Parole Board doesn’t really understand what is really happening to somebody when they are in prison. So they’re all trying to achieve the same thing, but sometimes they slightly don’t connect I think. So one of the things that attracted me to this job is trying to use that experience as Chief Inspector to try and inform the parole process. But look, there are some people in prison who are very good at telling you a wonderful story about what has happened to them and sometimes it’s all bollocks. I don’t have a problem with the fact that when someone commits, particularly a more serious offence, society has to have boundaries, and if prison is the penalty I don’t have a problem with that. I’m not an abolitionist. But if we don’t talk about prisons in a realistic way, prisoners think you’re stupid and the public think you’re stupid. Having said that, I’m really clear that you go to prison as a punishment, not for punishment. And once you are in prison the efforts of the system should be to help you come out and start again, and make a new life for yourself. I’m also really clear that one of the real problems with prison is that it teaches prisoners to be a good prisoner and not necessarily a good citizen. If you’re in prison what do you know? Well you know that you don’t use your initiative, you don’t do things of your own accord, you wait until you are told you can do them. You’re not open and frank with people, you keep yourself to yourself and you don’t share stuff. You’re careful about eye contact with people - you
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give someone the wrong look and you might get yourself into trouble. Everybody knows you have to bend the system a bit just to survive - that’s prisoner survival skills. On the other hand what is an employer looking for in a good employee? In that case you are looking for someone who is good at using their initiative, does keep good eye contact, somebody who is frank and open and who keeps to the rules. That’s my starting point. When I was CIP I often had prisoners say to me, ‘why don’t you have prisoners on your inspections teams?’ And I would have had - I wouldn’t have had a problem with prisoners
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One of the real problems with prison is that it teaches prisoners to be a good prisoner and not necessarily a good citizen
Former Chief Inspector of Prisons Nick Hardwick CBE was appointed Chair of the Parole Board for England and Wales in March this year. He is a part-time Professor of Criminal Justice at Royal Holloway University of London, the voluntary Chair of New Horizon Youth Centre and a trustee of Prisoners Abroad. Last month he was awarded an honorary Doctorate from Leeds Becket University. Announcing his intention to provide readers of Inside Time with quarterly updates on matters relating to parole from December he explains how he sees his new job.
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but I don’t have a problem with it in principle. I think the idea that you should have someone opposite you who you can talk to and you can try and put them at their ease and interact with them is really important.
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on my inspection teams if they’d had the right attitude. But not because somehow they could be ‘the voice of prisoners,’ - because every prisoner’s experience of prison is different, and what they get out of the system is different. There is a real danger in believing that there is just one experience of prison. When I came to end of my time as Chief Inspector I understood that even a short sentence in the best run prison is a really severe kind of punishment. If anyone is worried that somehow we are soft on prisoners that prisons are all like hotels - they couldn’t be more wrong. You might get prisoners sometimes who leave
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and say something that’s full of bravado - prison is horrible, it’s horrible for everybody. And if there is any prisoner who thinks that prison is better than what they might have outside then it just tells you how horrible their life must have been outside. And when some prisoners get a sense of acceptance about prison life, then that in a sense is horrible too. Interpreting the behaviour of prisoners is really important. The Osborn and Booth case (Osborn v The Parole Board; Booth v The Parole Board; In the matter of an application of James Clyde Reilly for Judicial Review (NI) [2013] UKSC 61) contributed to the backlog of delays in parole hearings,
I think you should go to prison for the appropriate time for the offence you have committed, whatever the proper punishment is for what you have done, but I’m very wary of the idea that, ‘oh if only we’d kept him in a bit longer he could have done his literacy course’ or whatever - no, no, no - once he or she has done their sentence - get them out. I’m dubious about the idea that prison does people any good. I think you can try and reduce the harm prison does. And I think that a prisoner while in prison can decide to change and when that happens the prison should work to support that change, even if they backslide that support should continue. But the individual has to make that decision. What we are assessing in the parole process is whether someone is at risk of committing further offences. We’re not assessing whether a person is now going to be a model citizen. What the law requires us to do is to assess the risk of someone going out and committing further offences. And that to some extent, is an art rather than a science. Sometimes prisoners think that they have to do this or that, or I have got to come over in this way - but actually the most convincing thing for a Parole Board is when they think people are simply being themselves.
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Month by Month Rachel Billington locally, shows a large number of vacancies for those with computer skills, notably as programmers and coders’. The question is: how to do this training safely inside prisons?
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Last month I visited two prisons for very different reasons. I went to HMP Wayland as a trustee of the Longford Trust to get some idea of the new technology that is being piloted there and in HMP Berwyn at Wrexham, although that prison is not yet open. Then I went to HMP Thameside to see Synergy Theatre Project ‘s production of A Raisin in the Sun. As it happens Thameside, which is a private prison run by Serco is already cabled so that prisoners can order from the canteen and book visits without needing outside access. The play which I’ll report on in greater detail was fabulous.
Technology and prison Technology is not my strong point but anyone living in the world beyond bars can see at once that a prisoner who has spent time away from our fast-moving modern technology will be at a severe disadvantage when they are released. The Longford Trust, which has run a programme supporting ex-prisoners into higher education for many years, has now specific funds for a student of the Computer Sciences. Peter Stanford, the Trust’s director told me, ‘Every labour market survey, including the ones done by prisons themselves of job opportunities for released prisoners
This is taking the idea of incell tech beyond mere organisational use as in HMP Thameside and into an educational area. We visited HMP Wayland at the invitation of PO Andy Wright who introduces us to Head of Learning and Skills, Katie Mindham. Wayland is a Cat C prison which has had problems with violence; recently a governor suffered a serious facial injury, but both officers feel it is a good choice to be one of the first prisons cabled. There are a majority of single occupancy cells and not too many foreign nationals so few language problems. The prison already has good computer rooms where the Virtual Campus can be accessed. The main difficulty seems to be attracting a wide number of students into the education building, particularly to increase their IT skills. The Longford Trust is keen to help and we discuss the possibility of paying for mentoring and perhaps making films to promote the study of IT through Wayland’s television station Way Out TV. The important fact I take away from our visit is that the prison is being thoroughly cabled so that all kinds of advances could theoretically, at least, take place. There could be in cell computers alongside televisions, in cell TV, Skype visits, ‘the ‘Way to Learn’ channel in cell. As Andy tells, ‘We’re a can do prison’. Certainly money is available and being spent. I confirm from a later visit to
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A scene from ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ NOMS that there is potentially a large budget for expanding technology in public prisons, although this will depend on the perceived success of the pilots in Wayland and Berwyn. At first, prisoners will use access for the simple organisational facts of their life as already happens in Thameside but the aim is to go much further. It is not, I am assured, a way of restricting prisoners to their cells but, on the contrary, a route towards less wasted time, increased educational possibilities and greater freedom. I will hope to revisit this important subject when the projects at Wayland and Berwyn are up and running.
‘A Raisin in the Sun’ Visiting a prison is a drama in itself; the walls, the barbed wire, the checks, the escorted walk, the endless doors unlocked and locked again, the grouping and waiting and counting heads. HMP Thameside is a relatively friendly place for a visitor, the visitors’ centre is big and airy, the officers are pleasant and there is a jovial chaplain. But when you have come to see a play, there is the knowledge that something might go wrong - actors shipped out, held in cell, gone to court, to mention only the most ordinary. So the experience is not at all like pottering along to the local theatre. There is even greater
emotional intensity when the play chosen confronts strong issues as ‘A Raisin in the Sun’. ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ opened on Broadway in 1959 and won a clutch of awards in 1960. This astonished everybody as playwright Lorraine Hansberry was black as was the director, the first time such a pairing had happened on Broadway. Moreover all the principal characters were black. The play tells the story of a poor family living in Chicago who suddenly find themselves with $10,000 of insurance money after the father’s death. The son Walter, brilliantly acted in Thameside’s production by Daryl Josiah, wants to put the money into a liquor store, the daughter, Beneatha, wants to pay for her medical studies, while the widowed mother, Ruth, wants to buy a better house for them all to live in. The plot is set for huge disagreements which highlights the difficult choices facing African-Americans during the 1950s. The female members of the cast are played by professionals but other strong performances by Thameside residents are turned in by J. Edwards as Beneatha’s boyfriend, Joseph Asegai, and Kieron ScottHayden as Beneatha’s rival boyfriend, George Murchison. Terry Hart does extremely well as the horrible creepy representative from the white housing area where Ruth has bought the house, and who assumes he can buy them off. Sam Anderson also does well and Anthony Charles and Dereck John have walk-on parts. I should also note that the set looks every bit as good as the original set which I’ve seen in photographs. In that production Sidney Poitier played Walter which might have been a bit daunting for first-time actor, Daryl Josiah.
But he managed to hold the stage with his desperate attempts to better his family and his terrible guilt when it all goes wrong.
A huge addition to the evening’s success came from the ‘Something like a Blues Band’ organised by the Irene Taylor Trust. The original music, played by other talented Thameside residents, Daniel Allen, Patrick Fortune, Faham Jaffer Hector James and Pop Andrei Mihai (Miki) kicked off the event and provided musical commentaries throughout the play. I was glad to hear that the men inside the prison were given the opportunity to see the play with three performances, in addition to two for the public and one for prison staff. Talking to the play’s director, Juliet Knight, I discovered that Daryl had arrived planning not to act but to help with stage management which reminds me to mention all the behind scene workers who made the production possible. Juliet told me that the prison had been extremely supportive during the five weeks of rehearsals, quite a considerable time to make prisoners available. As one of the cast said after the show, ‘Whenever I was with these guys it was like I was on holiday - I was working but not in prison any more.’
Comment // Interview 19
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“Training as a Listener has been a positive and gifted experience that will be with me for the rest of my life. Because of the Listener scheme, the prison service has at its disposal an incredible tool that can and does make a difference for those contemplating suicide and self-harm in prison. To empower prisoners to do something good in a place they have been sent to for doing bad…Now that is a great gift!” Listener
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25 years of saving lives The Listener Scheme, described by former CEO of NOMS Sir Martin Narey as “one of the most profound advances in the Service in which I worked for 23 years,” this month celebrates twenty five years of prisoner peer support. To mark this important milestone Inside Time talked to the Listeners founder and former vice chair of the Samaritans Kathy Baker.
Inside Time report The Listeners came into being following the self-inflicted death of 15 year old Philip Knight in HMP Swansea in July 1990. The scheme began at Swansea in 1991. How did that come about? In 1979 I worked in Wandsworth prison as a probation officer at the same time as Eoin Mclennan Murray (former prison Governor and trustee of the Howard League) when he was an assistant Governor. We knew then that prisoners would often look out for each other. I worked on B Wing and if there was ever anyone who I thought might be at risk of suicide or self-harm, when I left work on a Friday I’d mention to prisoners that I knew I could trust just to keep an eye out. By 1990 I had been seconded fulltime
“Becoming a Listener changed my life! Helping my peers and supporting the most vulnerable was truly life affirming. Above all else, it taught me valuable communication skills that followed me beyond the prison gates and ultimately became the foundation for believing in myself after spending time behind bars.” Listener from the Probation Service, to the Prison Service and the Samaritans and for some time before this a group of us had been looking at ways to reduce incidences of suicide among prisoners. I joined the Prison Service Suicide Awareness Support Group as
the Samaritan Coordinator. Jim Hayes, then the Governor of Swansea phoned us when Philip Knight died. He had already at that stage asked his local Samaritan branch to go in to the prison. The staff were in a really bad place after that happened. It was just dreadful for everyone, not least the young man’s family. The prison and the Samaritans began discussing ideas of how they could work more closely together. During these discussions I just dropped in the thought that maybe it’s time to involve prisoners. Then we had to try and find a prison where we could pilot the idea - Swansea was the natural choice. Who thought of the name The Listeners? We asked the four prisoners we initially trained at Swansea to be Samaritans in the prison what they would like to
call themselves. They came back the following week to the working party and said we think we should be called The Listeners. It was their choice. They chose the name. And they ran the pilot scheme with us coming and going. We had to produce materials, for guidance, all the dos and don’ts. We had to form rules about how to deal with situations that might arise, like if anyone broke confidentiality for example. The biggest challenges were getting prisoners to accept that their peers could be trusted with complete confidentiality and then getting prisons to accept this vital concept. I think that was my biggest achievement, actually getting prisons to allow prisoners who were Listeners to keep confidential anything they might learn from people they were supporting. In the end what persuaded them was telling them that if prisoners were allowed this confidentiality they wouldhelpmorepeoplethaniftheydon’t. How did you manage to get other prisons to take up the scheme? We, Jim Hayes and I and a couple of other colleagues, ran workshops at Prison Service headquarters which prison governors could attend. The governors brought with them the local Directors of their Samaritan branch. They could only come if they both came. And I have to say if they were people who didn’t believe in it on the journey in, by the time they left they were invariably starting to work out how they could introduce and set up a scheme in their prison. We were also speaking at conferences and training prison staff. My vision was that there would be a Samaritan branch in every prison and the volunteers would be prisoners.
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Generally how are the prison Listener Schemes perceived by Samaritans? I think the Sams are very proud of their association with prisons. What you find in a prison as a visitor is that you are as safe as you would be anywhere outside. I have met some challenging people in there, but they’re not challenging without any reason, they’re challenging because of things that have happened to them in their lives. Sometime you see the worst of people because they are in the worst place they can be - but I always see the best in everyone. It has given me so much joy to see people developing and using skills they never thought they had. How important is it to allow prisoners to have responsibility? I think deep deep inside me one of the things I believe in more than anything is the power of listening. Prison is not a place that gives much opportunity for people to take responsibility, but as a Listener you are able to support people often in their greatest hour of need. It doesn’t get more responsible than that. And as we’ve heard so many time over the years, prisoners who have been Listeners almost without exception testify to the sense of self-worth and confidence they develop from the experience. So it really is a win win situation. What are your hopes for the future of the Listeners? Well I hope that the system will continue as it has been, believing that prisoners can actually support one another, that the Listeners will go on from strength to strength and they will be able to maintain the support they give in total confidence - because they make a difference. They make a real difference.
“Being a Listener has given me a sense of self-worth. I’ve grown and now have emotional independence. It has inspired me to do more for ‘me’, and shown me that there is so much more in the world. I want to go and do some voluntary work abroad.” Sharon - HMP Peterborough
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www.insidetime.org To close prisons without reducing the number of prisoners, to cut the staff by 30-40% and that’s not just prison officers, it’s other staff as well. You have got more prisoners crammed into fewer prisons with few staff and the consequences have been disastrous. Somebody takes their own life every four days. It’s really bad, the cockroaches, the rats, the lack of activity, the violence, the drugs - it’s the result of political decisions taken at the highest levels and that has caused the problems. And that’s the worst thing that has happened.”
l Slowness of change “I would like to see action, sooner rather than later” As an ‘action person’ is she frustrated by the slowness of change?
150 years of prison reform struggle Frances Crook talks to Inside Time about the past, present and future of penal reform Paul Sullivan It is 150 years since the Howard League for Penal Reform’s roots were established. John Howard was the son of a wealthy upholsterer whose mother died when he was just five. Appointed High Sheriff of Bedfordshire in 1773 he inspected the county prison and was so shocked by the conditions he saw decided to inspect prisons throughout England. Eighty years after his death the Howard Association was formed and in 1921 this became the Howard League for Penal Reform. Thirty years ago the Howard League appointed a new Chief Officer, Frances Crook, who discovered a small empty office and mounting debts. Over the ensuing three decades she has transformed it into the biggest independent prison reform charity in the world and, without government or company finances, placed it on a sound financial footing.
l Getting involved “I have tried to make a contribution, however small, to make the world a better place since I can remember” I wondered how Frances became involved in penal reform. “I have tried to make a contribution, however small, to make the world a better place since I can remember. I have always been politically active; I have been a labour councillor, I have worked for Amnesty International and I have worked here. You look
back on your death bed and you say; ‘I did what I could, I wasn’t out just for myself. My family had always been quite politically active, my brother’s a trade union activist, so my family were, in different ways. It’s in the genes.”
l Achievements “The lives of thousands of children have been made better and I’m very proud of that” I asked what her most satisfying achievements were during that time at the Howard League. “For me, it’s several different things. The biggest impact we have had on the lives of people out there in the world, is to help reduce the number of child arrests. Under Labour the police were given targets for arrests and they were arresting children like confetti and we worked very hard with the police over the past five years and that has reduced arrests by nearly two thirds each year. That means that children will not have their life blighted by having an arrest on their record, will not have spent a night in a police cell or to go through the arrest process. The lives of thousands of children have been made better and I’m very proud of that. “I am also very proud of keeping the organisation going. When I took over, thirty years ago, it was an empty office with debts and no income and very slowly we have built up a fantastic team of staff and trustees over the years, we are financially independent and secure, we have the trust and confidence of funders, we have 12,000
members who give us little bits of money - crowd funding, so the organisation is secure and solid - that’s not just because of me but because of the trustees and the team. The whole team work really well together and it’s lean and efficient. “I think the third big success was the campaign we ran on books for prisoners. It illustrated and got to the heart of the nation in a way that nothing we have ever done about prisoners has before. You can talk about people taking their own lives in prison and people really don’t identify with it, they feel mildly sorry but they move on. The books, on the other hand, gathered the imagination of the nation and everybody knew about it and was outraged. It seemed petty and counterproductive but I think they could identify with it. Why would anybody think about prisons, why would they care about them? But the idea that people would have books taken off them with nothing to do all day was so spiteful and petty that people identified - what if that happened to me, or my son, or my mum, or my brother. They identified with it and that’s why I think it was so important.”
l Disappointments “It’s the result of political decisions taken at the highest levels and that has caused the problems” There has to be disappointments too? “The prisons are in a worse state than since I can remember in my professional life and that really is the result of decisions taken by Chris Grayling.
“It’s very annoying, I always want things to be done immediately because I have sat in an inquest with the mum of an 18 year old boy who took his own life and she sobbed, as you would, I don’t ever want to do that again and every day we see reports about how bad prisons are and we get a notification from the Prison Service when somebody dies in prison, it’s six women this year [as of June 2016]. It’s really grim. I would like to see action, sooner rather than later.”
l Politicians “I think that justice is probably the most political thing there is” Prisoners write to Inside Time and say that politicians should be removed from making decisions about prisons and the criminal justice system. “Actually I don’t agree with that because I think that justice is probably the most political thing there is. I realise it has problems when there are party politics and I realise that when people come and go there are shifts and changes in justice, but then that’s true of every area of public policy whether it’s transport, or health - or war. I think justice is the underpinning of the State, citizens have to feel there is fairness between each other and that is what the justice system should do, and I think that is very political and choices have to be made and accountability has to be very clear. If instead you have bureaucrats or administrators making those decisions it would not be transparent and it would not be accountable, and I think that would be wrong.”
l Child prisons “No child should be held in a Prison Service establishment at all, ever” Child prisons have been in the news mainly for negative reasons. Do we really need to put children as young as 14 in what are effectively prisons? “No child should be held in a Prison Service establishment at all, ever. So the YOIs holding children should be closed immediately. I don’t think the private companies are fit to run any
kind of detention facility for children so the Secure Training Centres should be closed - we have tried repeatedly to get them closed, including legal action. There are a handful of children who have committed such serious offences; serious violent offences, sometimes sexual offences, who are really dangerous, probably to other people but also to themselves and who need a period of time of containment and investment and treatment, whatever. We have very successful local authority units which are small, which are well staffed, well run, and which help turn children’s lives round: so if you need 150-200 places we’ve got them. That’s all there should be.”
l Coates “There was nothing there about educating prison staff and I think it’s wrong” The Coates Review puts forward some radical ideas, does she think they can be delivered? “Well that’s the problem. I started my professional life as a teacher so I am really passionate about the role of education; not just literacy and numeracy but education as a life enhancing thing and it doesn’t matter what education you do be it engineering, Ancient Greek or botany, train spotting, I don’t care - all education is good. “The Coates report was great, I don’t have any problems with it at all and I’d love to see it implemented. It would be nice if people could get out of their cells to go to education and the library, that would be good. What was missing though was interesting, was prison staff, there was nothing there about educating prison staff and I think it’s wrong that we put a lot of money into educating prisoners and don’t do it for the staff because you can go into being a prison officer without a single GCSE and I think we should invest a huge amount of money in educating and supporting prison staff; so it’s got to work both ways. Any good employer educates and invests in their workforce. If you look at the big employers like Ford, IBM, they all have education programmes for their staff; during work time and after work time and they invest in staff being healthy and developing their skills, not just developing their work skills but developing as people through education and that’s exactly what should happen in the Prison Service. “We wrote a paper about educating prisons staff five or ten years ago saying that prison officers should have vocational degrees just like nurses. A prison officer should be like a nurse: you come in, you train on the job but you expect, at the end of it, to have a vocational degree qualification and pay to match.” After three decades at the helm, how much longer did she see herself in that position? “I want to see the next election and then I’ll go quietly.”
Comment 21
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A year for a first timer in a women’s prison
© prisonimage.org
On the wing Kelly Wober HMP Styal does not look like a prison. There are magnificent trees that are over a hundred years old. As I followed the officer out of the first night centre all I was aware of was the cold grey sky and these giant old trees. It’s April and it’s cold, I have no jacket and the wind cuts through me. I don’t know if I am trembling through fear, or if I am just cold. My teeth are chattering. My jaw is clenched and I stare at my shoes as I walk the 500yards to the wing. If I had known I was going to be remanded, I would have worn better shoes. We arrive at a set of large double doors. There are thick white iron bars in front of them. I fidget as I wait for the officer
to unlock them. I am not the only one going to the wing, but I don’t look at the other women or anything else. I stare at my shoes. The gate groans as it moves. I am at a crossroads. Would I be going on X side or Y side? The wing is called Waite wing, it was opened by Terry Waite the guy who was chained to a radiator for 5 years in Iran. He was a hostage and I had become a hostage too. The first thing I notice as I am ushered on to X side is the noise. Its 4.30 pm andthewomenhavereturnedfromwork. Many stand outside their pads waiting to be banged up. I don’t look at them. Now I know I am trembling because I am afraid, I try not to let this show. “You’re going in 1-18, follow me” says the officer. I want to protest, to tell her this is all a huge mistake and that I don’t belong here. I say nothing. The wing is two stories. There are cells
on the front and back facing each other, divided by a common area. I notice that at one end there is a flat screen tv, at the other a phone booth. Five round tables and a pool table fill the strip in the middle of the wing. The officer opens the pad door and I watch as she slides a red card with my name on it in in the holder next to the door. She looks at me as I hesitate on the threshold. I take a deep breath and in I go. I thought I was going to be on my own but this is not the case. The room looks like it’s for one person, but there are bunk beds on one wall. To my horror there is no door on the toilet. This fact stops me in my tracks. This has to be some kind of bad dream, I try to wake myself up but I am wide awake already and this is reality, and reality bites. There is another woman in the cell, a pretty brunette who looks me up and down. She tells me her name and asks me mine. My voice comes out in a squeak. I am still withdrawing, I feel weak and dirty. I can smell the poison seeping out of my pores. I feel so bad, so empty like a shell of the woman I was only five days earlier. I have no idea how to behave. She is no junkie and I feel her eyes as they take in the mess that I am. I am ashamed and disgusted with myself. I roll a ciggy and I feel myself relax a little as the smoke fills my lungs. It doesn’t take me long to unpack. I have a change of clothes, the toiletries I was given, a towel and little else. I don’t know how to behave in this situation. I am numb and I feel rough.
We are unlocked till 7pm. My padmate lends me some shower gel and she waits outside the shower for me. There are two stalls and I’m relieved that there are shower curtains. After the shower I go and join the queue for my meds, but when I get to the hatch the nurse tells me my meds aren’t there. They are waiting for my GP to fax my prescriptions over. I haven’t had my meds for a week and I’m furious. My antidepressants help me sleep and I need them. She tells me to try again tomorrow, I go back to my pad, inside I can feel rage boiling up. I want to smash up my pad but I don’t. Instead I have a little tantrum. I have to check myself before I really freak out. I don’t want anyone to see that side of my personality because it’s not pretty.
I hear keys outside on the landing signalling feeding time. It smells like
Bang up comes at 7pm. It feels so strange being in such a small place
A journey through the therapy looking glass
© Fotolia.com
a new culture. As I went to collect my breakfast, I was again greeted with frightening friendliness: “Hi, I’m Paul. Welcome to Grendon!”
Harold Mose
Assessment When I woke up on my second day at Grendon, I was still processing the overload of information about the regime. At 8.10 a.m. my door clicked open and I emerged from my cell like an inquisitive foreign being who was experiencing
This experience had an impact on me. It is in human nature to want to fit in; when I have travelled and stayed with different cultures I have found myself using their words, their body language and specifically their greetings. I realise that to not appear rude and impolite it would be best for me to adopt this friendliness when I meet new community members. It seemed that the therapy was already working and I hadn’t even got to that mornings group yet. In the past I would have judged others by what they look like, mannerisms, and what I had heard they were
school dinners. The women are queuing up across from the servery, I am overwhelmed by the noise. I am overwhelmed by everything. I tell the officer my name and she hands me a brewpack and tells me I am on default. I don’t know what this means. I pass my plate to the servery girl and am horrified as she puts a tray of something swimming in orange grease. I follow my padmate to a table and as I sit down I can feel fifty pairs of eyes sizing me up. I hear someone shouting my name, she’s from my town and she comes over . “You look terrible are you still rattling?” she asks. What are you in for? I spend the next half hour answering questions and sharing ciggys.
in prison for. But equality reigns in Grendon - I decided that all would be treated with respect and, most importantly, like a resident rather than a prisoner.
all that about? My next step on the assessment unit was to nominate myself for a rep job. You don’t get paid for a rep job; they are there so we look after our community responsibly. Examples include plant rep (watering plants), menu rep, (seeing what people want for dinner), and chairman (conducting the wing meetings and representing the community).
An exodus of society’s violent delinquents migrated into the community room
A few seconds before nine am, ding-aling-aling, a resident rang the large golden bell signalling therapy time. An exodus of society’s violent delinquents migrated into the community room. Around 45 blue cushioned sofa chairs were waiting for us. The staff were already in there with two residents - the chairman and vice chairman. It was the duty of the chair and vice chair to conduct the wing meeting. The residents haphazardly sat down and the meeting commenced.
Most people do a few different rep jobs before they are deemed suitable for therapy and given a space on one of the ‘proper wings’. Each community member has to vote on who they think deserves the job or will get the most challenges out of it.
I left 10.15 thinking what was
I had to do a battery of
with a stranger. I get on my bunk and tell my padmate my story, and she tells me hers. I am numb but not scared anymore. We watch the soaps. It’s not so bad. I can’t sleep even though I’m exhausted. I stare at the ceiling for the next 13 hours. My head is full of guilt, worry shock. It’s sinking in, the fact that I can’t leave. At 8am the next morning I hear keys. We’re being let out for meds. The queue is long as I wait for my methadone. Everyone is grumpy. The woman in front of me is covered with deep self-inflicted scars on her arms and legs. I try not to stare. Many of the women have similar scars and I feel sad that they must have been so unhappy to hurt themselves this way. I try and distract myself from my situation, with books, or cleaning my cell. Every day I queue for meds that aren’t there. I have to put in app’s for everything. I’m more frustrated than I have ever been. On the eighth day I said I am not a self-harmer but I might become one if I didn’t get my meds. The very next day my meds arrive and I even get a letter of apology, but I was put on ACCT form(Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork for prisoners deemed likely to self-harm.) Every few hours an officer arrives and asks me if I am going to kill myself. I’m embarrassed. I was never going to do that. I am a survivor. I am independent and I’m never going to let prison grind me down. Kelly Wober is a former resident of HMP Styal
psychometric tests. This gave the clinical staff an idea of how I think and what might suit me best. I then had a meeting with a psychologist to share the details of my offence and life story which gave the staff an insight into what my treatment needs might be if they believed that Grendon was the place for me. Each resident on the assessment wing does an art therapy taster session and a psychodrama taster session. On the main wings many residents do either of those as an addition to group therapy. The taster sessions help residents decide which one they feel might be best for them to do, if they decide to do one. The TAC (Therapy Awareness Course) is run on the assessment unit. The name is self-explanatory. It gave me an insight into what therapy is about and what to expect from it. The TAF (Thinking About Feelings course) is another they run which teaches residents about
emotions and how to understand them. I was given regular feedback as to how I was progressing and some targets, for example I had to try and speak more on the wing meetings, speak to staff more, put myself up for jobs that would take me into direct contact with members of staff. After four months, which flew by I was called into the office. “Harold,” said the officer, “You have been deemed suitable for a wing and have been allocated a place.” Yes I thought. I know how beneficial therapy would be for my future and was honoured I was given a place on one of the wings. On Thursday I went down for tea and met the other residents and saw the cell I would be moving into. On Saturday I moved to my new community, where the ‘real work’ happens. Little did I know how difficult therapy could be. Harold Mose (nom de plume) is resident in HMP Grendon
22 Comment
Insidetime September 2016
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Falsely accused The case of David Bryant underlines exactly why the outcome of historic sex abuse cases should be based on more than simply ‘he said, she said’ because the defendant has to prove the “victim” was lying. As Matthew pointed out, “in theory the Court of Appeal can quash a case because of a “lurking doubt.” In practice it never does, or rather it never admits to a lurking doubt. The jury’s verdict is sacrosanct”.
© Deposit Photos
Penelope Gibbs How can anyone judge who is telling the truth today in the case of alleged crimes which may or may not have happened thirty years ago? Many historic sex crime cases are based on a judgement as to whether the alleged victim is sincere, and whether they can genuinely remember the incidents concerned. Recently former firefighter David Bryant was freed on appeal after serving three years in prison - his conviction for raping a boy sometime
between 1976 and 1978 was overturned. He had always protested his innocence but the jury believed (or were nudged to believe?) his accuser rather than himself. The comments underneath a blog about the case by lawyer Matthew Scott make interesting reading, including this from Jim: “I, as an ordinary person, just don’t mentally or physically understand how it is possible under our legal system. What I think is being said is that our criminal courts
will accept a case where it is simply a claim, an allegation, with no supporting evidence whatsoever?” Clearly many ‘ordinary people’ are so unaware of this situation. But Jim is right - the problem is that someone can be convicted for a sex offence simply on the word of another. There needs to be no other corroborative evidence for a conviction. And because there is no need for any other evidence, it is extremely difficult to appeal these convictions,
If the commentators on Matthew’s blog are just a fraction of those fighting what they perceive to be miscarriages of justice, then there are hundreds of people convicted on the basis on one person’s word of something that happened over ten years ago. And those convicted get very long sentences in prisons, where sex offenders are treated as the lowest of the low. If any prisoner protests their innocence, they struggle to get access to the programmes which allow them to apply for parole. So they risk spending even longer in prison than those who admit their guilt. Nicholas Diable is another lawyer blogger. In his blog he relates a recent news story; “A woman says she was sexually assaulted by a man when she was a child. The offence appears to have taken place
He had short hair at the time, we don’t know what colour the hair was then and have even less idea what colour it is now, if he even has any. He was of large build then with a fat face but may not be large now; indeed, he may be nothing more than bones or ashes for all we know sometime between 1974 and 1978, at the time the report was made that is between 42 and 38 years ago. The suspect was a lorry driver in his 30s or 40s at the time, so will now be anywhere between 68 and 91 years old. He had short hair at the time, we don’t know what colour the hair was then and have even less idea what colour
it is now, if he even has any. He was of large build then with a fat face but may not be large now; indeed, he may be nothing more than bones or ashes for all we know.” Nicholas disputes the worth of the police spending their very limited resources hunting down someone when the information is so vague. I agree, and am concerned that if he is identified, he will be subject to the same unbalanced justice. I am passionate about abusers being punished - victims of sex abuse are deeply traumatised, sometimes for life. But I am equally passionate about justice - which involves equality of arms, and where any conviction should be beyond reasonable doubt. Like Matthew Scott, I can’t understand how a conviction based only on what someone said happened twenty years ago can be beyond reasonable doubt. But many juries - good men and true - disagree with me.
Penelope Gibbs is the Director of Transform Justice www.transformjustice.org.uk
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For God’s sake, do something about it! Jonathan King In 2003 Basil Williams-Rigby and Michael Lawson were released from prison after serving over 3 years for sex crimes that had never taken place. I and many other inmates heaved a sigh of relief. Perhaps the tide was turning at last. No thanks to the police, mind you. Basil’s wife had unearthed evidence leading to his appeal being granted. Now it’s 2016. Some of you may have known David Bryant, who looks and sounds like a decent man, an ex-fireman who is a recent victim of the False Allegations Industry - he served two years in Her Majesty’s Estate after becoming another victim. Fortunately, thanks to his wife, his appeal was granted and he is now a free man, as he always should have been, being innocent of the cruel and ludicrous claims against him. When I was a guest in similar luxury accommodation I met many innocent men during my three and a half years. Again and again I heard stories of false accusations and witnessed the damage done to them, their families and friends. Being a minor celebrity when it happened to me 16 years ago. The worst moment, for me, was when I realised that the police, who I believed were there to find the truth, were only interested in gaining a conviction and were not
Comment 23
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at all concerned with the truth. After Bryant’s acquittal on appeal, Dorset Police issued the following statement to the world’s media. ‘Dorset Police takes allegations of this nature very seriously and conducted a very thorough and detailed investigation.’ Irony clearly does not exist in Plod Land. Mrs Bryant, no expert, managed to find the most damning evidence against the false accuser. Perhaps Dorset Police should ask her to train up their detectives in Sherlock Holmes’ techniques. Days after that announcement, the trial of teacher Kato Harris collapsed. The jury took 26 minutes to dismiss the absurd allegations against him. Might it be that the public have begun to realise that there are such things as liars, loonies, misunderstandings, the genuinely deluded, the greedy and those seeking attention or sympathy? We’ve seen it begin to happen with other minor celebrities. Apart from the Paul Gambaccinis’ and Cliff Richards and Jim Davidsons, Jimmy Tarbucks’, Freddie Starrs’, Coronation Street actors and others NFA’d (No Further Action) even convicted minor celebrities are being acquitted when Plod, or his Ugly Sister the CPS, decides to have another bite of the cherry. Stuart Hall? Acquitted of 15 rapes. Max Clifford? Acquitted second time around. I have no idea who is and who is not innocent, but might there
be a clue here that not all accusers should be believed? I don’t blame the False Accusers - many are disturbed or confused. And even those after a quick buck can’t really be condemned when the law allows them to get away with it, by accepting one person’s word as “evidence”, and when senior cops make absurd remarks in public like “you will be believed” when it is obvious to anyone with a passing brain cell that “you should be neither believed nor disbelieved until we have conducted a thorough investigation”. This has to stop. Police behaviour needs addressing. I don’t condemn the individual officers, told to find “evidence” enough to get a conviction although they must, now, be told to find the truth first and foremost.
I predict there will be hundreds of jailed police in future years, convicted of conspiring to pervert the course of justice But I do blame those who, keen to get a result, cross the line between investigation and criminal activity and are assisting witnesses with information or hints. Some allegations have been invented, under the guise of an anonymous tip off, in order to provoke allegations after publicity. There are so many of these police, who will shortly, I trust, be facing personal accountability, that their behaviour amounts to conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. I saw many more bent cops (29) get sent to jail than journalists (9) when the Leveson Inquiry
and phone hacking cases went to court. Many of the current lot are either from the older brigade or have been brought back from retirement to investigate cases in the False Allegations Industry (there are so many now; costing billions, according to Simon Bailey - Norfolk CC - of the Chief Constables Organisation) and were trained in how to fiddle, tweak, bend and adapt the rules. But the line has been crossed. I predict there will be hundreds of jailed police in future years, convicted of conspiring to pervert the course of justice. It may be harder to convict the lawyers who, under the guise of sympathy and concern, grab vast fees as they groom and train their clients. And the media people who, wanting to get a good story and juicy quotes, play that shadowy, backstage role (unless, of course, any are foolish enough to put something on paper or even provide headed paper to assist forgery). The tide does seem to be turning. But so it did 13 years ago. I’ve howled about this situation for 16 years, here and in the national media, from online to The Spectator. It is too late for the hundreds whose lives have already been ruined by miscarriages of justice. Many of whom are still, under IPP rules, serving time. Innocent men and women, who cannot afford private detectives or do not have loyal wives or dedicated children. For God’s sake, politicians; do something about this. Correct police behaviour. And change the law on “evidence”. Now. Today. Not tomorrow.
Jonathan King considers himself a proud former prisoner
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From over the wall Terry Waite writes his monthly column for Inside Time
Terry Waite CBE
Should solitary confinement be used as a form of punishment in prison? That is one of the questions addressed at a recent conference I attended at the International Red Cross Headquarters in Geneva. Many people are increasingly concerned at the large number of prisoners who are isolated from the rest of the prison’s population, particularly in the United States of America. I don’t have numbers before me but the number is high and rising. Having spent almost five years in solitary, at least I can speak with some experience on this issue. In my opinion, to be kept in strict solitary with no association and only very limited contact with staff is almost in every case wrong and self defeating. Admittedly there are some individuals who need to be kept under close supervision for their own safety, and for the safety of others, but many of these people have a serious mental problem and need proper treatment not enforced isolation for year after year. Such an experience does not help them in any way.
help would they get when, hopefully, the hostage returned home or, in a number of cases, did not return? I did what I could and, as the requests did not go away, I decided to set up an Independent charity, Hostage UK. This is now growing into Hostage International and we are currently setting up in the USA with requests from many other countries to join the Federation. On my return from the US I was invited to lecture on board and so took that opportunity. The reason why I thought of solitary was because when I was alone for all those years I realised that if I was not careful I was going to fall into deep depression and perhaps ‘lose it’ mentally. I saw my skin go white because I never was in sunlight. I lost muscle tone because there was no exercise as I was always chained to the wall. I had no books, papers, TV or radio for years and so it was pretty strict. It did not take me long to realise that I needed to keep alive mentally and spiritually and so I began to develop my inner imagination. I have written before in this column how I wrote my first book in my head as I had no pencil or paper.
I was reminded of my own experience last week when I returned home from the USA by sea on the QM2. Let me hasten to add that I was lecturing on board and that is why I was able to travel in such a way. I had been in the US to help set up Hostage USA.
But, back to the sea. I imagined that being alone for years was like sailing across a vast ocean. I imagined that I was in a small sailing boat and in my mind I stocked it with all the items I would need for a long, solitary voyage. This was simply a way of keeping my mind alive. It may sound terribly boring but I had to think of countless ways to keep my mind active and working. Of course I was angry at the way in which I was being treated, but refused to let anger get the better of me. Anger, if allowed to fester, is like a cancer that enters the soul. It does more harm to those who hold it than it does to those whom it is held against.
Years ago, when I came out of captivity, I received many requests for help from the families of those who had been taken hostage. They had many practical problems and were understandably bewildered as to how to cope. Should they go public or should they keep quiet? How were they going to manage financially? What
Although I have spent most of my life working from a Church base (I am not a clergyman by the way, even though I have received letters addressed to Archbishop Terry Waite!) I don’t consider myself over ‘religious’. I can be content with the simple teaching of Christ when he says that we ought to love our neighbour
Virtually every human being needs time to be with others and time alone. That is an ideal position. To be kept alone for year after year, and in my case with no books, radio or TV, is mentally challenging to say the least.
as ourself. Another way of putting that is to do unto others as they would do unto you. God is, and remains, a supreme mystery. During my time in jail I never questioned my faith as I don’t believe that having faith in God gives you protection from the normal ups and down of life. Rather, it gives you clues as to how to be able to grow into a more complete human being; a process that is not achieved in a lifetime but is worth working for. Obviously, during those years there was no prospect at all of going to any Church or chapel but I did spend time each day saying a prayer or two. When I eventually came out of solitary, admittedly it did take me quite a long time to adjust to so called ‘normal’ life on the outside. I was very lucky and got help. Even if a prisoner has not been kept in solitary, returning back into a world that has changed vastly since he or she was locked up can be a real challenge. One of the things I keep banging on about in this column is the need for programmes, both in our prisons and afterwards, which will make it possible for former prisoners to take up normal life again as law abiding members of society. It is so obvious that there is a need for this and one can only assume that the cost of making such changes to the whole system is too much for politicians to contemplate. Well, it seems that change is going to be a long time in coming but whether you are in solitary or not, don’t let the system ruin your life now or in the future. Even though opportunities are lacking and the future does not seem good for you, don’t lose hope. Do your best to keep your mind alive and remember that as far as we know, you have one life on this earth and you have a measure of control in shaping that life. It’s hard but it can be done.
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Tales of Wisdom Our man on the inside tells it like it is Sid Arter
Who gives you wisdom? There was once a young man keen to become wise and to improve himself; so he went one day to the market where he was told he might find someone to help him. He spoke to many people that day and got all manner of advice and ideas about how to become wise and how he might better himself. As the day drew to a close he feared he knew a great deal but was not sure what advice was helpful and what he should ignore. He was sat on the steps of the market square when an elderly woman
“Now go and ask the jeweller in his shop by the clock tower”, she commanded. “Well that is strange, he offered me three thousand silver pieces” he reported. “When you want advice pay heed to who you ask” said the elderly woman, “the stall holders merely wished to take advantage of your ignorance - the jeweller knew his trade and what the ring was truly worth and is an honest trustworthy man. From that day forth the man sought out only the finest teachers and ignored the freely offered ramblings and advice of his companions; and in time he grew very wise himself. Think of where you get your advice and guidance; from a day by day trader or an expert; how many men on the wings have advice on legal matters, prison rules and life in general to offer and how accurate is it and how often have you sold an item on the wing for well under its value - but maybe that’s a story for another day!
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Terry Waite was a successful hostage negotiator before he himself was held captive in Beirut for 1763 days between 1987 and 1991; the first four years were spent in solitary confinement.
approached him asking why he seemed so troubled. He explained that he had hoped that he would know what he should do to become wise but that he had been told so much he was now confused. The old woman handed him a ring and told him to ask several market stall holders how much they would give him for it. He was soon back at her feet and reported that they had offered as little as 100 silver pieces and as much as 500 hundred.
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A letter to my fifteen year-old self... What would you say if you were to write a letter to your fifteen year-old self? Inside Time’s commissioning editor Noel Smith writes his boyhood persona some tough love
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And what of the future... Does Brexit herald the dark ages for prisons Terry Leggatt As an individual who has spent all his adult life in prison and now within the NHS, like so many who have seen great changes within the prison system over the last 30 years, I wonder what the future holds now that we have left the EU. Over the next two years are we going to see a decline in services offered to prisoners as budget cuts undermine the morale of prison officers and nursing staff? Are we about to see ourselves sliding back into the dark ages of the 1960s and 1970s as departments and teams within our prison system begin to crumble and fall apart? There are many questions that many prisoners and patients are asking themselves as we now move away from Europe - are our teams of experts ready and enthusiastic enough to continue the good work that has been experienced since the mid-1980s? Rehabilitation of offenders came from a strong input of education and psychology courses together they enable people to grow and change the way they think and behave around and towards each other - deny offenders these opportunities and the word ‘rehabilitation’ practically ceases to exist. As government cutbacks hit the prison system and the NHS, rehabilitation is always the first ‘victim’ as classes are axed, teachers laid off and prison officers fail to unlock people due to staff shortages - classes are then cancelled leaving more and more people locked up behind their doors unable to better themselves - even now, as classes are axed, the focus for further cutbacks will turn to psychology and therapy groups, which will be cancelled due to staff
shortages. The downhill spiral begins with such cancellations where the lack of education, therapy and other activities results in people being locked up behind their doors for longer and longer periods. Rehabilitation cannot occur if prisoners or patients are isolated and locked up for 23 hours per day and yet, for many, this is now a growing fear for those detained within our prisons. Nobody wants to see another Strangeways, or a return to the prison riots of the late 1970s or early 80s ,yet over the next two years this downhill spiral could begin to escalate unless something is put in place to ensure the continuation of prison education and rehabilitation. Is this now the time for outside charities and organisations to play a bigger role in prisoner/ patient rehabilitation and support? Can education and psychology departments involve these outside agencies more to help boost team morale as the purse strings tighten even more? Whatever happens over the next few years will depend largely on incoming Ministers of the Justice System, therefore, like many, I will be watching this space. Get the right Minister and this will be meaningless, but get the wrong person and a lot of people could end up finding themselves back in the dark ages of the 1970s all over again. And that’s a decade nobody wants to revisit, not ever.
Terry Leggatt is currently a resident at River House Bethlem Royal Hospital
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Noel Smith Morning dickhead, how’s that war with the police going? You seem pretty happy and pleased with yourself, even though you’ve only just been released from HMDC Send, after spending 6 weeks and 4 days running around like a demented squaddie, getting beaten by the screws on a regular basis and forced to do backbreaking but pointless labour. At least you’re fit, I suppose. And you showed them, didn’t you? Showed them that if they pushed you too far you are willing to fight back? That’s you sorted then, eh? The rest of your life is going to be fantastic, you think? But if violence is the answer to almost every question you get asked it is going to leave you with a lot of scars. Do yourself a favour and don’t go over to Islington to buy that gun, believe me you will live to regret it. By the summer you’ll be standing in the dock
of Court 2 at the Old Bailey looking at a 3-stretch for armed robbery. You’re 15-years-old, you have your whole life ahead of you, at this moment nothing is set in stone. You can do something with your life. Anything is possible. Yes, I know that you feel angry, alienated and full of righteousness for your cause. Yes, I know that the police tortured you last year and made you admit to crimes that you had never committed, but just chalk that up as a bad experience. It’s not worth throwing your life away for. You’ll find out in later years that the best form of revenge is success. If you do not heed my friendly warning, then this is what you’ll have to look forward to - decades of imprisonment in some of the filthiest, most brutal jails in this country. Endless days of boredom and paranoia. Forget the rest of your teenage years mate, because while your pals are getting jobs, starting families and living normal, violence-free lives, you will be forcibly injected with largactil and put in a straitjacket in a padded cell, you will be beaten, abused and eventually attempt suicide in a solitary confinement cell. Your mind will be damaged and you will find that the only thing that gets you through the long days and nights will be your hatred and rage. Living on hatred means that in later years you will
become an incredibly angry man, antisocial, rude, arrogant and bitter. One day you will wake up and stare at your reflection in a prison-issue polished plastic mirror and wonder who that haggard-looking old man is. You will put your family through hell, and create hundreds of victims of your crimes, ruining other people’s lives just as casually as you ruin your own. You will become estranged from your children and miss the formative parts of their lives. You will not be there for births, weddings and funerals, instead you’ll be sitting in an 8 by 10 cell festering as real life passes by without you. And then, when you are in your 50’s, you will finally wake up and decide that this was not the life for you. Then you will spend your time trying to rebuild bridges with your family and trying to fit back into ‘normal’ life, but all of those wasted years will haunt you. Don’t carry on being a dickhead, I’m begging you. Because I know exactly what you have ahead of you and how much it will damage you. Real physical, emotional and mental pain for you and others. I know it will be hard, but walk away and forget the vendetta that is driving you on. Life is way too short to waste any of it on futile battles that, in the end, you cannot win.
If you would like a letter to your 15 year-old self published in Inside Time Write to us and mark your envelope ‘Letter to myself’.
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Born into the wrong sex What does that mean? How does it feel? What does it take to cope? HMP Parc prisoner Ruby offers a unique insight into this complicated and too often misunderstood human experience Ruby I was 13 when I realised that I was different from other people. I’d always preferred to play with girls as a child and as a result got a lot of stick from the boys calling me gayboy and faggot. It got bad - lots of bullying and getting beat up at school. It’s why I started taking cocaine, smoking weed and drinking heavily. I left that place as soon as I could. I told some of my female friends I was gay but I soon realised I was in fact bisexual. I thought for a while that I could actually change myself if I tried to resist being female, and for a long time I believed I had a split personality. I had been diagnosed as such when I left school but when I started to find out more about trans, I realised that I wasn’t ill, I was just in the wrong body. There was a long period of my life where I wanted to prove that I was masculine and I would over exaggerate this side of my character to impress others and prove myself. This included drinking as much as I could, taking drugs and getting into fights. It was one such display of machismo that ended me up in prison. When I first came to Parc I was put on one of the main adult wings. I heard chat that there were trans prisoners in Parc, but I had never seen any as they were on the VPU,(Vulnerable Prisoners Unit.) It was only talking to other prisoners that I found out what it was to be trans and realised that this was me. I was really shocked. I told my friend in the cell next to mine that I thought I should be a woman. He, at first, didn’t take me seriously and said ‘Have you just come up with this?’ I told him that I had known it for the last 10 years but just hadn’t realised what it was called. Well, now I am one of four trans prisoners in Parc and am beginning my journey to be my real self. I know it will be long and difficult at times, so to keep myself busy, I’ve decided to keep a journal which I would like to share with you...
Leigh Day
Reflections A funny dilemma happened the other day. As I was doing my hour I had a quick glance at myself. Only problem is my reflection turned around. Must have not liked what it saw. He is the past. Ruby is the present. She is the future. As I reflect on my past I absorb the present, then plan for the future. Self-acceptance This journey will be tough, confusing at times, but the hardest part is over. What? You ask. Self-acceptance of a true identity. Once you accept who you are, life will start becoming gradually better.
my thoughts, he would have a different perception of me. So what’s my point? My point is it’s not what you say it’s the way you go about saying it. Drink, drugs and booze. Nothing to gain, nothing to lose. A life lived in misery until she was clean. Conversations Had a very intellectual conversation with Paul today; a few interesting topics were discussed. First was about self-perception and observation, second was about personal experiences of how we perceive other people and third was about me start-
ing creative writing. To be honest, R, my personal officer - can’t say a bad word about her and I’ve tried! Lol. She’s just so helpful and she also supports the LGBT community. She looks in the mirror, He looks back. Does she like her reflection? An image of a bloke. Her mind is set strong His body is a joke. The journey is progressing at a steady speed, She will become a flower but, for the present time, He is the seed. My body is trapped My mind and soul are free I’ve stopped acting like you And found my identity The suppression has stopped Acceptance is present The lie I was living was so unpleasant Hormones What will it feel like having a pair of boobs and a penis? A crude question but one that I feel needs asking because to form a pair of boobs you need to be taking hormone therapy tablets (oestrogen), but being born a male I have testosterone naturally producing itself
within my body so that when oestrogen and testosterone bind together (if they do or will), what sort of psychological effects or physical effects will it have on me?
What will it feel like having a pair of boobs and a penis? I’ve been reading a really intriguing book about neuro-psychology; Wayne lent it to me and it’s really in-depth, I’d say PhD level. At the moment I’m on Chapter 7, the influence of hormones and drugs on behaviour. Before you get carried away, when it says drugs it means both legal and illegal. It is really intriguing to have a basic understanding of how the brain works. It would be a good idea to see if there is any psychological information about transsexualism. Look at you then, Look at you now. Then you were lost, Now you are found. Ruby is currently a resident at HMP Parc. Her journal continues next month
It doesn’t matter about your gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, age, disability, because everyone is a human being. The way you say it If I go to see a psychiatrist and tell him I’m hearing voices, alarm bells would start ringing, or a better way of saying it would be they would be concerned about my state of mind. But if I went to see a psychiatrist and said I’m debating with
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exactly NPS are and this will be used to enforce five new criminal offences, as well as a new civil order. The five offences are as follows: producing a psychoactive substance, supplying or offering to supply NPS, possession of NPS with intent to supply, importing or exporting NPS, and possession of NPS in a custodial setting. The maximum sentence for either production, supply or intent to supply, including import or export carries a term of 7 years’ imprisonment.
Inside Voices
A system littered with pretenders RA Knapp There are literally scores, if not hundreds, of us now well into double figures, and many, like myself, into their dotage, being quite deliberately held back as added punishment for perceived non-compliance. Whereas you would be forgiven for thinking any rational person would easily understand the impossibility of an innocent man admitting guilt? Unfortunately, we have a system littered with pretenders, who claim innocence for a while and when they realise there is nothing to be gained from that particular fraud, admit guilt, after having polluted the waters of the genuinely innocent and given ammunition to those deniers who wish to claim all prisoners are guilty. Below is an explanation of a major impediment to their progress. About 15 years ago, snake-oil salesmen (or women, in this case) began to infiltrate the penal system claiming they had the panacea to cure reoffending. From the outset they were peddling courses already proven to be worthless in the USA and Canada. When this fact became widely-known in this country they came up with a marvellous solution - change the names of the course! From the very introduction of this so-called ‘voluntary’ system, reoffending rates rose year on year. The saleswomen quickly realised they could not under any circumstances follow any
scientific type of process and could not allow any kind of yardstick whatsoever. If, for example, they were to check the reoffending rates of 100 prisoners who had done the courses against the reoffending rates of 100 prisoners who didn’t, then disastrous results would surely follow and this vile-tasting snake oil would see its shares plummet. So, anyone who has seen the inside of this system for as long as I have will recognise the validity of the following - prior to the introduction of this (oxymoron warning) ‘voluntary’ course fraud/business, prisoners who were still maintaining innocence after 10 years were tacitly believed to be either innocent or insane and, in general, were allowed to progress by either of the two routes implied above. That has all come to an end as prison officers, who interact day in day out with inmates, are ignored or belittled if they dare to venture an opinion that is different to that of a trainee psychologist who has interviewed an inmate for 12 minutes. Prisoners who have committed violent acts within days of completing courses are progressed through the system, whilst model inmates who have done no courses are vindictively held back. This whole system is currently rewarding those who are prepared to practise fraud and deceit, and punishing those attempting to maintain dignity and self-respect. RA Knapp is currently a resident at HMP Whitemoor
Life enhancing opportunities knowledge, skills and experience, members learn from each other. Whichever part of the UK you are returning to upon release from prison there will almost certainly be a U3A group in the area and they are of considerable benefit to isolated former prisoners who wish to integrate and pursue an interest.
John Bowers The University of the Third Age (U3A) movement is a unique organisation which provides, by way of numerous U3A groups throughout the UK, life-enhancing and life-changing opportunities for people aged 50 plus and is particularly suitable for those leaving prison. Members share many educational, creative and leisure activities which are organised mainly in small groups that meet regularly. Through sharing their
Each of the UK’s 996 groups run numerous classes and activities to suit all tastes, including creative writing, photography, chess, art, music, rambling, language courses, painting, current affairs, local history, keep-fit and many more different subjects, so there is something for everyone. Upon release, anyone interested should contact their local group; a full list of all the U3A groups in the UK can be found at www.u3a.org.uk John Bowers was commissioning editor for Inside Time from 1994-2010. A former prisoner, he now tours schools talking about his experiences within the criminal justice system. www.johnbowersschoolspeaker.com
Do you have a short article or advice you would like to share. Write in and let us know. Please mark your envelope ‘Inside Voices.
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‘Illegal’ highs One prisoner explains the new Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 On the 26th of May 2016, a new law called the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016, came into force. This means that by simply possessing an NPS, such as ‘Spice’ or ‘Mamba’ in a prison, or any other custodial setting, you will be committing a criminal offence. This new Act does not override the much older Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, which will remain as the main legislation for controlled drugs. However, the drugs that have not been assessed for control under the 1971 Act will be covered by the
new Psychoactive Substances Act 2016. Not only will the new Act control the sale and supply of all NPS, it will also introduce a new criminal offence for people who are in possession of a psychoactive substance within prisons, young offender’s institutions or secure t raining cent res. Basically, just the mere possession of any NPS in a custodial setting will amount to a criminal offence. Accompanying the new Act will be a legal definition that will help to make clear what
The maximum sentence for possession in a custodial institution is 2 years’ imprisonment, this is for simple possession. The penalty becomes even more serious and severe if the intent to supply can be proven. Supply or possession with intent to supply includes any attempt to bring NPS into any prison through a visitor who is carrying NPS on their person in order to give them to a prisoner, a member of staff who may be bringing in the drug for a prisoner, or a prisoner who is organising any means of smuggling the substance into prison. Being in possession of NPS inside a prison will be an aggravating factor, meaning that sentence will be a lot more severe. If you are struggling with trying to kick a Spice habit, then contact healthcare or a Carat worker in your establishment.
The author is currently a resident at HMP Hull
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physically unharmed but mentally more aware of how incredibly vulnerable the law made us. Luckily change was afoot. In 2012 the law was changed to create a specific criminal offence of stalking. This was welcome news as the statistics surrounding victims of stalking are startling.
l It is estimated 5 million people experience stalking each year. l 1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men will experience stalking in their adult life. © Fotolia.com
Stalking: murder in slow motion Patron Lady Edwina Grosvenor reports on Paladin, the national stalking advocacy service I just remember being confused. Very confused. “So, what you are telling me, officer, is that I have to wait for this man to turn up at my house, break in, threaten me or attack me, only then you can help me?” “Yes, I am afraid that’s correct, we don’t have the power to do anything else to be honest.” It was 2010 and I had a stalker. A man I had never met who believed we were meant to be together and that we were to get married. He wrote to me often telling me of our future plans. He told me that our phones were being bugged and even went to the lengths of
turning up at the office with a mobile phone for me to use that he felt was secure. The police were informed and did their duty. They came to my house and talked me through certain scenarios. What this amounted to was telling me that under the current laws, they were powerless, if anything untoward happened, I was to call them and they would then respond to whatever might happen. I remember thinking that they must have got something wrong. This couldn’t possibly be true. The man who was stalking me had serious mental health issues. He was known
to the police and when he was on his medication he seemed to be in control, the problem was that he had come out of treatment and was no longer taking his medication hence his behaviour towards me escalated. I am one of the lucky ones. With my baby daughter at home at the time, I luckily never had to call the police. He didn’t turn up even though he knew where I was, he never threatened me with violence and he has since been back in treatment thankfully. Even though it was a nasty experience for me, I knew that prison would be the worst place possible for him. We escaped the experience
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l 1 in 2 domestic stalkers, if they make a threat, will act on it. l Only 1% of cases of stalking and 16% of cases of harassment result in a charge and prosecution by the CPS. l Statistics show that the majority of victims (80.4%) are female while the majority of perpetrators (70.5%) are male.
Many people don’t even know what stalking really is. Paladin, a stalking advocacy group, describe it as “…a pattern of repeated and persistent unwanted behaviour that is intrusive and engenders fear, it is when one person becomes fixated or obsessed with another and the attention is unwanted. Threats may not be made but victims may still feel scared.” The law change was great news, but the law left gaps. There was no service there to help victims. In 2013 I helped to set up Paladin, the first stalking support group in the world. They have a unique team of a ccr ed i ted In d ep en d en t Stalking Advocacy Caseworkers (ISACs) who ensure that high risk victims are supported and that a coordinated community response is developed locally to keep victims and their children safe. They raise awareness of dangers of stalking, provide training to professionals, scrutinise the new stalking laws,
campaign on behalf of victims and develop a victim’s network of support for each individual. Through my work with Paladin I have met many women who have been psychologically terrified, physically harmed and raped at the hands of their stalkers. Paladin is a lifeline, the only lifeline that exists to assist victims in their greatest hour of need. I am proud to be a supporter of theirs and I am proud to be their Patron. www.paladinservice.co.uk
Inside Justice, part of Inside Time, is funded by charitable donations from the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Inside Time & the Roddick Foundation. www.insidejusticeuk.com insidejusticeUK @insidejusticeUK
l Victims do not tend to report to the police until the 100th Incident. l The Metropolitan Police Service found that 40% of the victims of domestic homicides had also been stalked. Third from left, Laura Richards, the founder of Paladin with guests and staff at Twitter HQ in London
Source: Paladin
simon bethel solicitors Criminal Defence & Prison Law Specialists
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An invisible minority Care leavers in the criminal justice system need to know their rights and entitlements l Over 25% of the adult prison population has previously been in care
l Offending rates of CL in England are four times that of all other children
l 49% of young men under the age of 21 in the CJS have spent time in care
l 27% of young men in custody have spent time in care
Darren Coyne & Justine Best It would be safe to state that the over-representation of this group in criminal justice settings has been a persistent issue. Through our work we meet many Care Leavers who left care before the Children Act 1989 and who are still stuck in the system. Astoundingly, and shamefully, the issue of why has not been explored within the sector; despite the situation ruining lives, and costing the state more in resources. The Care Leavers’ Association is an organisation seeking to find answers by taking a user led focus to the problem - subverting traditional hierarchical methods of top down and command and control prevalent in the Criminal Justice System today. Through the commitment and work of The Care Leavers’ Association and Darren Coyne (Project Manager, Criminal Justice & Access to Records), NOMS are now currently in the process of providing a process map on rights, entitlements and support for Care Leavers, this should be available by the end of the year. When considering the outcomes within criminal justice
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settings it is critical to think about addressing the neglected risk factor of care experiences, creating opportunities that assist individuals in the desistance process, developing a positive narrative, increasing levels of self-esteem, building confidence, self-awareness and self-knowledge. Fundamental to this is a user led model of working, which provides a unique and innovative environment for individualandcollectivegrowth. It is only through empowering, that we may positively impact the process of proactive change, increasing self-esteem and self-determined independence. We must seek to challenge the faults of the current system-approach to care, care leavers and their life course through a person-centred approach. The Care Leavers’ Association, amongst its many resources offer two important methods to support positive change. One being peer to peer support, which uses peer to peer custody-based group mentoring. This offers both individual and group support to care leavers, which if embedded in ideas of empowerment and self-determination can provide the safe
l 33% if we look specifically at 15-18 year olds, 61% of girls in the 15-18 age group in custody have spent some time in local care space for care leavers, often lost in the criminal justice system to realise their own life choices. Framing and re-framing one’s own life story and taking ownership of it increases self-esteem and confidence levels, an essential element of supporting offenders to become ex-offenders and make positive life choices. This user-led model of working combines with collective action, affording those with specific experiences to use their insight positively, raising awareness and taking ownership of their own narrative, promoting this as positive role models. Such a model of work promotes the building of pro-social relationships and supports access to specialist services, many of which care leavers may find difficult to engage, but which are essential to ensure compliance and the potential for reductions in reoffending. The second method is skilled mentors, which is user led, however this alone is not enough and to remain objective, one must have a body of knowledge that goes beyond personal insight. If this is used well it will complement the user insight and inspire the collective to take ownership in pushing for change.
Training specific to care leavers offers additional educational and employability qualifications and can be designed to train a number of learners. It is unique as it is specific to this discrete population and it can also be made functional in the community; post-release, to provide a potential source of employment, skills and training for former offenders. Trained mentors with these specific skills should be employed in custody settings to offer practitioner training with offender supervisors, case managers and other relevant staff to assist with identification, risk management and support. Practitioners can make use of this guidance to ensure any relevant support services or entitlements are made available to care leavers. Essential in any programme of empowerment is supporting the individual to develop a clear understanding of decisions made in early life by professionals, supporting engagement with their identity as care leavers. This can also benefit individuals in terms of building and re-building relationships with families. This is explored through accessing social care files, supported by practitioners and mentors suitably qualified through experience to assist care leavers in the criminal justice system - a
unique and innovative approach, intrinsically linked with the empowerment model. As highlighted in the following case study, this can have a dramatic effect on individuals - enabling them to develop a positive sense of who they are, where they came from and where they go from here: “I have spent the last 11 years in custody as an adult, and for most of my adolescence. When I received my files, I viewed it as looking back at life through the lens of a camera... I found it fascinating, rewarding and empowering.” Such group mentoring models in custody specific to this discrete group and user led can offer support and guidance to young and older care leavers who may feel abandoned by the State, who have never really had the space to develop positive relationships. Often having low expectations of themselves, feeling the perceived social stigma of being care leavers. Discriminated against, having never found any positive role models or been one themselves. Such a model offers support to overcome barriers to services that lead to limited access, which in turn can and does work to increase the risk of (re) offending.
“A mentor doesn’t judge or make assumptions about character. Instead, a mentor is somebody who has got the best interests of those they are supporting at heart and the support offered is invaluable” The Care Leavers’ Association has produced a guide entitled ‘Care Leavers in the Criminal Justice System: A guide to their Rights and Entitlements’, which can be obtained from their website or by writing to Darren Coyne at the address below. This guide will take practitioners and care leavers through The Children Act 1989 Regulations and Guidance, which sets out Local Authority (LA) responsibilities to care leavers; the legislative imperatives are clearly set out as is the legal status of young care leavers. Understanding this is imperative if criminal justice and social care practitioners are to ensure services are provided according to legal entitlement post custody and during the custodial part of a sentence. Darren Coyne - The Care Leavers’ Association, Project Manager, Criminal Justice & Access to Records Justine Best is a Care Leaver and Inside Time Administrator The Care Leavers’ Association, 40 Fountain St, Manchester M22BE. Tel: 0161 6375040
DOES THE TAXMAN OWE YOU MONEY? IF YOU ENTERED PRISON AFTER 6 APRIL 2011 AND PAID TAX YOU MAY BE DUE A REFUND.
ARE YOU RECEIVING TAX DEMANDS OR PENALTIES THAT YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND? ARE YOU SET TING UP A BUSINESS AFTER YOU ARE RELEASED AND NEED TAX ADVICE? IF THE ANSWER IS ‘YES’ YOU NEED TO CONTAC T THE TAX ACADEMY™ THE TAX ACADEMY™ Unit 4, Ffordd yr Onnen Lon Parcwr Business Park Ruthin Denbighshire LL15 1NJ 01824 704535
[email protected] www.thetaxacademy.co.uk
Include as much information as possible: • • • • • •
Prison number Your full name including middle name Your date of birth National insurance number Employment history Contact address/number on the outside
Please advise if you change Prisons after responding.
The Tax Academy™ is a Social Enterprise created by Paul Retout, a Tax Specialist to help Prisoners with their tax affairs in Prison and on the outside. He was recently profiled in ‘ The Times’ – ‘ Tax Rebates for Cellmates’ having run tax seminars for inmates in HMP Wandsworth.
Prison: the facts Each year the Prison Reform Trust publish the ‘Bromley Briefing’ which is a collation of data from all over the prison system. Drawn largely from government sources, these facts chart the extraordinary rise in prison numbers over the last twenty years, inflation in sentencing and the social and economic consequences of overuse of custody. They reveal the state of our overcrowded prisons and the state of people in them, the impact of deep budget cuts, the pace and scale of change in the justice system and the scope for community solutions to crime. Below we have picked a selection from the latest published briefing - Summer 2016 Prison sentences are getting longer. The average prison sentence is now more than three months longer than ten years ago - 16.2 months. For more serious, indictable offences, the average is 56.8 months - 18 months longer than a decade ago. Increasing numbers of people in prison don’t know if, or when, they might be released.
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290 people died in prison in the 12 months to March 2016, the highest number on record. Over a third of these deaths were self-inflicted. The average age of people dying from natural causes in prison between 2007 and 2010 was 56 years old.
Greater use of long custodial sentences accounted for 66% of the rise in the prison population between 1993 and 2012. The number of people serving sentences of four years or more, including indeterminate sentences, increased by 26,600. They now account for nearly three in five (56%) sentenced prisoners.
11,505 people are currently serving indeterminate sentences. 64% (7,372) are serving a life sentence while the remaining 36% (4,133) are serving an Indeterminate sentence for Public Protection (IPP).
Emergency services were called out more than 26,600 times to incidents in UK prisons in 2015. There has been a 57% increase in the number of fires in prison in the past year. There were 1,935 fires in 2015 - an average of more than 160 a month.
Northern Irish Solicitors Criminal Appeals against Sentence or Conviction Parole Hearings Proceeds of Crime/Confiscation Hearings Police Interviews under PACE throughout NI and in Prisons All Criminal Defence Cases Judicial Review & Human Rights Cases Family Law Injury Claims within the Prison Welfare Issues Prison Visits Arranged within 24hrs
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England and Wales have the highest imprisonment rate in Western Europe, locking up 147 people per 100,000 of the population. Scotland has a rate of 143 per 100,000 and Northern Ireland 78 per 100,000.
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Short prison sentences are less effective than community sentences at reducing reoffending. Despite this, nearly half (48%) of all people entering prison under sentence are serving a sentence of six months or less.
There were six homicides in prison in the 12 months to 2016, the highest number on record.
© prisonimage.org
Women accounted for 23% of all incidents of self-harm in 2015 despite representing just 5% of the total prison population. This has fallen sharply since 2011 when women accounted for over a third of all incidents, and reflects a sharp rise in incidents amongst men. Prison has a poor record for reducing reoffending - 46% of adults are reconvicted within one year of release. For those serving sentences of less than 12 months this increases to 60%. Over two-thirds (68%) of under 18 year-olds are reconvicted within a year of release. Indeterminate sentences account for 16% of the sentenced prison population, up from 9% in 1993.
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman found that in 39 deaths in prison between June 2013 and June 2015, the prisoner was known, or strongly suspected, to have been using new psychoactive substances before their deaths.
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We believe that there is not enough representation about the issues that people face once they leave prison on licence. That is why we decided to make a documentary about it. We want to follow a few people from the moment they are released, to witness what they go through, and get a real insight into their lives. If you are due to be released on licence within the next few months and would like to help us by being part of this project, or just want to know more about it, please write to us in strict confidence.
Giulio Gobbetti PO Box 73607 London SE13 9EB
People were held for 44 months beyond tariff on average - however many still in prison will have been held for considerably longer.
The number of deaths from natural causes has nearly doubled in less than a decade. 167 people died of natural causes in the 12 months to March 2016, a 12% increase on the previous year. IPP prisoners have one of the highest rates of self-harm in prison. For every 1,000 people serving an IPP there were 550 incidents of self-harm. This compares with 324 incidents for people serving a determinate sentence, and is more than twice the rate for people serving life sentences. Rates of self-harm are at the highest level ever recorded. There were 32,313 self-harm incidents in 2015 - a nearly 40% rise in just two years.
448 young people aged 15-24 have died in prison in the last 20 years. 87% of these deaths were classified as self-inflicted.
Four-fifths (81%) of people serving an IPP sentence are still in prison despite having passed their tariff expiry date - the minimum period they must spend in custody. On 17 June 2016, the prison population in England and Wales was 84,405,20 Scotland’s prison population was 7,678 and on 10 June Northern Ireland’s prison population was 1,521.
The rate of release for IPP prisoners has increased in the past year. In 2015 for every 1,000 people serving an IPP sentence 121 were released. Serious assaults in prison have more than doubled in the last three years. There were 2,197 serious prisoner on prisoner assaults and 625 serious assaults on staff in 2015.
Between 1993 and 2015 the prison population in England and Wales increased by more than 41,000 people, a 92% rise.
The full document is available from the Prison Reform Trust 15 Northburgh Street, London EC1V 0JR or can be downloaded from their website at: www.tinyurl.com/zhff7bx
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Ignoring the potential Ollie Forsyth, who started his first business when he was just 13, says giving people with criminal convictions a chance to prove themselves “is good for business and good for society” I read about Richard Branson’s training and employment scheme for people with convictions. He talked about giving people ‘the dignity of work.’ I totally agree with him. I believe like him that if you give somebody who has lost their way for whatever reason a chance they’ll want to work even harder to prove their worth. I want to stand up for young business people and say yes to this idea. Society deserves better than what we do at the moment.”
Ollie Forsyth, aiming high Erwin James I first met Ollie Forsyth when I gave a guest lecture on crime and punishment at his school in Dorset in 2011. After I’d finished speaking a group of boys approached me to ask more questions. As we stood chatting a smaller boy with rosy cheeks and a mop of curly hair pushed his way through and thrust a card into my hand. “This is my business,” he said, before turning on his heels and joining the rest of the audience on their way out of the theatre. Some of the boys in the group around me smiled and a couple sniggered. When I got home I put the card in a drawer in my desk and thought no more about it. Five years later, 18 year-old
Forsyth and I are sitting in a café in Balham, South London and he is telling me about his journey and why he believes young business people should be actively seeking to employ those who have been through the criminal justice system. “For too long I think we as a society have been ignoring the potential of people who have made mistakes in their lives,” he says. “People commit crime and end up in prison for all sorts of reasons. I’m not saying there is any excuse for crime, but unless we as a society respond constructively then we’re missing a chance to change lives for the better and make society safer. Evidence shows that people who get into work after prison are much less likely to commit more offences.
For too long I think we as a society have been ignoring the potential of people who have made mistakes in their lives When I met him for that brief moment all those years ago I had no idea of the difficulties Forsyth had been coping with in his young life. Struggling with dyslexia and the victim of school bullying, (I remembered the smiles and sniggers from the older boys,) Forsyth says his time at the school retains few happy memories. “I hated it,” he says. He was 15 before he could read properly and left school at 16 with no qualifications. What saved him was his entrepreneurial flare. When he was just 6 years old he tells me, he charged his parents, (father an insurance
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Contact solicitor Andrew Arthur Fisher Meredith LLP, 7th Floor, 322 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7PB Telephone: 020 7091 2700 Fax: 020 7091 2800 O r v i s i t o u r w e b s i t e w w w. f i s h e r m e r e d i t h . c o . u k
broker, mother an interior designer,) for tea and coffee making services. Other odd jobs gave him a regular income and when he was 13 he set up his online store called Ollies Shop selling Friendship bracelets. Soon the money was rolling in and year on year he built his online business into a premier shopping venue selling gifts for teenagers. He was 16 when he launched his online magazineTheBuddingEntrepreneur, sharing tips, guidance and practical advice for young people who want to start their own business. “My message to other kids is if you wanna be an entrepreneur, get out of school and get some experience,” he says. Forsyth’s next business venture, which he plans to launch in a few months’ time is an entrepreneur’s academy for 15 to 20 years-olds. The cost of the places will be hundreds rather than the thousands of
pounds often charged by this type of company. A graduate of Dragons Den star Peter Jones’s business school he says he’s not just in business for the money. “Money is important,” he says, “but in business money is just a tool. I’m a strong believer in business having a social conscience and it’s with that in mind I would like to design a programme that educates aspiring entrepreneurs coming out prison. l Ollie Forsyth is studying at The Peter Jones Enterprise Academy. l Started online gift shop aged 13 and turned over £13,000 profit in first year. l Now turns over £30,000 annually and is penning a book. l Was severely bullied but wants to prove haters wrong. l Inspired by Sir Richard Branson and is launching apprentice style scheme. I think one of the hardest things for people getting out of prison must be trying to get a job. But I’m also sure that there will be people in there who have good ideas for their own business and who just need a helping
hand to get them started.” He says he understands that some people might be critical of the idea that those who have been convicted of crimes and sentenced to prison should benefit from the opportunities he is offering. “I totally get that,” he says. “But I think if we don’t try and give people who have been to prison a chance, we’re ignoring potential and not thinking about the best interests of society in terms of reducing the chances of former prisoners committing more crimes in the future. At the end of the day it’s about creating jobs, creating opportunities and creating new businesses. here is so much hidden talent that never gets a chance to show potential. I’ve always thought we should be aiming high about this. Why do prisoners just get locked up and so little is done to get them back on track? Even when they get help in prison if they don’t get help after prison chances are they’ll fail again and I don’t think that’s fair on them or the rest of society.
Watch out for details of how to apply for a place on Ollie Forsyth’s entrepreneur’s academy in a coming issue of Inside Time.
We want your views on your family relationships How is prison affecting your family ties? What could be improved? What support is available to you to maintain positive family relationships? Please share your views and experiences to help enhance support for prisoners and their families. Lord Farmer, in partnership with Clinks, is reviewing family ties in men’s prisons in England and Wales. He is looking at how supporting men in prison with their family relationships can reduce reoffending and help their children to steer clear of the Criminal Justice System. Your views will be fed back to the government at a time when there is a lot of change happening to prison policy and services.
We are very keen to hear from you if you are: A man who was in prison in the past A man in prison now A family member of a man who is now or was ever in prison Please write to us free of charge by 17th October 2016 at: Farmer Review, Freepost RTRL-AEKA-RSTB, Prison Advice and Care Trust The Employment Academy, 29 Peckham Road, London, SE5 8UA
The Careers Lady The first step through the door to your future in case you are called for an interview. This also helps when applying for other jobs. lR emember there are advisers at the Job Centre or Citizens Advice Bureau that can help you to complete the application forms. Don’t forget to ask for help from members of your family or friends. Preparation is the Key © Fotolia.com
Completing job application forms General tips l The application form will provide an employer with a first impression of you. so you need to do your best to make sure your form stands out from any others that the employer will receive. If you can, ask someone to check it over before you send it. l If you are completing a written job application form, practice your answers on a blank piece of paper first in case you make any mistakes. l Always, always use black ink as the employer is likely to want to photocopy your form.
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l Complete the information on the form in CAPITAL LETTERS. The information you give will be much clearer and readable this way. l Answer all the questions with relevant information to the job you are applying for. This is very important because it shows the employer that you have skills and knowledge about the job. l Only apply for jobs that you are interested in and have the skills it requires. l Keep a photocopy of the form if possible as a reminder of the information you have provided
l On a blank piece of paper write out your employment history - use the most recent first. You will need to supply the Company name or Employer, the address as well as the dates you started the employment and when you finished - particularly giving the reason why you stopped working at that job. You may also need to give a short list of responsibilities and key roles that you did in that position. l Prepare alternative answers if you have not had continuous employment. If you have no work history, have not worked for some time or been in prison you will still need to put something in the employment history box. l Prison - write down any jobs
you did in prison. All these will be relevant to show any employer that the prison have given you responsibilities during your prison time. l Record information regarding your education. You will not need to go back too far but list your most recent education - attending education classes in prison will be most relevant here, particularly if you have passed any exams. l Think about the references you will need to supply. They cannot be any family members but could include anyone that has known you for some time and can give you a character reference. Your Personal Officer may be willing to supply his/her name for you to include. l If there is a section on ‘other related experience’ you may have computer skills, languages you speak or machinery or equipment you are skilled at using. l Lastly, don’t leave any section blank and make sure that all the information you supply is accurate. Read it over several times or ask someone else to check it over before you submit it. Don’t forget to photocopy it if you have handwritten it. Your local library will often provide photocopying services you can access. Remember, your form may not be the only one that the Employer will receive so make it stand out. This is your first step to getting an interview and a job.
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your questions answered Dave - HMP Bristol
Q I will be leaving prison in a couple of months and want to start looking for a job to support my family and myself. I am nervous regarding telling prospective employers about my convictions and having been in prison. Can you help me with any advice please? A Your first step is to feel positive about how much you can offer an employer with skills and determination to do well. Many employers now no longer have the criminal conviction box on their applications forms and have a more sensitive procedure in place for disclosure. However if an application form has the box you should be honest at the very beginning. If this is the case you could send a detailed disclosure statement in a separate envelope marked ‘confidential’ to the employer, giving basic details of your conviction(s) and say you would like the opportunity to discuss in more detail at the interview stage. Make sure to make a note on your application form that the employer can expect this disclosure statement. Remember, if your conviction is spent you do not have to mention it to any prospective employer. Spent convictions Community order
1 year
Prison sentence of six months or less
2 years
Prison sentence over six months up to and including 30 months
4 years
Prison sentence of over 30 months and up to 48 months
7 years
Over 48 months
never
Do you need advice on employment issues? Write in and let us know. Please mark your envelope ‘Careers Lady’.
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Peer support and advice PRISON REFORM TRUST
prison staff with practical guidelines about how to make active citizenship work. Recommendations included a greater acknowledgement of the contribution that volunteering and active citizenship can play in rehabilitation, encouraging prisons to expand on the opportunities available, and for the Prison Service to produce and implement quality standards for active
Ryan Harman Advice and Info Service Manager
Prison Reform Trust have long since promoted increased opportunities for people in custody to exercise responsibility. Our 2011 report Time Well Spent looked at ‘active citizenship’ schemes in prisons across England and Wales, profiling good practice and providing
citizenship. We continue to conduct applied research in this area to build on this work. Since this report, activities in prisons have increasingly included peer support opportunities. These include roles such as peer advisers, equality and diversity reps, ‘Toe by Toe’ mentors and Listeners. Peer support schemes have demonstrated huge potential to use
A findings paper produced by HM Inspectors of Prison in January 2016 reported that peer support is now widely used and recognised as important in many prisons. It stated that peer support can provide ‘an effective and readily available source of support for prisoners for a variety of issues, and can also be a beneficial activity for the prisoner peer supporters themselves’. They found that there was widespread use of Listener schemes, Turning Pages schemes and Diversity representatives, but felt that there was more potential for prisoners to provide support to other prisoners following the introduction of the Care Act. PSI 17/2015 Prisoners Assisting Other Prisoners introduced some of the principles for prisoners providing support to others. It particularly focuses on peer to peer support for people with social care needs in line with the Care Act 2014 but also covers other peer support schemes. It states that ‘all prisoners providing assistance to other prisoners as part of a
formal scheme must be appropriately selected, risk assessed, trained, supported and supervised’. Roles can be paid or voluntary and it should be up to you to choose to take on the role or to withdraw from it on reasonable grounds without this negatively impacting on other opportunities for work or rehabilitation. It also sets some important boundaries. For example, you should not be relied upon to provide assistance that is the statutory responsibility of health or social care services and you should not be asked to provide other prisoners with intimate care. We have become aware of some excellent examples of innovative peer led services. During a recent visit to HMP Oakwood we saw a peer led service which assists other prisoners to enquire about and access copies of prisons rules and instructions to help them understand what should happen and whether they are being treated fairly. It has received good feedback from prisoners and staff alike. In the HMIP Annual report published last month, they praised HMP Lowdham Grange for their introduction of a ‘prisoner advice line run by prisoners and reported that it was both very well used, and
that 97% of calls did not require further staff assistance. They also said that many prisons had set up prisoner information desks for dealing with applications. Our Advice and Information service is currently looking for further examples of good practice like this. We are particularly interested in peer led information services that provide information about Prison Rules, Prison Service Instructions and general life in prison. We are hoping to gather information and case studies about the different ways these services are being implemented, with feedback from staff and prisoners about their benefits, with the aim of highlighting this valuable work across the prison system. If you are part of or have used a prisoner led information service like this, please contact us and let us know.
You can contact the Prison Reform Trust’s advice team at FREEPOST ND6125 London EC1B 1PN. Our free information line is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 3.30-5.30. The number is 0808 802 0060 and does not need to be put on your pin.
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One council member suggested Governors should set up Trustee Boards, inviting people from businesses into prison so they could advise on what skills or qualifications were needed. “At the end of the day it’s about employment,” said one councillor. “We need to find out what’s useful in the current market place. It’s no use teaching us a load of things and then when we go outside employers are saying ‘that’s no good for us”. “Prison Governors should be given new autonomy in the provision of education, and be held to account for the educational progress of all prisoners in their jails”
‘Bang on the money’ Wymott men respond to the Coates Report Dame Sally Coates’ report Unlocking Potential suggested broad changes to prison education. They met with broad support outside prison, but what about those living, and learning, inside? The student councils at HMP Wymott agreed to include a discussion of the report in their monthly meeting. Here are their views of some of Dame Sally’s key recommendations. “Let there be no doubt. Education should be at the heart of the prison system.” Dame Sally’s conviction that education should be a key part of every prison system met with agreement from Wymott’s student council. “The
whole report is a healthy dollop of common sense,” said the chair of one student council, while his co-councillor described it as “bang on the money”. Wymott’ student councils are made up of men who are engaged in education, and whose role as council members is to promote and improve learning and to act as peer mentors within lessons and on the wings. It is therefore unsurprising that they see education as a valuable tool. Learning and education were described by one man as “Absolutely essential to putting your crime behind you and moving on” and “probably one of the best ways to spend your time in here”. It was felt that the prison system as a whole could “learn so much from
the education department in the way they go about things and the responses they get from the men”. Tutors “treat you with respect - even simple things like them calling you by your first name”. “Education in prison should give individuals the skills they need to […] gain employment, and become assets to their communities” Finding employment on release was a key priority for the men at Wymott, and they felt education should offer a clear route towards this. “A lot of people come back to prison on recall because they don’t have enough education to get jobs. They come in without a job and they leave without the opportunity to get a job,” said one council member.
“Some Governors might be brilliant and might want to push education while some might want to spend their money on new furniture,” was one reaction to the prospect of greater freedom for Governors. Other council members were more optimistic. “The thing with Governor autonomy is that he or she can then be held responsible if the education system is failing,” observed one. However, some participants felt there were risks to Governors being ‘creative’ in a system where people will f requent ly f ind t hemselves transferred. “If you’re somewhere and you’re doing GCSE maths or English and you go to another prison and they don’t offer it, that’s a complete waste of time,” said one councillor. “There needs to be a structure at the base, so if someone gets moved from here to halfway up the country they have the chance to carry on with their studies.” “Governors should be free to design a framework of incentives that encourage attendance and progression in education.” Council members felt that the current prison pay structure acted as a disincentive to pursuing education rather than taking on manual work.
Drug and alcohol counselling
Course Notes PET provides funding for over 300 types of distance-learning courses. Every month we shine a spotlight on one of them.
drug-related crime and 29% of people say they have a “problem with drugs” when they enter custody. Being in prison may exacerbate the problem; 19% of prisoners who had ever used heroin reported first using it while inside. Last year, PET funded around 200 people to take drug and alcohol misuse counselling courses, ranging from Level 1 to Level 4. The link between drug use and imprisonment hardly needs explaining; around 15% of people in prison have been convicted of a
Many who apply for drug-related courses through PET site personal experience with addiction as a motivating factor. Some have graduated from one of RAPt’s programme, and see studying a counselling course as the next step in their journey towards self-understanding and recovery.
One female prisoner wrote to PET: “I’ve been in and out of prison since the age of 20 years old. Every time I got clean and sober my past would come up, and instead of facing it I’d go back to trying to forget it. I’ve finally faced and overcome many demons and now I’m ready to finally make something with the rest of my life.” Many are motivated by the desire to help others facing similar issues. An applicant from HMP Humber, told PET that taking a Level 4 counselling qualification was part of a “vow to start [his] life”.
“If you go in a workshop you might earn £15 or £16 a week - but in education you’ll only be earning about a tenner a week,” said one council member. “We need to reward people who are trying to rehabilitate themselves rather than just treading water in a workshop,” said another. Talking with men on the wings, said the council, it was obvious how important a rewards-based system was. “There has to be incentive to do anything,” said one councillor. One man suggested introducing a pay structure to education, offering higher pay for c o mple t i ng a h ig h e r-le v e l qualification. Conclusion “It’s an utterly fantastic report and absolutely spot on, with the slight caveat of is it actually going to happen?” This response to the Coates review, from one council member, will strike a chord with many working towards reform. Since PET’s visit to HMP Wymott, there has been a change in Justice Secretary, and, following the EU referendum, a shift in the political attention away from prisons. If these are potential political obstacles to reform, there are also challenges on a local prison level, connected with rising violence, overcrowding and under-staffing. “Prisons,” observed one council member, “often struggle to implement tiny tasks like escorting someone to the library for half an hour a week. How can a prison manage to offer this ‘great new world’ of education, when it can’t even offer the basics?” In some senses, Wymott’s student councils, which utilise the energy and influence of prisoners, provide examples of how prisons might navigate low supplies of staff time and prison budget. “If you give someone a trusted position, you give them a chance to prove themselves,” observed one council member. It is clear that this was a chance the learners of Wymott were fully embracing.
“I would like to gain this qualification so when I’m released I can volunteer at a substance misuse clinic with a view to achieving a fulltime job at the end,” he said. “I think this field of work would be perfect for me to better my life and make a difference to the community.” John Lister, PET’s Advice Manager, says addiction counselling is one of the fastest growing counselling services in the UK, and contains “realistic” employment prospects for ex-prisoners. Nathan Motherwell, for example, received PET funding to do a counselling course in 2005. He went on to do a degree and is today working as
apprenticeship coordinator at RAPt’s London office. Possible courses: Substance Misuse Awareness and Counselling QCF, Diploma in Addiction Counselling, NCFE Level 1 Award in Substance Misuse Awareness.
A full PET curriculum is available from each prison’s education department. If you would like advice or funding to study a distance learning course or tell us about your experiences of prison education write to FREEPOST Prisoners’ Education Trust (PET) or call 0203 752 5680.
36 Information // The Rule Book
The RULE Book with Paul Sullivan
Searching the Person PI 2016-007 Issued: 26 July 2016, Effective from: 26 October 2016, This PSI does not have an expiry date. This is a new PSI and replaces PSI-2011-067 and 2014-016 This instruction is one of a number of Prison Service Instructions (PSIs) covering the searching function of the National Security Framework. It brings PSI 2011 up to date with changes in policy and clarification. Among changes to the previous PSI are: • References to semi-open prisons and young women under 18 removed; • There must be arrangements in place for keeping records of searches and finds and non-routine full-searches of prisoners must be recorded and records kept of any additional search procedure such as where a male prisoner is asked to squat as part of a full search; • Male prisoners outside of the High Security Estate must be given a Level A rub-down search and hand-held metal detector scan following visits, in addition to the requirement for a percentage of prisoners to be fullsearched at random; • Emphasis that a prisoner must never be naked as part of a full search. Searching of anal/ genital area only applies to male prisoners;
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• In open prisons there is no mandate for searching women prisoners on return from ROTL or outside working party;
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• Section 27 of the Offender Management Act (2007), which amended the Prison Act to provide that a person who is not a direct employee of a prison can be authorised to conduct a rub-down search/metal-detector scan of a prisoner; • Additional policy and guidance provided to clarify what is meant by a “religious or cultural objection”, in respect of a male prisoner being rubdown searched by a female member of staff; • Clarification provided as to when prior authorisation should be sought for a full search; • Where it is not possible to identify the source of a positive metal detector alarm, a risk-assessment must be undertaken to determine what action should be taken; • Instruction and guidance on the removal of underwear as part of a full search of a Sikh prisoner, and further action to take on activation of an alarm during a hand-held metal detector search of religious headwear and to include new instruction on the removal of religious headwear as part of a search; • Guidance that it is good practice to make available protective clothing for Muslim visitors, staff and prisoners
attending Friday Prayers to wear when being searched by a passive drug dog and washing/changing facilities must be made available should they be touched by a dog during the search; • Amended to allow persons wearing a pacemaker to walk through a metal detector portal and be searched with a hand-held metal detector; • Clarification provided that the routine searching of babies is not mandatory either on visiting a prison or on entry to a Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) and that two trained officers of either sex can search a baby. Annex B The PSI once again, in Annex B, contains the full detailed instructions for different types of search and contains specific instructions relating to searches of young people, female prisoners, and transsexual prisoners. It contains annexes on: Authority for searching and powers of arrest; including who may conduct various types of search, the use of force to conduct searches, and searching visitors, searching babies. There is extensive guidance regarding male prisoners objecting to rub-down searches by female staff (females are always searched by female staff). Technical aids for searching including X-Ray machines, metal detecting portals and hand held metal detectors, and BOSS Chair. The PSI details health and safety issues and staff training requirements.
Annex F Annex F covers the searching of people using dogs. Annex H Annex H covers the searching guidance for transsexual prisoners and includes the legal obligations under the Gender Recognition Act (GRA) 2004. Annex H states; “Transsexual prisoners at all stages of the gender confirmation process must be encouraged to enter into a voluntary written agreement in respect of their searching arrangements on arrival to an establishment … Prisoners who hold a GRC may insist on being searched by an officer of their acquired gender and if they do so then this must be adhered to.” This is a long (80 pages) and detailed PSI and interested prisoners should read the full document which is available in your prison library. If you have problems gaining access to a copy it can be downloaded from our website at: www.tinyurl.com/gvoq9kl. Or you can write to Inside Time and we will send you a copy or parts thereof. If you think any search has been carried out which contravenes instructions in this PSI you should study the relevant parts carefully before submitting a formal complaint listing the sections and/or paragraphs which you believe have been contravened. You should also ask to see a copy of the search report.
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The Inspector Calls
Prison inspections the facts
Inside Time highlights areas of good and bad practice, from the most recent Reports published by HM Inspectorate of Prisons
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Inside Information
HMP/YOI Chelmsford
HMP Swaleside
Unannounced Full Inspection: 4-15 April 2016
Unannounced Full Inspection: 29 March-8 April 2016
Safety W W W W Respect W W W W Purposeful Activity W W W W Resettlement W W W W
Safety W W W W Respect W W W W Purposeful Activity W W W W Resettlement W W W W
“Progress stalled and some deterioration”
“Not a safe prison’”
Peter Clarke, Chief Inspector of Prisons, said that a rise in violence and the availability of drugs were among the challenges for HMP Chelmsford, but managers were competent and had strengths to build on.
Describing Swaleside as a ‘dangerous prison’ Peter Clarke said there were signs that it was starting to stabilise. “At its last inspection in Spring 2014, significant staffing shortages were having a negative impact and safety, education, work, training, and resettlement were not sufficiently good. At this more recent inspection, outcomes had further deteriorated, with safety being of particular concern.”
Category B local and resettlement prison for adult and young adult males
• violence and bullying had increased sharply and there was evidence that this was linked to drugs and debt; • use of force had nearly doubled since the last inspection in 2014 and arrangements to account for its use were not good enough; • there had been four self-inflicted deaths since the last inspection and a considerable increase in incidents of self-harm; • work to promote the interests of the small population of young adults had lapsed; • the quality of health care had deteriorated; • although there was sufficient work and education for all prisoners to have at least some part-time activity, it was poorly allocated, leaving many prisoners with nothing to do; and • offender management work was poor and undermined by staff shortages, and poor quality casework. The report says ‘The disparity in the quality of accommodation between the older and the newer wings was, however, huge, with the older accommodation overcrowded, difficult to maintain and difficult to keep clean. The governor spoke of considerable difficulties with the performance of the Facilities Management Company, whose job, among other things, was to repair and maintain the site.’
Category B men’s training prison
• levels of violence were too high and many incidents were serious - 69% of prisoners surveyed said they had felt unsafe at some time; • the use of force was high and the documentation associated with its use and justification was totally inadequate; • 52% of prisoners surveyed said it was easy to get drugs at the prison and the diversion of prescribed medication was ‘worrying’; • the segregation unit was filthy and poor in all respects; • there was a shortfall of some 200 available work, training or education places to enable prisoners to be fully occupied; and • much offender management work was inadequate. The report says; ‘Many staff had become demotivated and overwhelmed and too many of them were temporary or inexperienced. Moreover, there was the all too familiar story of a lack of consistency in the leadership of the prison. There had been four governors in the past five years, which we were told had contributed to what we perceived as a sense of drift and decline.’
In summing up Mr Clarke said; “Chelmsford was a prison in transition. Overall it was competently run with obvious strengths to build on, despite some disappointing findings. Recent operational challenges, particularly around violence and drugs, had taken a toll and there were a number of strategic challenges such as health care, offender management and, most important of all, improving the treatment and conditions of those held in the older accommodation. The governor and his team seemed to be working hard to deal with these priorities and we are optimistic that they will get to grips with the issues we have highlighted.”
In summing up the report Mr Clarke said; “Despite the fact that by any standards this is a poor report about a dangerous prison, we left Swaleside with some optimism that the prison had started to stabilise. The new governor appeared to have a very clear understanding of the challenges he and his team faced. He had re-energised his senior management team, and his approach was one of visible and energetic leadership. The very early signs, at the time of the inspection, were that his determination to grip difficult issues had been welcomed by many prisoners and staff alike, who told us they wanted to see the prison improve.”
Full report: www.tinyurl.com/hghgan8
Full report: www.tinyurl.com/hfjwmbn
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons for England and Wales (HMIP) is an independent inspectorate whose Chief Inspector, currently Peter Clarke, reports directly to the government on the treatment and conditions of prisoners and those held in custodial establishments in England and Wales. The Inspectorate’s work constitutes an important part of the United Kingdom’s obligations under the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or D eg rad i ng Treat me nt of Punishment. This Protocol requires signatory states to have in place regular independent inspection of places of detention. All inspections of prisons, young offender institutions and immigration removal centres are conducted jointly with Ofsted, and Inspection staff include: health care inspectors, drug inspectors, a head of research, researchers, and editorial and administrative staff. All prison inspections also involve HM Inspectorate of Probation to review offender management arrangements in custody. Prison inspections normally span two weeks, with two days of preparation and research during the first week. The team collect information
from many sources, including staff, prisoners and visitors, or others with an interest in the establishment and undertake an in-depth analysis against the Inspectorate’s published inspection criteria ‘Expectations’: these are based on international human rights standards, as well as issues considered essential to the safe, respectful and purposeful treatment of detainees in custody and their effective resettlement. Expectations are also based on the rules, regulations and guidelines by which the custodial establishment is run, for example, with reference to prisons they also consider Prison Service orders and standards. Prisons are inspected at least once every five years, although most are inspected every two to three years. Some high-risk establishments may be inspected more frequently, including those holding children and young people. The inspection is planned taking into account issues such as time since the last inspection, type and size of establishment, significant changes to the establishment or changes in leadership, and intelligence received (including from prisoners and their families). The majority of inspections are unannounced and the inspection team just arrive without notice. In exceptional
circumstances some inspections are announced and the prison is informed in advance; this may be, for example, to follow up after a bad report to check on the progress of recommendations made. On all inspections, inspectors have the right to carry out inspections and cannot be refused entry by the establishment and have access to every part of the prison, every person in the prison, and all paperwork and records. Inspection findings are reported back to the establishment’s managers. Reports are then published within 18 weeks of the inspection. The establishment is expected to produce an action plan, based on the report’s recommendations, within a short period following publication.
If you have any questions, would like more information about the Prisons Inspectorate or wish to bring any matters to their attention you can write to them at: HM In s p e c t o ra t e o f Pr i s o n s , Victory House, 6th floor, 30-34 Kingsway, London WC2B 6EX. Please note, however, they cannot take up any individual issues which must be addressed through the normal complaints procedure. If you have internet access you can visit their website at: www. justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/ hmiprisons/
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Misreading the signs False results for HIV, Hepatitis C & B blood tests from recalled medical devices Legal Perspective A medical safety alert has raised concerns about false results given to patients tested for HI V, Hepatitis C and Hepatitis B, potentially leading to missed diagnoses. On 26 July 2016 Att wood Solicitors received communication from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (‘MHRA’), which stated that certain lots of devices used for HIV, HCV and HBV testing may give an incorrect false negative or false positive result. The MHRA advises healthcare professionals to recall and re-test patients where the affected devices have been used. The dev ices in question, RightSign HIV 1.2.O Rapid Test Cassette, HCV Rapid Test Cassette & HBsAg Rapid Test Cassette, are manufactured by Hangzhou Biotest Biotech Co Ltd in China. They have been supplied for use by NHS patients throughout the UK. The Chinese manufacturer had issued an urgent field safety notice in June 2016, recalling the affected medical devices, after receiving a warning letter from ANSM, the French agency for the safety of health products.
Most UK prisons operate an ‘opt out’ testing policy for blood-borne viruses, meaning that prisoners are offered the chance to be tested near reception and at several points thereafter by appropriately trained healthcare staff. The scope of the product recall is unknown, but, according to the MHRA guidance, the affected people will be identified and re-tested. If you have any concerns about your health, you must seek medical attention. If you are misdiagnosed with a life-threatening illness as a result of a defective medical device, you may be entitled to compensation. Under the Consumer Protection Act 1987, liability is strict, so it is not necessary to prove any fault or blame, as long as the product is found to be defective. According to HIV Prevention England, 1 in 5 people living with HIV are unaware of their infection, while half of all diagnoses are made late. Undiagnosed HIV infection leads to a serious illness and reduces life expectancy, however Anti-Retroviral Therapy (treatment first introduced in 1996) has proven to suppress viral replication, improve health and prolong life, provided a
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Emma Davies and Darryl Foster GPS Tagging has puzzled many. This article seeks to explain whether it is actually in force, who it applies to and how it works. The current position The Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 became law on 12th February 2015 and it aims to bring about changes to the way offenders are treated both before and after conviction. This includes changes to the use of Electronic Monitoring
for those on licence. In addition to this, changes to the Release on Temporary Licence Policy refers to the monitoring of those released on tempora r y licence. Electronic Location Monitoring (ELM) is currently used by both the Courts and the Prison Ser v ice. Electronically Monitored Curfews (widely known as ‘tags’) have become more widespread in recent years as they allow a for a person’s compliance with a curfew condition to be reviewed remotely. Such technology is also used for those who are
successful in an application for release under the Home Detention Curfew scheme. From a practical point of view boundaries will be set by the monitoring company and should a person not be present within those boundaries during the times set the monitoring company will be alerted. This is done by monitoring a person’s distance from a fixed location. In addition to the two areas referred to above the technology is also available in terms of licence conditions.
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GPS tagging of offenders above and beyond what is in place already Legislation previously allowed the discretionary use of electronic monitoring for two purposes: 1. To monitor compliance with other conditions of a licence i.e. a curfew or exclusion zone; 2. To monitor whereabouts as a stand alone condition. There are practical issues in relation to the use of electronic monitoring as a licence condition due to the limitations on technology. Such limitations mean that electronic monitoring is only used to monitor a curfew condition, as it is in terms of Home Detention Curfew and Curfews granted by the Court. Decisions as to the use of ELM are currently made on a case by case basis. Currently the Governor of a discharging prison makes the decision on behalf of the Secretary of State for Justice for determinate sentence prisoners. The Parole Board make the decision in respect of indeterminate sentence prisoners. The pilot EL M was piloted f rom September 2004 and June 2006 in three areas of England. The technology included an ankle tag and a portable tracking unit which would receive a Global Positioning System (GPS) signal which would enable the monitoring of an offenders shifting location. This information would be uploaded to the monitoring company. The pilot was used for those on licence as a way of monitoring a person’s compliance with an exclusion zone and for general location monitoring. Due to limitations on technology the cost of ELM was high. Since then there has been an improvement in the technolog y which has increa sed rel iabi l it y a nd accuracy.
Changes made by the Criminal Justice & Courts Act On 9th May 2013 the Secretary of State for Justice announced that the Government would be introducing satellite tracking of offenders to monitor them more closely in the community. This follows the improvements in technology. As such it is felt that the use of this technology can reduce re-offending by increasing the deterrent to offenders. The Criminal Justice and Courts Act enables the Secretary of State to impose ELM as a compulsory licence condition on release from custody. This is applicable to those serving both determinate and indeterminate sentences. The Act became law on 12th February 2015 and the provisions relating to Electronic Monitoring effective as of 13th April 2015. Those released on or after 13th April 2015 can be subject to the new compulsory licence conditions. PSI 12/2015 gives guidance on the use of electronic monitoring as a licence condition and states: ‘The application of Electronic Monitoring related licence conditions is restricted to offenders who are Critical Public Protection Cases (CPPC) and/or being managed at MAPPA Level 3, or those who are being released on Home Detention Curfew (HDC).’ Release on Temporary Licence The Government conducted a rev iew into Relea se on Temporary Licence (ROTL) following a number of high profile issues between 2013 and 2014. Interim instructions about ROTL were issued on 11th April 2014 and were followed by PSI 13/2015 which became effective on 24th March 2015. My colleagues Emma Davies and Nicola Blackburn produced an article on the changes made in relation to
ROTL in September 2015. The PSI refers to a fi nal phase of changes to ROTL and the use of ELM. The policy simply refers to further guidance being issued once appropriate equipment is available. Practical implications The new compulsory licence conditions will be used to target specific groups of offenders. Those who commit offences such as burglary could be made subject to location monitoring as a licence condition to deter them from the commission of further offences. Location monitoring will assist the police in the investigation of crime by linking those subject to monitoring to new offences as well as ruling them out based on their location at the time of the alleged offence. When will this happen? There appear to have been difficulties in obtaining the appropriate technology to roll out ELM. Further pilots were announced for several areas including Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Staffordshire, West Midlands, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northampton. Subject to the outcome of these pilots, which are scheduled to take place towards the end of 2016, ELM will be rolled out nationwide. The aim of the pilot will be to test the equipment and to measure the impact of ELM on further offending. If you need any help or advice with any prison law issues please contact the Prison Law department at Hine Solicitors on 01865 518971 or FREEPOST - RTHU - LEKE - HAZR Hine Solicitors, Seymour House, 285 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 7JF. Emma Davies is a Partner at Hine Solicitors. Darryl Foster is Prison Law Supervisor at Hine Solicitors.
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Telephone Evidence tactics and strategy Jonathan Lennon and Aziz Rahman Why is ‘phone evidence’ so prolific in prosecutions these days? It is a simple recognition that the explosion in the last 10 years of the use of mobile phones has given the police a very useful investigatory and evidential tool. The mobile phone is a personal tracking device and the phone number might reveal a record of communications with other suspects. Conspiracies The use of telephone evidence is now an almost an essential part of any allegation of conspiracy. The essential element of the offence of conspiracy is evidence of an agreement with others to commit an offence. The ‘agreement’, of course, is never a signed document expressing a contract to commit a crime. The Crown will simply invite the jury to infer the agreement from the surrounding circumstances. This will often mean heavy reliance on the phone contacts between suspects and also the timing and frequency of those contacts. For example, the Crown might invite a jury to infer that one series of calls by a defendant to others is the ‘arrangement stage’, and the next series of calls, happening just after the arrest of those others, is the defendant desperately trying to find out what has happened to his drugs, guns or whatever. Indeed the police have used the tactic of making arrests of suspects lower down an indictment just to see what the reaction is of those higher up - this includes an analysis of telephone call patterns. The problem for those facing serious charges is that the calls may be quite innocent and the accused simply cannot remember why he made or received certain calls. He may be asked about a series of one minute calls made many months earlier. The other problem is the danger of guilty association; in other words the defendant has been up to no good but of a completely different type, and much less serious than the detective at the interview seems to be suggesting. A police theory then appears to be backed up by the ‘phone evidence. So what are the issues in a phone evidence case that defendants and their advisors should be considering? Phone attribution Of course in order for the police to suggest that a suspect has been in phone contact with another suspect the police need to know the phone numbers of the two concerned. Most mobile phone users use phone credits rather than accounts. This means the network provider, BT, T-Mobile etc will probably have no record of the name and address of the subscriber. This is not a problem for the police when the phone is seized directly from a suspect on arrest. It is a problem when a series of incriminating text messages, or calls patterns, are then found on the phone from another number that can’t be traced through the net work provider. In that situation the police will hope that the call/ text message is to or from someone logged into the mobile’s memory/SIM card address book. For instance, there may be a series of calls just after the suspects arrests from someone ‘John’ - ‘John’
may also have sent an incriminating text message. The police may suspect that ‘John’ is their suspect; John Smith. The police now, ideally, need John Smith’s phone to be on him when he is arrested, or in his car or home. There is no rule of law that provides that phone numbers being attributed to certain suspects have to reach a certain gold evidential standard. No phone may be discovered at all. The police may just ask for the phone billing for John’s phone and discover that that phone is used to call John’s Mum, John’s work-place etc etc, creating a stronger attribution of the phone number to ‘John’. On the other hand if the attribution is very weak the defence could make an application to the Judge that the evidence is so weak, so inherently unreliable, that it ought in fairness not to be allowed to go before the jury as an attribution. The Judge might agree and that would be the end of that phone evidence. Alternatively the Judge might rule that the issue is one for the jury and all he or she will do is direct that any phone charts make it plain that the tag ‘John Smith’ next to the offending phone number on the chart is replaced with the phrase ‘phone attributed to John Smith’. In the case of R v Mason, Court of Appeal, 14th February 2006, the Court of Appeal held that an entry in the memory of a co-defendant’s phone, which linked the number attributed to the Defendant to him by name, was an admissible attribution. However, in a case that Rahman Ravelli Solicitors were involved in Sheffield Crown Court a successful submission was made to exclude certain telephone evidence on the basis that its attribution was so weak. In short there is no standard rule of law and all depends on the facts and circumstances of the individual case. Tracking and bugging Mobile phones can of course be powerful evidence of where a particular individual was at a certain time. The evidence comes usually from an expert briefed by the police who will consider information from the network provider about which of their ‘cell-sites’ were used in certain calls; i.e. which cell picked up or received the radio wave transmissions carrying the call. If the police want to show the movement of an individual from one place to another then the expert can show how the phone signal passed from one cell site to another as the handset moved, or simply show that some time after one call was made another was made that used a different cell. It has to be borne in mind that in rural areas the use of a cell may not mean the user is particularly close to that site, whereas in places like London the logging of a call on a particular site invariably means the handset is very close by - perhaps within metres. Such evidence, coupled with evidence of calls made around certain key events, may provide the prosecution with compelling material that needs very through analysis by anyone defending in such a case. Telephone charts Police officers who have made a number of arrests and have seized a number of mobile phones will request their Force Analysts to turn the billing information into something meaningful that a jury can understand. In other words the production of colour coded telephone link charts showing diagrams linking phone numbers with suspects and with each other and showing the times of calls between the various handsets. These charts are often the centre-piece for prosecutions. However, it must be remembered that these charts are just that ‘charts’; they are not evidence of the actual phone calls. The evidence comes from the phone billing and if the defence cannot check the
phone billing against the charts for accuracy then the charts may have to be heavily edited by the Crown. Also the evidence is of calls the prosecution want the jury to know about - there maybe other information in the billing which assist the defendant. The authors were involved in a large drugs conspiracy case where material from the telephone companies had been destroyed, as they routinely are after a certain period, and the police no longer had the billing information originally provided. All that was available was the charts. This created an opportunity to argue that the charts could not go before the jury as there was no evidential basis to support them and that the charts were not a reflection of the billing as they involved an element of human input and the charts were therefore hearsay. In the event the matter was not argued as the Defendant was discharged following a separate legal argument. Since then however the Criminal Justice Act 2003 has been implemented and it is now easier for the Crown to have hearsay evidence admitted. Section 129 of that Act preserves the position. The section provides that representations of fact made ‘otherwise than by a person’ (i.e. by a computer) which depend upon their accuracy on information supplied by a person are not admissible “unless it is proved that the information was accurate”. It can be seen therefore that there are still potential arguments available to challenge the accuracy of phone charts. If the Crown cannot produce the billing material then the charts may be lost to them - the arguments will turn on hearsay issues, but see e.g. R v O’ Connor TLR 19/7/10 where the Court admitted the evidence of overseas billing despite there being no accompanying witness statement; just because a document is hearsay does not mean it cannot be admitted in evidence. In a case called R v Leonard 173 JP 366, CA the Court of Appeal found that text messages stored on a phone that was discovered on someone who had been arrested were hearsay. These messages were supposedly commenting on the quality of drugs that had been delivered to the holder of the phone. However, in R v Twist [2011] 2 Cr. App. R 17
the Court of Appeal considered text messages and found that even though they may be hearsay, and hearsay is now potentially admissible under the Criminal Justice Act 2003, no Court should admit such evidence as a matter of routine or form. If a text message could be characterised as hearsay then careful thought had to be given about its reliability and the opportunity for the defence to test it - i.e. where the maker of the hearsay text is not present as a witness or defendant. Whether a text message was in fact hearsay or not depended on the facts of the case and in particular the tests set out in sections 114 & 115 of the Act. These complex provisions, and the Court of Appeal’s interpretation of them, cannot be considered at length here but they relate to the purpose of the text and what is sought to be proved by it by the Crown. Conclusion Telephone evidence can make or break a case. Telephones provide a picture of a defendant because they are such a large part of modern life. The challenges we have outlined here e.g. attribution, hearsay etc are not easy topics. There is often a dense amount of material to consider more often in the unused material as opposed to the used evidence. As ever early preparation is the key if there is to be any hope of mounting any kind of challenge to this sort of evidence. Jonathan Lennon is a Barrister specialising in serious and complex criminal defence cases at Carmelite Chambers, London. He has extensive experience in all aspects of financial and serious crime and the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. He is ranked by both Legal 500 Chambers & Ptnrs & is recognised in C&P’s specialist POCA and Financial Crime sections; ‘he is phenomenal and is work rate is astonishing’ (2015). Aziz Rahman is a Solicitor- Advocate and Partner at the leading Criminal Defence firm Rahman Ravelli Solicitors, specialising in Human Rights, Financial Crime and Large Scale Conspiracies/Serious crime. Rahman Ravelli are members of the Specialist Fraud Panel and have been ranked by Legal 500 as an ‘exceptional’ firm with Aziz Rahman being described as ‘top class’’. The firm is also ranked in Chambers & Partners. Rahman Ravelli are a Top Tier and Band 1 firm.
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42 Legal // Q&A SS - HMP Moorland
Q I would like your advice
Legal Forum
on how long the police can keep hold of my confiscated property from when I was arrested over two years ago. The police have stated that they are going to keep my property until my sentence expires. Are they legally allowed to do this? And is there any legal route for me to take to get my things returned?
Hine Solicitors Reeds Solicitors Frisby & Co Solicitors Pickup & Scott Solicitors Olliers Solicitors Cartwright King Solicitors Emmersons Solicitors
A If you have had property seized by the police (other than money or cash) then there naturally becomes a point when that property is no longer required under PACE 1984. You won’t necessarily be able to recover all your property (e.g. drugs, knives, guns etc) - some will be forfeited and destroyed.
Answers to readers’ legal queries are given on a strictly without liability basis. If you propose acting upon any of the opinions that appear, you must first take legal advice.
If you had money or cash seized, the rules and regulations are incredibly complicated, and you are probably best speaking to a solicitor about what to do.
Send your Legal Queries (concise and clearly marked ‘legal’) to: David Wells, Solicitor c/o Inside Time, Botley Mills, Botley, Southampton, Hampshire SO30 2GB.
Although the policy of returning property may vary depending on the police force, there is a general process that the Police will use. This usually involves you being notified by them, often in writing, stating that your property can be collected and where you need to go for it.
Answers are kindly provided by:
For a prompt response, readers are asked to send their queries on white paper using black ink or typed if possible.
However, there are some
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points that you need to know beforegettingyourpropertyback:• The property cannot be returned to you until the officer in charge of the case has authorised it for release. • The police can keep relevant property until a case has been resolved and in some cases they can keep it after conviction (in case of a hearing relating to the confiscation of any illegal assets, or a possible appeal in some circumstances). • The police will hold your property until all relevant matters have been dealt with. Once the letter of authorisation has been sent to you the general procedure is for them to wait 28 days for you to collect your property or for a response either by telephone or in writing. If you want to make some enquiries as to whether you can collect your property, you will need to speak to the officer in charge of the case. If you have been notified to collect your property and fail to do so then after a certain amount of time (often 28 days, but may vary from force to force), the property will be disposed of, either destroyed or sold at auction. If the Police are disputing your ownership of the property in question, then you may have to prove it is
yours. Whilst this can easily be done if you have receipts, if you haven’t got these then you have to think more creatively - perhaps you have photographs of you with the property. If the Police still will not return your belongings then you may need to contact a Solicitor or a Barrister. They should be able to give you initial advice as to whether or not you can, in law, recover your property and what steps you will need to take. You may need to bring an action under the Police Property Act 1897 to ask the Magistrates’ Court to compel the Police to return your belongings. If you are not charged but the police are still investigating the case, property is dealt with in the same way as if you were charged and released, when the officer in charge authorises it. If you are not charged, but you have a Co-defendant/s and some of your property is needed for their case it will continue to be held until the case is closed and the officer in charge authorises it for release. After you have been convicted/ sentenced, once the case has been closed with no outstanding issues you should be given all items which were on your person at the station at the court or be told to attend the station
to collect your property. If while in custody your property is no longer needed by the Police you should be sent a letter of notification listing what property is being released. This letter can either be sent to the prison or your address at the time of arrest. When you are sentenced, the Home Office should be told of the outcome and if detained which prison you have been sent to. This property should be forwarded onto the prison where you are currently being held. The Home Office will usually cover the postage costs. For items that are too large to post (e.g. car, computer, house), the item/s will remain at the station or holding centre until your released. This is so long as you make contact with the police force in charge and there is no other option for collection. You should try to make it clear when you will be in a position to collect your property. In custody, you will not be able to collect your property from the station yourself. With this in mind, the police should allow you to use alternative options. 1. You can write a letter to the station addressed to the officer in charge stating who
you are giving permission to collect your property. You must also write a letter to the person collecting the property, giving them permission, and they must bring this letter and some form of ID with them when they go to collect your property. 2. You can have the property posted to an address different to the prison so long as you inform them of this within a set time frame (usually 28 days). This may vary from force to force. Some police forces will hold the property in the arresting station until it is claimed for. However, it is worth noting that they will likely have a process of disposal after a certain amount of time. Response provided by Reeds Solicitors
DB - HMP Hull
Q Can you offer any help
regarding making a claim for compensation for personal injury?
A There are very few personal injury lawyers that deal with prisoner’s compensation claims. You should write to Michael Jefferies Injury Lawyers at Ashley House, Ashley Road, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 2DW as they have had success in such claims for prisoners. Response provided by Emmersons Solicitors
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Legal // Q&A 43
‘Legal’, Inside Time, Botley Mills, Botley, Southampton, Hampshire SO30 2GB.
Banks on Sentence
Robert Banks, a barrister, writes Banks on Sentence. It is the second-largest selling criminal practitioner’s text book and is used by judges for sentencing more than any other. The book is classified by the Ministry of Justice as a core judicial text book. The book has an app which is for Apple iPads and Windows 8/10 tablets and computers. It costs £95 plus VAT. The print copy costs £108. There is also a discount when the print copy and app are purchased together. If you have access to a computer, you can follow Robert on Twitter, @BanksonSentence and you can receive his weekly sentencing Alert.
www.banksr.com Q I pleaded guilty to possession of a
prohibited weapon and possession of ammunition. My barrister said I had no option. It was a foreign weapon with its ammunition. I hardly saw the gun. It was in a bag and I hid it. The Judge said he had no option but to give 5 years’ imprisonment. I am only 23 and have three children, one aged 2 and twin boys aged 5. My partner wasn’t much help with the children but he was sent to prison earlier this year. Since then I have felt threatened and could not refuse when three members of the local gang instructed me to keep the gun. My barrister said there were exceptional circumstances but the judge would not have it. Probation is trying to persuade someone to look after my children if my sister can’t cope. I am all eaten up inside with worry. The barrister came to see me afterwards and just said he was sorry but there no appeal. I thought he was more concerned about missing his train than my kids. They mean everything to me. How could anything be more exceptional than this? You must help me.
A I wish I could but there is nothing I can do. Because it was a prohibited weapon there was a minimum sentence of 5 years unless you can show exceptional circumstances. This situation is similar to a question I answered in 2012, but since then the law has changed. You have impressive and heart-rending factors. You are young and vulnerable. You were acting in fear. You are the sole carer of your children and the welfare of children is an important factor for the courts. There appears to be no clear long term solution for your children. You pleaded guilty. There are however two factors against you. You helped store a gun which is for killing or maiming by a criminal gang. When not being used for that it is used for exacting terror by a drug gang or armed robbers. Armed gangs threaten your neighbours and society generally. Second, you had a gun in your house which, if it was just in a bag, could have been found by one of your twins and injured or possibly killed him or someone else. The courts have recently determined that if there are exceptional
circumstances for people like you then the gangs will be able to store their weapons without fear of them receiving the 5-year minimum term. When I last wrote on this subject, a single mother with young children looking after a gun could collect factors to establish exceptional circumstances, R v Edwards 2006 EWCA Crim 2833. This January, the Court of Appeal heard a prosecution appeal for a case when the Judge had found exceptional circumstances, Att-Gen’s Ref No 115 of 2015 2016 EWCA Crim 765. The Court quashed that finding and said R v Edwards 2006 no longer reflected the law. In March this year, the Lord Chief Justice pointed out that firearm offences are attracting increasingly severe sentences, Att-Gen’s Ref Nos 128-141 of 2015 and 8-10 of 2016 2016 EWCA Crim 54. In that case he indicated that the starting point for the leader of a group who supplied guns to criminals was 25 years. The leader had been responsible for supplying 5 firearms. The Lord Chief Justice indicated in other supply cases the starting point would be higher. Two other points arise. First, a plea of guilty cannot reduce the sentence below the 5-year minimum term. Second, your children engaged your article 8 rights under the Human Rights Act 1998, the right to family life. This means the Judge was required to investigate the childrens’ circumstances and consider the proportionality of the sentence. In appropriate cases the Judge should adjourn for arrangements to be put in place for a defendant’s children. However, none of these matters prevent the minimum sentence in your case being passed.
Asking Robert & Jason questions Please make sure your question concerns sentence and not conviction and send the letter to Inside Time, marked for Robert Banks or Jason Elliott. Unless you say you don’t want your question and answer published, it will be assumed you have no objection to publication. It is usually not possible to determine whether a particular defendant has grounds of appeal without seeing all the paperwork. Analysing all the paperwork is not possible. The column is designed for simple questions and answers. No-one will have their identity revealed. Letters which a) are without an address, b) cannot be read, or c) are sent direct, cannot be answered. Letters sent by readers to Inside Time are sent on to a solicitor, who forwards them to Robert and Jason. If your solicitor wants to see previous questions and answers, they are at www.banksr.com.
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21/07/2016 12:32
Diary of a Creative Writer
land! She’d picked her favourite book and cast the characters from actors she’d actually heard of and still she was awake. She switched the light off in the hope that she’d doze off but the dawn chorus had other ideas! She watched the gentle purple light of dawn creep over the trees at the end of the garden and gave up. She went downstairs and put on boots and an old jacket. She picked up the lead and called Bobbin, her somewhat sleepy retriever watching him as he climbed off the sofa; Olivia could almost hear him asking what kind of time was this to wake a dog! She chuckled and told the dog that if she couldn’t sleep then neither could he and they strolled out into the misty dawn.
Lucy Forde Lesson Six Our course is nearly at an end but the content is still keeping usbusy.Thisweekwewereasked to write a piece, in class; the subject was based on our character having a sleepless night. Olivia laid and stared at the ceiling; ‘Who thought that artex would be a good idea; she asked herself. Unable to sleep she had turned the bedside light on and played her favourite game - spot the creatures in the swirls of artex. Before turning on the light she had tried her usual fall asleep routine. How would she spend a decent lottery win; that didn’t work and she’d spent the lot and was still wide awake, normally she didn’t get further than a choice of luxury car, after the house in the country with
Jailbreak // Writing 45
www.insidetime.org
Insidetime September 2016
When we started our course we were given some free subjects to pick to cover further down the subjects. After discussion it was decided that as we were all attempting books it might be helpful to know how to write a synopsis. After all, we’ll need to submit one for our best seller submissions! Briefly our synopsis should: Do • Need the beginning and the end; • Hint at a twist rather than actually reveal the plot; • Only introduce main characters fully - the publisher needs an overview; • Include other character names - bold or capital; • A synopsis is NOT a cover blurb. It needs to sell the story to the publisher;
• Work in active writing - not in dialogue. Don’t • Go into too much detail about description/settings; • Go into vast details regarding characters; • No need to go into every painstaking detail eg problems that Olivia is facing; • Don’t use too many characters/events. Important • Write in the third person; • Make the reader care about the main character; • Which character deserves the special attention in the synopsis; • Don’t use rhetorical questions; • Don’t split into ‘beginning - middle - end’; • Display your writing style.
The Parlour
The Visit
Stephen Marsh - HMP Channings Wood
Olim O’Shaugnessy - HMP Ashfield
My mother would tell me about my gran and we would travel to her house but I would never see her.
Summer school, summer of ’69. Digging the compost heap for worms soon to be a tempting meal for unsuspecting trout waiting in the pools of the clear fresh hilly streams.
One day, I was about five, I was guided towards the front room - the infamous, mysterious parlour - to see my gran for the first time. I walked in head bowed, a very quiet collection of family surrounding me, ushering me in by my slumped shoulders. There were a lot of snow globes! I saw her, my gran. A large lady, she was in bed! A bed in a room downstairs! I was stunned. She looked very harsh, I wouldn’t have spoken to her even if I had been allowed. I’d been warned children are to be seen and not heard.
I recall we lost more worms than we caught fish, if indeed we caught any. I’m sure we did. The same streams fed water to our showers. Cold and brown with peat gathered on the downward journey from the hills. This was a new world for me. My hand shot up when asked, ‘Who wants to be woken at 2am to watch the Luna landing?’. Sat crossed legged, with others, in the master’s common room. His black and white television flickering light from the darkness thousands of miles away. Magical. ‘One giant leap for mankind’. One minor hiccup in a young boy’s journey. I refer to the gentle knockback received from the girl of my dreams.
Your synopsis should accompany your manuscript, should be as a rule in double spacing and submitted electronically.
As she looked down at me she spoke about me to my mother. I stared at her feet and calves poking out from the cheesecloth blanket; so red, so round, so wet.
Next month we are going to cover screen and stage writing. More importantly we are going to discuss reading and the importance of ‘getting into a story’. This, we hope, will help with your creativity and we are going to look at regular book reviews from our readers. Watch this space!
I couldn’t get out of that musty smelling room fast enough. I wanted to play on the old green mangle in the tiny concrete yard.
I could not tell you what she looked like, though no doubt beautiful to my eyes. Lively, vivacious and kindly in manner, when explaining that she was for too old for me. I was a brave eleven year-old.
That was in the 1970’s, a different time from 1896 when she was born. Such a lovely scary lady.
I had visited Loch Rannoch whilst man visited the moon.
Your assignment for this month: I would like you to write a 200 word piece as yourself or your proposed character who is unable to sleep and the things going through their mind.
Wrongly convicted of a crime?
Below are some of the many entries we have so far received in response to the ‘ A Visit’. Do please keep sending them in; every story published will receive £5.
Change Mark Wightwick - HMP Parkhurst I knocked on the panelled front door. I was wearing period 1940’s clothes and holding a bunch of daffodils. I adjusted my Trilby so it sat on my head with a tilt. I felt nervous waiting for Jess to answer the door. We had met several months ago and had fallen in love with each other. Everything went really well; too well really. There was only one thing standing between us. Jess lived her life as if she was in the 1940’s. Her clothes, furniture, the music she listened to, her hair style was all period. At first I found it quirky, fun, I liked it. As time went on I realised that it was a part of who she was and to be with her was to accept all the parts of her. We were close, very close and the relationship was moving on to the next level. I explained to Jess I could not live a life without a TV, washing machine, laptop and live 24/7 in a 1940 house. We had long conversations about it and yes there were tears. I even said the worse thing anyone can say to another, ‘It’s not you, it’s me.’ That did not go down well. After about a month apart it hit me smack in the middle of my head. I was being a fool. I could not live without her and if I really loved her I would want to make her happy. How
difficult could it be living in 2016 like it was 1940. I had made up my mind, I went out to find the vintage clothes shop she had told me about a thousand times and bought ‘the full monty’. The period clothes from head to toe. I bought a nice bunch of daffodils and now I’m standing at her front door feeling nervous. I started to rehearse my speech about how much I loved her and how I really don’t like my laptop and the door opens. Jess was wearing a pink Nike tshirt, jeans and trainers. How can a pink Nike t-shirt cause a grown man to freeze and lose his words? I was dumbstruck. I stood there like an idiot with my mouth wide open. ‘Hi’ she said, ‘How are you?’ Then she started to giggle. Her giggle quickly turned to one of those belly laughs, her hands went over her mouth like she was trying to stop the laugh coming out. She asked me in and I still could not say a word to her. I walked in with the flowers in my right hand, mouth open like the idiot I am. Where the radio once lived was now a 42” flat TV. The period wallpaper had been covered up with white paint. I could hear a washing machine spinning away in the kitchen. Still laughing she said ‘What’s the matter? You look like you’ve seen a ghost!’
Lost your appeal?
What next?
The CCRC can look again If you think your conviction or sentence is wrong apply to the CCRC
• • •
It won’t cost anything Your sentence can’t be increased if you apply You don't need a lawyer to apply, but a good one can help You can get some more information and a copy of the CCRC's Easy Read application form by writing to us at 5 St Philip’s Place, Birmingham, B3 2PW. or calling 0121 233 1473
Prisoners in Scotland should contact; The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission, 5th Floor, Portland House, 17 Renfi eld Street, Glasgow, G2 5AH. Phone: 0141 270 7030 Email:
[email protected]
46 Jailbreak
What’s Your Straightline? There’s a smartphone app for pretty much everything … but what about for leaving prison?
The team behind National Prison Radio is trying something brand new and we really hope you’ll try it. It’s a smartphone app called Straightline and it’s free for you to download as soon as you’ve left prison. You can find it in the App Store if you’re on an iPhone, or on Play Store if you’re on an Android phone. We’ve been thinking about the limitations of National
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Prison Radio for a long time. We know that thousands of you like to listen, and we also know that many of you value the support and information we broadcast. It keeps you company in your cell, it helps you to understand your situation, and it supports you through your sentence. But when you leave prison, you leave National Prison Radio behind as well. That’s why we’ve developed Straightline. Straightline is a free smartphone app that contains
videos featuring real stories from people who have spent time in prison. It’s all designed for you to use during your first 7 days after release. Each film will give you insights into different aspects of life after prison - about rebuilding your relationships, working out where to live, how to spend your time, who to trust. If you’re a regular NPR listener, you’ll recognize some of the voices on the films, and put faces to the voices! In particular, you’ll hear the voice of a very good friend of NPR - George the Poet - who has written and recorded a special verse exclusively for Straightline.
We need as many of you as possible to download the app, and we need you to tell us what you think. Your feedback is crucial, because we want to give you the sort of videos and sounds that you need to hear after prison. So when you’re released and you pick up your phone, download the Straightline app and tell us what you think. The Straightline app is free to download and is available now from App Store and Play Store.
Independent living on bail or HDC
Books Unlocked, National Prison Radio’s daily programme dedicated to reading, is giving away hundreds of free books. Each month Books Unlocked plays a different audiobook - provided by the National Literacy Trust and the Booker Prize Foundation - every night at 11pm on National Prison Radio. And you can get a free copy of any of the books featured this year, just by writing in to Books Unlocked, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XF. Available titles:
This month on National Prison Radio we’re lea r n i ng more ab out BA S S - t he B a i l Accommodation and Support Service, because they may be able to help you. If you want to be released on bail or get your Home Detention Curfew (also known as HDC or tag), you must have a suitable address.
Dead Man Talking by Paddy Clarke The surreal Quick Read about Pat and Joe trying to repair their friendship...on the day of Joe’s funeral. We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler The international bestseller about Rosemary struggling to answer one question: ‘was my entire childhood an experiment?’
The Prison Phoenix Trust Back pain can be miserable. Most of us experience it at some stage, because of injury, a bad mattress or just bad luck. This routine will help release and realign the back, helping you to feel better. It is especially good for sciatica, shooting
1
Supine Lie like this and be aware of your spine, and of each part of your back in touch with the floor or bed. If your back is particularly bad this may be all you are able to do. That is fine. Stay for 10 deep, slow breaths.
pains along the back of the leg. Don’t do anything that feels painful or unstable, and keep your attention on the breath as you go. We’d love to hear from you about how you get on.
5
Full Pigeon
6
Sphynx
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Child
8
Sitting
This is one for when your back is feeling pretty much okay - if you’re not sure, skip it! Tuck one foot sideways in front of you. Breathe into the stretch for 5 slow breaths.
At the moment it’s quite small, but we want to turn Straightline into something big and amazing. To do that, we need your help.
Free books with Books Unlocked
Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones The charming story of Matilda discovering the joy of reading as a civil war rages around her.
Back on Track
BASS specialise in sorting this out - and not at a hostel. You share a private house or a flat with just one or two people. It’s your own home - and an independent life. You might even be able to get a place with your kids, if it’s appropriate.
2
3
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Knee Raises Hug one knee in tight to your chest. Hold for 5 slow breaths. Repeat on the other side.
Eagle Twists You can make this twist less intense by just having the legs held together, not crossed. 5 breaths each side.
Resting Pigeon Rest your ankle on the other knee and bring the knee towards the chest using your hands. Hold for 5 deep breaths, building up to 10, and staying with the tight feeling in the side of the buttock.
BASS also have a specialist support service for women who are facing bail or tag. They’ll help find you somewhere safe to live and support you in getting a fresh start.
You can hear Books Unlocked every evening at 11pm on National Prison Radio.
Tune into NPR from 29th August to hear more about BASS, including Patrick’s story.
Stay like this for 10 deep, slow breaths. You can put a pillow or your fists under your forehead if it doesn’t reach the floor.
Sit like this, relaxed and upright, and keep your attention with your breathing. Try to make the outbreath longer than the in-breath - so if it takes you five counts to breathe in, try to breathe out for eight. Do this for a couple of minutes then let the control go and just breathe. Sit like this, focussing on your breath, concentrating on the feeling of it, for five minutes or longer if you like. If you are in pain, and can do nothing else, try to sit like this and concentrate on your breath. It’s amazing how much better you can make yourself feel, with your own breath, and a little patience and time!
Patrick, who’s on bail and staying in a BASS property near Manchester, says it’s a huge relief to not be living in a cell anymore. “I’m in charge of my own routine,” he said. “I can open the door whenever I want. It’s given me my freedom back I suppose - just that freedom to be able to choose to walk to the shop, and that kind of stuff”.
Harvest by Jim Crace The dark and powerful tale of a medieval village unravelling in just seven days.
Hold for 5 deep breaths.
If you want a free book and CD to help you set up a regular yoga and meditation practice write to The Prison Phoenix Trust, PO Box 328, Oxford OX2 7HF.
Jailbreak // Fitness 47
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Insidetime September 2016
Cell Workout
Get the body you want Inside & Out means to start your own business and whether it is a viable business idea. I received plenty of guidance from my mentor Andy, who continues to support me. A couple of weeks ago I had my first appointment as a Young Ambassador - I was invited by HRH Prince Charles to attend an event at his residency at Highgrove. Dressed in my best suit, I stood waiting to meet His Royal Highness. We shook hands and I soon felt at ease, chatting about my book and how his Trust has helped me.
LJ shaking hands with the Prince of Wales around.
LJ Flanders
From Pentonville to Highgrove Last month I’m very proud to say I was appointed as Young Ambassador for the Prince’s Trust 2016-2017. Part of the role of the YA is to inspire others through their personal experience of turning their lives
So where did it all begin? I can still remember turning up at the Prince’s Trust offices four yea rs ago, clutch i ng my hand-written version of Cell Workout, asking where do I go from here? I completed their Business Enterprise Course and submitted a business plan, making me really think about what it
Side Plank Training Following on from last months Plank training article, I wanted to focus this month on the Side Plank and three variations. Where the Plank focused mainly on the abdominals, the Side Plank focuses on the obliques, the muscles that are located on the sides of the midsection of the abdomen. Training this muscle will strengthen the core and also plays an important role in averting back pain. The Side Plank can be as easy or as hard as you want to make it. It is an isometric core strength exercise that involves maintaining a position for the desired amount of time. The workout below is aimed for every level of fitness with varying duration time of each Side Plank. Perform all 3 Plank variations back to back for the desired amount of time before resting for 30 seconds. So if you want to see a notable difference, perform 2-3 times a week and if you wanted to take the exercise up a notch from the isometric exercises described below, you can raise and lower the hips to increase the burn! Cell Workout info ISB: 978-0993248009 Price: £19.99 234 pages - 8 x 10inches 204 exercises with colour photographs 10 week programme www.cell-workout.com
I can honestly say that without the support of the Trust I doubt if I would be where I am today - from Pentonville to Highgrove, what a journey, who would have thought it. L. J.
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step” Lao Tzu
Side Plank Workout
Side Plank Target Muscle Groups Primary: Obliques Secondary: Abdominals, Deltoids
Full Side Plank Target Muscle Groups Primary: Obliques Secondary: Abdominals, Deltoids, Triceps
Step 1: Lie on your side, with your legs straight and feet together. Rest on the forearm of your lower arm, with your elbow directly under your shoulder and your other arm by your side.
Step 1: Lie on your side with your legs straight and feet together. Straighten your lower arm, with your hand directly under your shoulder and rest your other arm by your side.
Step 2: Engage your abdominals and look straight ahead. Maintain a straight line with your head, neck and body. Push down through your forearm and feet, to raise your hips off the floor and your legs are straight.
Step 2: Engage your abdominals. Maintain a straight line with your head, neck and body as you push down through your lower hand and feet, to raise your body up until your legs are straight.
Step 3: Continue the movement, holding the position for the desired length of time. Release the tension slowly. Repeat, alternating sides.
Step 3: Continue the movement, holding the position for the desired length of time. Release the tension slowly. Repeat, then alternate sides.
Full Side Plank with Leg Lift Target Muscle Groups Primary: Obliques Secondary: Abdominals, Deltoids, Triceps, Quadriceps Step 1: Assume a full side plank with straight arm position. Step 2: Maintain a straight line with your head, neck and body, as you push down through your arm and feet, to lift your body up until your arms and legs are straight. Step 3: Lift the upper leg up inline with your hips, keeping the rest of your body still. Step 4: Continue the movement, holding the position for the desired length of time. Release the tension slowly. Repeat, then alternate sides.
Warm Up l 5 minute jog on the spot l 5 minute mobilisation exercises Workout A1: Side Plank A2: Full Side Plank A3: Full Side Plank With Leg Lift Rest: 30 seconds A1: Side Plank A2: Full Side Plank A3: Full Side Plank With Leg Lift Rest: 30 seconds A1: Side Plank A2: Full Side Plank A3: Full Side Plank With Leg Lift Rest: 30 seconds A1: Side Plank A2: Full Side Plank A3: Full Side Plank With Leg Lift Rest: 30 seconds A1: Side Plank A2: Full Side Plank A3: Full Side Plank With Leg Lift Rest: 30 seconds Cool Down 5 minute jog on the spot l 5 minute static stretches l
Training Guidelines Intensity: Moderate - High Duration: Beginner 30 seconds Intermediate: 45 seconds Advanced: 60 seconds Rest Between Sets: 30 seconds Frequency: (per week): 2-3 Method: Isometric training
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48 Jailbreak // Reading
Reading Group Round-up Promoting reading and reading groups in prisons The report this month comes from HMP Albany Isle of Wight, where the group recently read The Traveller by John Twelve Hawks. Los Angeles: A city where you have to work hard to live beneath the surface. Gabriel and Michael Corrigan are trying to do just that. Since childhood, the brothers have been shaped by the stories that their mystical father, a man of strange powers and intuition, has told them about the world in which they live. After his violent death, they have been living 'off the grid' - that is, invisible to the intricate surveillance networks that monitor our modern lives. London: Maya, a tough and feisty young woman, is playing at being a citizen, is playing at leading a normal life. But her background is anything but. Trained to fight since she was a young girl, she is the last in a long line whose duty is to protect the gifted among us. Prague: Nathan Boone, a disciplined and amoral mercenary, watches Maya leave the meeting with her father before brutally killing him. Tasked to hunt down the brothers, he tracks Maya as she seeks to fulfil what turns out to be her father's last command. When Maya flies to California to find them, an extraordinary chase begins, the final running battle in the war which will reveal the secret history of our time... The Traveller is the first instalment of ‘The Fourth Realm’ trilogy by John Twelve Hawks who claims himself to “live off the grid”. This book generated a lively discussion about how we live today with CCTV, microchips in passports and credit/debit cards, and identity trails from personal computers, tablets and smartphones. Big Brother is here and watching us closely! Would we be willing to sacrifice this technology for complete privacy? Not sure about that!
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Most members enjoyed both the story and the characters: “I do not enjoy Sci Fi but found the characters very real and the story gripping. A warning of how things are and becoming worse.” “Once you get past the clichés, you find a good book with some intriguing concepts. Yes, the dialogue is a little stilted sometimes and slips into far too much ‘telling’ and not enough ‘showing’, but despite this the plot flows along with some okay twists. It’s the concept of higher planes that really grips and makes you want to carry on reading.” “Good read, not a lot of ‘filler’. A nice plot with a few twists and turns with Maya, the last of the harlequins, defending the last of the travellers who keep people from being controlled.” “An easy read with a compelling storyline, however I believe that it was written in the hope of a movie franchise deal. It has a storyline that would work well as a movie.” “A good book that looks into the future and gives you something to think about.” One member found similarities with 1984 “but George Orwell definitely has the edge”. He also thought there was too much gratuitous violence in The Traveller and “not enough positivity or useful messages.” But the majority view was much more positive and FIVE of the book group members have requested to read the two other books in the trilogy. A successful read!
The Albany group is part of the Prison Reading Groups (PRG) network, sponsored by the University of Roehampton and generously supported by charities including Give A Book www.giveabook.org.uk If your prison doesn’t have a reading group, encourage your librarian to have a look at the PRG website www.prison-reading-groups.org.uk
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Jackson’s writing.
Book Review
Soledad Brother by George Jackson Review by Kevan Thakrar - Close Supervision Centre HMP Wakefield Hav ing just read George Jackson’s ‘Soledad Brother’, two things have struck me. This book was written in 1960’s America during the black rights movement and detailed the racism found in their prisons then but could quite easily depict the current state of E n g l i s h p r i s o n s t o d a y. Cowardly white prisoners colluding with the prison officers in order to subject the minorities to a worse quality of life than they face, rather than seeing their fellow prisoner as an ally in attempting to improve life for all, is a growing problem in England although those with Islamic beliefs are the main targets rather than the Blacks. The expansion of Nazi gangs which is facilitated by prison service personnel at all levels, with random unprovoked attacks on minorities being the result is successfully dividing the prison population, causing a distraction from the serious deterioration in conditions within prisons which are creeping behind the racists. The book covers much wider ground, looking at capitalism and imperialism as the route causes for the exploitation of humans by America but it is within prisons where these effects are magnified. The fact that this conservative government are oppressing the masses today, demonizing immigrants and Muslims whilst dropping bombs all over the middle east is no different to
the American government in the 60’s implementing Jim Crow, warring with Vietcong and misleading the public with propaganda. The only real difference I can see is an almost complete lack of resistance by those most affected, and lack of direction by the few who take on the burden but this may be due to the expertise developed by this country in dealing with previous dissidents like the IRA. Back in 2010 during my brief stay in HMP Frankland which can be summed up as a continuous struggle against brutality, racism and oppression, I was driven to the position of attempting to defend against those responsible. At 23 years old, I was naïve in thinking t he endem ic problem at Frankland stopped there and could be resisted when in reality the issue goes beyond being systematic. It is not only those administering the oppression who are responsible or their masters who facilitate it at prison service HQ, but it is a direct consequence of this country operating a policy of exploitation which is inherent in the capitalist experiment and exacerbated by imperialism. The greater the level of greed of those in power, the higher levels and intensity of oppression and its population which is most easily seen by examining the treatment of its prisoners and so called justice systems, something which is a l l to o e v ide nt t h roug h
I saw a statistic recently that per head of 100,000 prisoners, suicides take place in the USA at 15, India at 18, Canada at 22 but in Britain at 17. If this figure is correct, there can be no confusion in just how bad things have become yet apart from a few workers strikes about matters which personally effect those on the pocket lines nobody is resisting. Capitalism has led to a culture of selfishness where the majority do not stand up unless they are to face the fire, happy to accept the lies that is so obvious - the government are to blame for everything. Why is it that the nations who do not follow the doomed capitalist path have the best education and healthcare in the world if they are not the ones in the wrong? While prisons remain disenfranchised we face the brunt of the decisions to elect fascist governments without the power to change it through accepted means, and are limited on the effects we can have beyond the prison walls without support from those outside. As well as English prisons resembling Americans in Jackson’s time, my second realization is that this situation has been going on here for far too long and infected far too wide for a simple cure to work without a serious operation being completed. Until that day, the prisoners will suffer and those of a minority the worst, so please have some consideration for those of us stone on the front-line against our wishes and look at the prison system imposed upon us. Every hostage of the state is a political prisoner whether they know it or not, a quick look at the headlines which attack the detained demonstrate this fact, I advise everyone to read this book then ask themselves when will it be time to say enough is enough.
Our Prison Law Department can assist prisoners under Legal Aid for a number of issues including:
• Recall (IPP/Lifer and Determinate) • Parole (IPP/Lifer and Determinate) • Independent Adjudications
We assist prisoners throughout England and Wales offering competitive fixed fees on all other General Prison Law matters including Re-Categorisation and Sentence Planning. For further information or assistance please contact
Matthew Smith or Nicola Maynard
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01865 260 230 www.reeds.co.uk
l Seventies funk and soul icon Sly Stone, who has been living off welfare and in a van for years, has just been awarded $5m in back royalties. The 71-year-old musician sued his former manager and lawyer after being cheated out of years of royalties. The San Franciscan was the frontman of Sly And The Family Stone, the band behind the hits Everyday People, Dance To The Music, Family Affair and If You Want Me To Stay. Stone’s attorney Nicholas Hornberger said his former manager Gerald Goldstein and attorney Glenn Stone made him sign a lot of complicated contracts he could never understand, which allowed them to steal all his money. ‘This is one for the good guys. These people cheated him and took all his money.’ Daily Mail
l Scientists investigating sexual preference in humans have for the first time identified the brain circuits that determine what gender people are attracted to and the kinds of sex they like. A group of researchers pinpointed four areas of the brain that largely determine individual sexuality and sex-related disorders such as paedophilia. “We Found that sexual preference is encoded by four phyiogenetically old brain structures,” said Timm Poeppl of Regensburg University. These lie mainly in the hypothalamus and hippocampus, while another area, the substantia innominata, governs what people like to avoid.” The findings are likely to be controversial because “they support the notion that sexual preferences are strongly biologically anchored”, said PoeppI. He described the discovery as a “fingerprint of evolution” that would shed new light on a “fundamental role in human behaviour”.
Do you know?
© Fotolia.com
Would you believe it?
l After the Ice Age came the Stoned Age. Early humans began using cannabis as long as 10,000 years ago, just as Europe’s glaciers had started their final retreat, scientists have found. An archaeological study suggests early humans in Europe and Asia stumbled on the plant at roughly the same time. The discovery was valued, suggest the scientists, not just for its psychoactive properties but also because its nutritious seeds could quench hunger pangs and hemp fibres could be woven into clothing. Drugs therefore appear to have predated alcohol, with the first beer not believed to have been brewed until about 7,000 years ago. The Times l If you click on the first hyperlink in the 1st sentence of 95% of Wikipedia pages and repeat this process. It will eventually lead to the philosophy Wikipedia page. BBC
l A yorkshire terrier that was believed to be Britain’s oldest dog has been savaged to death during his morning walk. Jack, who celebrated his 25th birthday last year, making him 117 in human years, was attacked and bitten by a black lakeland terrier as he was taken for a walk near his home on Teesside. Ray Bunn, 70, his owner, said: “I am still in shock. We expected Jack to die quietly in his sleep, not in this horrible, violent way. The dog just came out of nowhere and grabbed Jack on his side. He was bleeding heavily but still breathing. Someone had a blanket and we wrapped him up and put him in the back of the car.” Jack died of his injuries before Mr Bunn, could reach a vet. “Jack was a part of our family, and we just can’t believe he has gone. He was the oldest dog in the country and for him to die in this way is a tragedy.” He added. The Times
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l Dan White, 21, is currently cursing his luck after his ex-girlfriend’s family just scooped £61million on the lottery. The pair dated for two years, however, she called time on their relationship before she moved to university in Southampton. Her mum, Sonia, had bought the ticket to celebrate beating cancer and decided to share the jackpot out between her family. Dan’s ex, Courtney Davies, 19, now has £12million quid in her bank. To make matters worse, Courtney’s sister lives next door to him with her boyfriend so he’ll no doubt have to watch them lapping it up now they’re rolling in it. But, he’s not bitter... “I wish her all the best even though I won’t see any of the money!” He added: “She could give me a million a year for the two years I went out with her - I wouldn’t say no to that.” In your dreams, pal. Vice
Jailbreak 49
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Insidetime September 2016
l Dog people have on average 26 more Facebook friends than cat people. On the other hand, cat people get invited to more events. Facebook
0800 0191 248 or 01302 326666 Shaw & Co 6 Portland Place Doncaster DN1 3DF N AT I O N W I D E S E RV I C E www.shawandco.com
l Of the 29 athletes from Northern Ireland in Rio, the vast majority (21) have chosen to represent Team Ireland not Team GB. Great Britain comprises England, Scotland and Wales. Officially, the team is the ‘Great Britain and Northern Ireland Olympic Team’. But since 1999, the The British Olympic Association (BOA) has used the brand ‘Team GB’ leaving out Northern Ireland. BBC
l Scientists revealed the reason our limbs can feel rigid and achy when we rise is because the body’s biological clock suppresses anti-inflammatory proteins during sleep. When we start moving around each morning our body is playing catch up as the effects of the proteins wear off. The Telegraph
Just for laughs “I used to think an ocean of soda existed, but it was just a Fanta sea.” Bec Hill “There are very few people these days doing Roman-numeral jokes. I is one.” Chris Turner “Most of my life is spent avoiding conflict. I hardly ever visit Syria.” Alex Horne “I thought Benefits Street was a budget box of chocolates that you could buy at Lidl.” Imran Yusuf
l Only about half of perceived friendships are mutual. l Extroverted CEOs make their companies less money.
“I’m not sexist - I’m not! That’s why I let my female workers work longer than the men so they can make the same money.” Al Murray “Wetherspoons? They’ve all got character. They’ve all got the same character.” Liam Williams “You can’t lose a homing pigeon. If your homing pigeon doesn’t come back, then what you’ve lost is a pigeon.” Sara Pascoe “I lost my virginity very late. When it finally happened, I wasn’t so much deflowered as deadheaded.” Holly Walsh
Top 10 facts...
© Fotolia.com
Cats 1. The number of pet cats in the world is estimated to be around half a billion plus another 100 million wild cats. 2. The most popular names for male cats in the UK are Charlie, Oscar and Alfie; the top three names for girl cats are Poppy, Mollie and Bella. 3. Isaac Newton is said to have invented the cat flap as a means of allowing his cats to enter his study without disturbing his optics experiments. 4. Research shows that cats recognise their owners’ voices but have evolved to ignore them. 5. Cats spend 85% of their lives sleeping or just sitting. 6. In 1879 the city of Liege in Belgium employed 37 cats to deliver mail to nearby villages. It was unsuccessful. 7. There are 38 references to a dog or dogs in the King James Bible but no mention of cats. 8. A group of cats is called a clowder. The original meaning of clowder was a clotted or jelly-like mass. 9. Research in 2009 showed that male cats tend to be leftpawed while female cats are predominantly right-pawed. 10. Almost all tortoiseshell cats are female.
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l Usain Bolt consumed 1,000 chicken nuggets whilst in Beijing for the 2008 Olympics, fuelling himself to the tune of 100 nuggets daily, with sides of French fries and apple pies, rather than eat the ‘odd’ local cuisine. It’s a competition diet which has nutritionists cringing, but, considering his performance at Beijing - 3 world records on the way to 3 Olympic golds - it can’t have been too detrimental. His training partner on the other hand eats 15 bananas a day, Bolt, unimpressed, describes his partner’s habit as ‘beastly’. The Telegraph
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50 Jailbreak // Inside Poetry
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Does this define me?
Star Poem of the Month Congratulations to this months winner who receives our £25 prize
Reflections of Home Stephen Farrow - HMP Wakefield Spring I think of home, of pastures green The songs that skylarks bring Dappled hues upon the meadows The cuckoo’s call to spring I think of home, of fragrant blooms Bluebells carpeting woodland glades. Wild orchids, fragile, rare Elegant wonders in temperate shades. I think of home, of secret trails Meandering through the Shropshire hills, Picturesque views of white and yellow Fields adorned with daffodils. Summer I think of home, of rivers wild The sound of the rushing waters flow Salmon leaping with majestic might Flashing silvers in ambient glow I think of home, of forest pines Reaching for the vaulted sky Ponies, wild, roaming free Beneath great oaks, they graze and lie I think of home, of swallows in flight Wing tips skimming the ponds and lakes Glossy plumage of greens and blues Water fowl of mallards and drakes.
Insidetime September 2016
Autumn I think of home, of the changing seasons Summer passing to autumn’s fall Trees ablaze with oranges and reds Putting stars in the distance pawl. I think of home, of migrating flocks Flying south to climates warm Northern winds that bring a chill Frost covered landscapes at dawn Autumn’s bow to winter’s reign Snow-capped rocky tors. Winter I think of home, of haunting scenes Trees stripped bare, standing forlorn Gale force blizzards sweeping the lands Leaving nature, tethered and worn. I think of home, of tranquil days Clear blue skies, midwinter’s sun Sparkling diamonds upon fallen snow Meadows and hills overrun. I think of home, of frozen ponds Icicles hanging from threadbare trees The sound of cock robin chirping away Foxes chasing rabbits on the leas. I think of home, of senses lost To see, to hear, to smell, to touch God’s creation, resplendent, divine Nature’s beauty, I miss so much.
Lifer or IPP David Richardson - HMP Hatfield It’s like a never ending story, or maybe a never ending dream If you’re doing mandatory life, or IPP, you wanna scream They set us all a tariff, it very rarely comes on time You’d done three times your tariff, that warranted that crime You say you’re going to sort it out, we’re still sat here waiting Each more year goes by, we only end up hating So why say you’re going to do it, if it’s just a pack of lies? Slowly but surely, we lose the outside ties Soon we’ll be left with no-one, is that all you’ve ever wanted? Sitting lonely in your prison cell, feeling unjustly tortured and taunted This will probably fall on deaf ears, or eyes that don’t look I’m running out of ink, by writing all this mush I write this for lifers, but does anybody care? I write down these words, your sentences are unfair It’s now time to let us out, you can do it bit by bit Or most of us out, or all in one hit Whichever way you do it, things have got to change The longer we stay in, the more the outside gets strange It’s now time to go, so will you please have a thought Before you make up these sentences, think before they come to court
DM Walton - prison supplied Does this define me What have I done Did I think clearly when this begun If I went back what would I do Would my decision be just like you I know it’s wrong to lie and to steal But at the time it didn’t seem real My pain was that deep That I just couldn’t deal Life was on top I just couldn’t deal Life was on top I just couldn’t stop Losing my daughter Had put me to slaughter I thought about life it just wasn’t fair I needed support it just wasn’t there I didn’t or couldn’t store my pain There was only gambling to keep me sane I made a real mess and got into debt I couldn’t lose my wife over one silly bet Unfortunately it continued on and on And before I knew it my morals had gone I was caught in a trap Minutes, hours and days of crap Who will win this Who will win that A grand down before ten A grand up at noon Is it time for racing No it’s too soon There’s tennis in Spain Footie down under What’s coming next My constant wonder It’s making me ill It never will stop The next sports event My next big drop All these thoughts fill my head From waking in a morning Until resting my head Will they go away Until the day I am dead Things are getting worse I’m losing my wife I cannot continue with the guilt and this life How can I deal with what I have done I just want to shoot me with a f*** off big gun I have a son on the way Now drink and coke get me through the day I’m pathetic and sad I feel really sick I’m going to lose everything like a selfish prick I’m losing the woman I really love And I have lost hope in the guy above I’m wanting to end it As I just can’t mend it I can’t trust a friend What should I do These are the questions Whatever your answers, will they define you?
© Fotolia.com
The Light Graham Richardson - HMP Long Lartin Where I’ve been it was almost pitch black Just one wrong turn and there was no way back Kinda like a well that doesn’t have a bottom I was thrown in and then I was forgotten I kept looking around there was nothing in sight But then one day I noticed this light Once I’d seen it this beautiful light It played on my mind during the night There have been days when I struggled to cope But this special light it gave me some hope Just seeing this light, it makes me feel funny It’s kinda like butterflies in my tummy You could say it’s a schoolboy crush But this is a light that I cannot touch I know this light it doesn’t shine for me But it reminds me of how I used to be It’s really attractive is this gorgeous light But I’m not in the running I cannot win the fight I know how it is this thing is not real But I still like how it makes me feel Everything in here is dark and shitty Except this light it’s bright and pretty I just wanted to say before I have to go These are things that the light should know Just a compliment before I move forward It shouldn’t make anything be awkward This light it’s helped to change my future But I’m sad I don’t wanna lose her I have one wish that I could make things better And one promise that I’ll never forget her One final thing I’ve really gotta do Let the light know the light is you.
u We will award a prize of £25 to the entry selected as our ‘Star Poem of the Month’. To qualify for a prize, poems should not have won a prize in any other competition or been published previously. Send entries to: Inside Time, Poetry, Botley Mills, Botley, Southampton, Hampshire, SO30 2GB. It is very important that you ensure the following details are on all paperwork sent to Inside Time: YOUR NAME, PRISON NUMBER & PRISON. Failure to do so will prevent us responding to you and your submission being withheld from publication. By submitting your poems to Inside Time you are agreeing that they can be published in any of our ‘not for profit links’, these include the newspaper, website and any forthcoming books. You are also giving permission for Inside Time to use their discretion in allowing other organisations to reproduce this work if considered appropriate, unless you have clearly stated that you do not want this to happen. Any work reproduced in other publications will be on a ‘not for profit’ basis. Please note poems for publication may be edited. When submitting your work please include the following permission: ‘This is my own work and I agree to Inside Time publishing it in all associate sites and other publications as appropriate.’
A day in the life of Phil Menu David Rosen - HMP Ranby I am blissfully happy today Today there was an extra sugar in my tea pack And I know this for a fact Because I counted them twice Five sugars instead of usual four Yes, someone somewhere has made a big mistake But tough shit I’m keeping schtum I haven’t been this happy since October In October my girlfriend’s dog died I always suspected that my girlfriend Loved that dog more than she loved me And I think the dog suspected it too I hate this prison I have come to fully realise That I have no-one but myself To blame for me being here Like they teach in their courses But I recently did another course Where they taught us ‘The fault lies with the one weak enough to lay blame’ Which confused me again So I blame the judge The corrupt bastard, and my solicitor The prick, and my girlfriend the bitch I hate being on basic I think if there was ever a fire in here And the firemen came to my pad to rescue me Miss Smith would come running over with her clipboard Shouting, stop stop Don’t open that one, he’s on basic I hate that Miss Smith She takes her job far too seriously I’d give her one though, thinking about it I put on the HDC form ‘If you ever put a tag on me. I would throw it down the nearest drain The second I got out the gate. I’m not a sea lion’ For a laugh and they turned me down I was going to appeal But my pad mate says them things are all fixed Before you ever go in there So I never bothered in the end It’s chocolate doughnut today Only another 4358 hours to go until road
Side Effects
Dean Lovell - HMP Wormwood Scrubs I found a new passion, it’s writing for you Twenty-three hours bang up, nothing else to do I’m sitting and itching, the morphine does that My hands are so swollen, like the paws of a cat Eyes are glazed over and looking at me I don’t have a mirror or LSD It’s just medication, it makes me like that My fat itchy face and eyes of a cat Side effects are scary but no pain in my back My spine is all twisted, try dealing with that My life goes on for that I’m glad Motor Neurone Disease is the life of my dad The effects are so bad he can’t move like us He never once moans, or makes any fuss The man is a legend, a great you know Could I live with his side effects, I don’t think so My whole life has a side effect, I’m in jail My family are suffering, a side effect with no bail
Jailbreak // Inside Poetry 51
www.insidetime.org
Insidetime September 2016
Custody Nicola & Charlene - HMP Peterborough When you come through the custody gate You’re on your own, no family, no mate Will I know anyone on my wing? The officer allocates you a cell Not a single, it’s a double, oh well Who will I be sharing with What they in here for? The keys turn and slowly opens the door This your room, you’re sharing with Charlene My eyes scan the room, I struck gold it’s clean Charlene welcomed me and made me feel at ease I’m lucky to be put in here, I’m pleased She’s kind, easy to chat to, one of my own The room is clean, tidy and has a phone! She’s here for the same reason as me We share everything, tobacco, coffee & tea Friendship that begins behind the gate A true friend confidant and a mate A companion who until here, a stranger Someone to laugh with, talk to And eliminate the lonely danger I struck gold with my pad mate Friends together until we walk out the gate Six weeks until we leave this place Until then I’m glad I got her friendly face
Prison Life Suman Shrestha - HMP Maidstone Wake up in the morning behind the bar Scratching my head, wiping the tear Washing my face, trying to be fresh Fixing my hair, wearing prison dress Stretching my arm, stretching my knee Turn on the kettle, making some tea Drinking the black tea, couldn’t find sugar Smoking a burn, makes me feel better Cellmate is sleeping, I wanna use a loo Smell and noise, what can I do Lighting the incense, it would smell better Start easing myself, holding newspaper It’s a lunchtime waiting for the food Baguette and crisps it wouldn’t be good Whatever I got, I have to eat I ain’t gonna like it, no-one gives a shit Cell is now open, association is on Chatting with others, asking for the burn Walking in the yard, enjoying the sun Wanna play pool, waiting for the turn
© Fotolia.com
The Girl Tiffany Louise Scott - HMP Glenochil She enjoys the sharp pain and that burning sting As the blade slices through her pale young skin The blood spurts out, she can’t help but smile She’s missed that feeling, it’s been a while The blood coagulates as it pools at her feet Her head starts spinning, she takes a seat When the dizziness worsens she lays down on her bed She begins to feel weak, she can’t lift her head She’s now feeling drowsy and she closes her eyes Is this the end for this girl, is this how she dies? It seems that death today is not to be This troubled girl is not yet free The staff looked in, saw the girl bleeding out ‘Code Red’ for a nurse, they put out the shout She was taken to hospital and given a transfusion She woke up in a ward with a little confusion Once she recovered she was sent back to the jail But that’s not the end of this sorry tale It may be a week or a month before it happens again And once more she’ll try to ease her pain It’s a tragedy to see and a shame to know That this girl feels there’s only one way that she can go The constant thoughts they keep building, there’s only so much she can take The self-harming distracts her, gives her mind a break Nobody else understands it, most don’t give a shit So she puts a razor in an artery and gives it a slit One of these days she’ll be found too late Maybe it’s imminent, maybe it’s fate ….
Want to make a call, all phones are busy Exercise is open, I am feeling lazy Dinner’s now serving, waiting in the queue Chicken, sausage, beans, nothing is new
Easy to get Spice?
End of the assoc, back in the cell I can’t imagine, I am in the jail Sharing my story, talking to my cellmate Waiting for release, checking the date
It’s easier to get spice than a toilet roll It’s easier to get spice than butter for your roll It’s easier to get spice than a watchable TV It’s easier to get spice than a cup of tea It’s easier to get spice than seasoning on your food It’s really easy to get spice and that really isn’t good!
Laying on the upper bed, holding the pillow Trying to wipe the tears, more and more to follow Missing my family, it’s really hurting Cellmate is sleeping, snoring and farting
Mr Milne - HMP Humber
Would you like to be a published poet? Write in and set your thoughts free. Please mark your envelope ‘Peotry’.
52 Jailbreak // Prize Winning Puzzles
Insidetime September 2016
www.insidetime.org
Read all about it!
Caption Competition
1. What was Team GBs final medal tally? 2. London Fire Brigade has spent how many thousands on rescuing animals in the last year? A) £202k, B) £252k, C) £282k 3. How many cars were burnt out at the Boomtown Festival in Hampshire? 4. Mark Cavendish won his first Olympic medal in which event? 5. By what percent are regulated rail fares being increased? 6. Which Team GB female won her third gold medal for dressage? 7. Which Arthur Ransom book has just been released in the cinema? 8. Which Brit won the Olympic gold medal for golf? 9. Whose mother in law was kidnapped by his pilot? 10. Which ex MP is competing in this year’s Strictly? Answers to last months News Quiz: 1. Andrea Leadsom, 2. Liz Truss, 3. Garry Marshall, 4. Russia, 5. BFG, 6. Heat in peppers (Capsicums), 7. Carolina Reaper (1.5million on the scale), 8. Lewis Hamilton, 9. Sir Steve Redgrave, 10. Bastille Day
Last Months £25 Winner Alex Wilson-Fletcher HMP Garth
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Proud sponsors of Inside Time’s PRIZE quiz ‘Read all about it!’ If you don’t want callers to be disadvantaged or put off by the high cost of calling your mobile - just get a landline number for it. A £25 prize is on offer for the best caption to this month’s picture.
Calls to mobiles don’t have to be expensive! Full details are available on our main advert in Inside Time and at www.fonesavvy.co.uk
Last Months Winners Nicholas Jordan HMP Littlehey (£25) Neil Smith HMP Whatton (£5) Robert Clark HMP Frankland (£5) See box to the right for details of how to enter
Don’t mind her, she’s my defence witness Taylor Swift, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian are locked in the biggest celebrity feud of 2016. After Kanye released a song with defamatory lyrics about Taylor Swift apparently without her consent.
Earlier this year two brothers both won the lottery in the USA with separate tickets on the same day, but one walked away with $291million while the other took home a lousy jackpot of $7.
CLOSING DATE FOR ALL COMPETITIONS IS 22/09/16
Inside Knowledge // All the answers are within this issue of Inside Time - all you have to do is find them! The first three names to be drawn with all-correct answers (or nearest) will receive a £25 cash prize. There will also be two £5 runner up prizes. The winners’ names will appear in next month’s issue. 1. What percentage of young men in custody have spent time in care? 2. How long did the jury take to dismiss allegations against Kato Harris? 3. Who spent time running around HMDC Send like a demented squaddie? 4. When was ‘Operation Midland’ closed down? 5. Who is Director of the Longford Trust? 6. How many people are currently serving indeterminate sentences? 7. It is 150 years since whose roots were established? 8. Whose cell door was opened by the Specialist Team with riot shields? 9. Which prison donated 14 boxes of food to a local Foodbank? 10. Who can’t get excited by silver and bronze medals?
How to enter
11. Who had visited Loch Rannoch whilst man visited the moon? 12. Who described Swaleside as a ‘dangerous prison’? 13. Who set up an online store when he was aged 13? 14. Who would throw his ‘tag’ down the nearest drain? 15. Who was badly hurt in an unprovoked attack by a prisoner? Answers to Last Month’s Inside Knowledge Prize Quiz 1. Juliet Lyon, 2. Lego, 3. 5 Days, 4. Wandsworth, 5. Frankland, 6. Peter Clarke, 7. Tammy Moreton, 8. Barbara Burton, 9. Monday & Friday, 10. Noel Smith, 11. 46%, 12. Novus, 13. Fiona Sample, 14. Daniel McGrath, 15. PSI 30/2013
The three £25 Prize winners are: L Dawson HMP Hatfield Mr Nelson HMP Preston Karl Matthews HMP Lewes
The £5 runner up prizes go to: Michael Dewar HMP Holme House W Abraham HMP Styal
Please do not cut out any of these panels. Just send your entry on a separate sheet of paper. Make sure your NAME, NUMBER AND PRISON is on all sheets. Failure to do so will invalidate your entry. Post to: Inside Time, Botley Mills, Botley, Southampton, Hampshire SO30 2GB. You can use one envelope to enter more than one competition just mark it ‘jailbreak’.
Answers to last months quizzes PATHFINDER
CROSSWORD
8
4
3
SUDOKU 5
6 4 9
7 9
Down 1. Andorra 2. Robin 3. Crinoline 4. Deed 5. Bassinet 6. Angel 7. Baudouin 8. Marnie 14. Autonomy 16. Twitchers 17. Tennyson 18. Canute 20. Cortege 22. Visor 24. Adorn 25. Kepi
4
3
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1
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9
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5 1 4
1 7
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Daily Sudoku: Sat 2-Jul-2016
5 6 7 9
8 4 2 3
2 8 5 1
3 5 9 2
9 1 6 7
Daily Sudoku: Sat 2-Jul-2016
1 3 4 8
6 7 1 4
4 2 3 6
7 9 8 5
medium
(c) Daily Sudoku Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.
8 5 9 6 4 7 3 1 2 3 7 4 1 2 5 9 8 6 2 1 6 8 3 9 5 7 4 1 6 7 4 5 2 8 9 3 4 9 3 7 8 6 2 5 1
Roses Rings Chocolate Hearts Dinner Cards Presents Kisses Engagement Dates Love Paris Romance Party Cupid Diamonds Women
ANAGRAM SQUARE O
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O
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3 I
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A L
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MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE?
1. Italian 2. Mexico City 3. Microwaves 4. Q or Z 5. Christopher Columbus 6. True 7. The Sun 8. 6/5, six fifths 9. French 10. Peter Pan 11. 16 12. Hitler
CATCHPHRASE
bear boar boor door
1 C
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE
Church Champagne Wine Sexy underwear Me and you
WORD MORPH
6
(c) Daily Sudoku Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.
Across 1. Abracadabra 9. Dubliners 10. Ghana 11. Ransom 12. Bin Laden 13. Adagio 15. Gertrude 18. Catheter 19. Picnic 21. Non-event 23. Eclair 26. Tomes 27. Stevedore 28. Renaissance
1. Cry all the way to the bank 2. The stakes are high 3. That’s too bad 4. Eyes in the back of my head 5. Miniskirt 6. All in All THE RIDDLER 1. Thimble, 2. Rainbow, 3. Candle, 4. Job, 5. Waterfall, 6. Umbrella, 7. Wind, 8. Twelve, 9. Wheelbarrow, 10. Shoe, 11. Stockings, 12. Anchor
T
ANAGRAMS
1. From Russia With Love, 2.Goldfinger, 3.You Only Live Twice, MIND GYM 4.On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, 5. Thunderball, 6. Die http://www.dailysudoku.com/ 1. 100, 2. 160, 3. 49 Another Day, 7. The World Is Not Enough, 8. Casino Royale
CONTACT
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Jailbreak // Just for Fun 53
Insidetime September 2016
www.insidetime.org
Crossword
Inside Chess by Carl Portman
The Riddler
I have become used to the questions that people ask me when I tell them that I manage chess in prisons. One common query, born out of ignorance is ‘Aren’t you equipping prisoners to be more creative in committing crime when they get out?’ I used to get annoyed at this but now I like to take the opportunity to turn ignorance into enlightenment. I turn the question around and ask the enquirer what they would do? Would they do nothing at all regarding giving prisoners the opportunity to seek further education? How would they think an inmate would feel upon being released if they had received no support, no encouragement, no mental stimulation? Perhaps they would be bitter, frustrated and angry - hardly a recipe for a positive return to the outside world.
Across 1. The branch of physics that deals with light and vision (6) 4. Type of desk with a slatted wooden panel that can be pulled down (4-3) 9. In golf, a hole played in three strokes under par (9) 10. City on the Seine where Joan of Arc was executed in 1431 (5) 11. A visual representation (5) 12. Drew —, American actress (9) 13. An imaginary race, like small humans with hairy feet, in stories by J. R. R. Tolkien (7) 15. “The — Crack’d from Side to Side”, a novel by Agatha Christie (6) 17. “Wall —”, 1987 film directed by Oliver Stone (6) 19. One who tests a metal or ore to determine its ingredients and quality (7) 22. Elementary particles with the same mass as electrons and a numerically equal but positive charge (9) 24. Chief commercial centre and port of Nigeria (5) 26. — Bohr, Danish physicist awarded the Nobel Prize in 1975 (5) 27. Superhero played by Tobey Maguire in a 2002 film (6-3) 28. Ornamental work of interlaced and branching lines, especially the lacy openwork in a Gothic window (7) 29. The capital of Canada (6)
GEF BAD CHI Neil Speed is a former prisoner who came up with the concept of GEF BAD CHI whilst in prison. GEF BAD CHI by Neil Speed is published by Xlibris. RRP: £12.35 Using the letters G,E,F,B,A,D,C,H & I fill in the blank squares. Each letter A-I must appear only once in each line column and 3x3 grid.
Down 1. A Hebrew prophet of the 6th century BC (7) 2. A pair of small drums played with the hands in Indian music (5) 3. 18th century Empress of Russia who greatly increased the territory of the empire (9) 4. A platform for public speaking (7) 5. — Hagman, actor who starred as J. R. Ewing in the TV series “Dallas” (5) 6. The saying of the same thing twice over in different words (9) 7. A small basket for fruit (6) 8. English philosopher and political theorist who expressed his ideas in the book “Leviathan” (6) 14. The mother of Solomon (9) 16. Marked by the ability to recover readily, as from misfortune (9) 18. Exiled Soviet revolutionary murdered in 1940 (7) 19. — Powers, a character played by Mike Myers in a series of films (6) 20. —Arquette, American actress (7) 21. A small harpsichord with a single keyboard (6) 23. The sense of what is fitting, harmonious, or beautiful (5) 25. The third letter of the Greek alphabet (5)
Another (more difficult) question I am asked is how I know if chess has played a part in helping to positively shape an inmate’s outlook on life - and indeed their behaviour - once they have been released. The truth is I do not know the answer. All I do know is what inmates tell me when they write from the inside. I do however point to John Healy’s book ‘The Grass Arena’ where as a former inmate he writes about how chess changed his life for the better when released after learning the game. I do not know how to obtain such information ‘post release’. I would ask those with an interest in chess to write to me via the English Chess Federation with any positive stories in this respect. It would be super to have such valuable feedback.
6. Who spends the day at the window, goes to the table for meals and hides at night?
1. You are in a room with 3 monkeys. One monkey has a banana, one has a stick, and one has nothing. Who is the smartest primate?
________________
7. In a tunnel of darkness lies a beast of iron. It can only attack when pulled back. What is it?
________________
2. I’m the part of the bird that’s not in the sky. I can swim in the ocean and yet remain dry. What am I?
8. What is easy to get into, but hard to get out of?
________________ ________________ 3. If you were standing directly on Antarctica’s south pole facing north, which direction would you travel if you took one step backward?
9. Lives without a body, hears without ears, speaks without a mouth, to which the air alone gives birth. What is it?
________________ 4. Look at me. I can bring a smile to your face, a tear to your eye, or even a thought to your mind. But, I can’t be seen. What am I?
________________ 5. When the day after tomorrow is yesterday, today will be as far from wednesday as today was from wednesday when the day before yesterday was tomorrow. What is the day after this day?
________________ 10. Three lives have I. Gentle enough to soothe the skin. Light enough to caress the sky. Hard enough to crack rocks. What am I?
________________ 11. I go in hard. I come out soft. You blow me. What am I?
________________ 12. What is it that no man ever yet did see, which never was, but always is to be?
________________ ________________ Answers to all puzzles are in the next issue. Only Puzzles on the ‘Prize Winning Puzzles’ page have prizes for completing. Tom Winckley - HMP Ashfield
Wordsearch // Oscar Winners Oscar Winners
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
Let us move on to this month’s puzzle which is taken from the game Tal-Benko Amsterdam 1964. Benko as black just captured a pawn on the e5 square with his queen. Why was this a terrible mistake, especially against the ferocious Latvian? A chess magazine (back copy) donated by Chess & Bridge of London is the prize if you are first out of the hat. The answer to August’s puzzle is: 1.h2-h3 g5xh4+ (if 1…g5-g4 then 2.h3xg4#) 2.Kg3-f4 g6-g5+ 3.Kf4-f5 g5-g4 (forced) 4.h3xg4 checkmate. Winner to be announced next month. The winner of July’s puzzle was Stephen from HMP Garth.
H E L T S U H N A C I R E M A Q E A M H
J M E E L G N A C X G H R T Q Z L T E O
T L S V O V X Y V C B N E T E P Q A B L
S O M B X N T A T H E D E P A R T E D L
Pacino AlAlPacino Amelie Amelie American Hustle American Ang Lee Hustle Argo Ang Lee Avatar Argo Black Swan Avatar Chaplin Black Swan Chicago Chaplin Fargo
I P I N C I A S B R J T N C V H C N N Y
N Q S S V B B R R U H Z I G L S V N D H
A W E A B G N I D E M N A E N D A S G U
I E R A N S M C A O O M D B M W E D I N
P G A S B N A R V U D G C F S N S O K T
E B B D E M T V G J E I V K O A O G S E
Chicago Fargo Gravity Heath Ledger Helen Mirren Holly Hunter Judi Dench La Vie en Rose Leonardo
H G L L N I R F Y R X B C O E B R A N R
T C E M S X A H R J A A T A R D N C A T
H H S T A Z F D U N L A G N P S E I L D
E A E V S V F D F B L D F Y U R E H O A
S P N Q F F I B X P D T I T A N I C P R
DiCaprio Les Miserables Mad Max: Fury Road Mark Rylance Oscar Platoon Roman Polanski
G L H C U D C N A M E L I E G R V O N A
V I Y V E E T M M K W E F O G G A Y A C
F N D N T U E F D L F A R G O H L H M S
S O C H H E C N A L Y R K R A M D D O O
G H J S E D N E M M A S H A V A T A R J
Sam Mendes The Artist The Departed The Pianist The Queen Titanic Traffic
Gravity to Tom Winckley - HMP Ashfield for compiling this Thanks Heath Ledger If you fancy compiling one for us please just send it in Wordsearch. max x 20 grid and complete with answers shown on a grid. If we Helen20Mirren use it we will send you £5 as a thank you! Remember to include your Holly Hunter name, number and prison with your entry. Judi Dench La Vie en Rose Leonardo DiCaprio Les Miserables
54 Jailbreak // Just for Fun
Insidetime September 2016
www.insidetime.org
In this month...
Mind Gym
3 September 1941
57
÷3 / +76 / ×3 / -45 / +1/6 =
__
8
×12 / +47 / x4 / +75% / -668 =
__
273 ÷91 / Cubed / ×22 / +50% / -2/3 =
__
The first gas chamber experiments were conducted at Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland. Karl Fritzsch, the deputy camp commandant, used Zyklon B (a cyanide-based pesticide) to kill a group of Soviet prisoners of war. This method of extermination proved effective and led to the deaths of more than 1 million people in Nazi extermination camps.
Submitted by Peter McPhillips - HMP Dumfries. Start on the left with the first number and work your way across following the instructions in each cell. If you would like to submit similar puzzles we will pay £5 for any that are chosen for print. Please send in a minimum of three puzzles together with the answer!
4 September 1956 IBM introduced the world’s first commercial hard disk drive - the 350 Disk Storage Unit. It could hold 5Mb of data on a tower of fifty 24-inch magnetised platters.
Sudoku // Hard
5 September 1976 The first episode of the television series The Muppet Show was broadcast on ITV in the UK (after failing to get picked up by US networks).
8 September 1916 Two American sisters, Adelina and August Van Buren, became the first women to cross the USA on motorcycles. They set off from New York City on 4th July and arrived in Los Angeles, California on 8th September. During the crossing they got lost in the desert and had to be rescued when their water ran out, and were arrested for ‘wearing men’s clothing’.
8 September 1966 The first episode of the science fiction television series Star Trek was broadcast on NBC in the USA.
Anagrams // Beatles songs
9 September 1936
1. DIRTY PAPER (3,7)
Adolf Hitler revealed his Four-Year Plan in a speech before the Labour Front in Nuremberg. He stated that Germany was overpopulated and could not feed itself from its own resources. It should extend its living space and/or the source of its food. In order to achieve this, the German Army must become operational within 4 years and the German economy must become fit for war within 4 years.
_________________________ 2. CUT IOWA NETWORK (2,3,4,2,3)
_________________________ 3. WOW ADORING ONE (9,4) © MW Released life sentenced prisoner
14 September 1891
Our Team of over 25 specialist advisors have a wealth of experience to offer you including:
The first penalty kick in the English Football League was taken by Wolverhampton Wanderers in their match again Accrington. (The world’s first penalty kick was taken by Airdrieonians in Jan 1891.)
16 September 1956 Play-Doh modelling compound went on sale in the USA. It was originally sold as a wallpaper cleaning compound but was relaunched as a modelling compound when the inventor’s nephew discovered that nursery school children were using it to make Christmas ornaments.
25 September 1996 The last Magdalene Laundry (also known as Magdalene Asylums) was closed in Ireland. The laundries housed thousands of ‘fallen women’, removing them from society. They were forced to work long hours in commercial laundries for no pay, and were often abused. Those who died were buried in mass graves. The nuns who ran the laundries often didn’t know the women’s names and kept no records. (Ireland issued a formal apology in 2013 and launched a compensation scheme for survivors. There were also Magdalene Laundries/Asylums in Australia, Canada, England and the USA. Those in Ireland were the last to close. © www.ideas4writers.co.uk
National means near YOU! We can help you in ANY PRISON in England and Wales, at ANY TIME. You can also write to us FREEPOST at:
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• Parole Board Hearings • IPP Sentence Issues • Mandatory Lifers • Discretionary Lifers • Automatic Lifers • Sentence Planning Boards • Re-categorisation • Category A Reviews • DSPD Assessments • Accessing Courses • Parole • Recall • Independent Adjudications • Governor Adjudications • Challenge of MDT’s • HDC “Tagging” • Transfer • Judicial Review • Tariff Representations • IPP Sentence Appeals • Police Interviews
_________________________ 4. SEEDY TRAY (1)
_________________________ 5. AIRY GRENOBLE (7,5)
_________________________ 6. STAR HAD DINGHY (4,4,5)
_________________________ 7. OUT OF MEMORY (4,2,2,3)
_________________________ 8. CAVEMEN BUY LOT (4,3,2,4)
_________________________ 9. NEW LABOUR LIMEYS (6,9)
_________________________ 10. I DUST WHATNOTS (5,3,5)
_________________________ Answers to all puzzles are in the next issue. Only Puzzles on the ‘Prize Winning Puzzles’ page have prizes for completing.
Did I say that?
Pathfinder // On the move On the move pathfinder Scott Waring HMP Wymott
“I am not the next Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps. I am Simone Biles” American gymnast Simone Biles, at only 19 and 4ft 8in described by many as the greatest ever gymnast. “I just proved to them that even after we survived a war, if they want something they can have it. If they want to be Olympic champions, they can be. Even if we come from a small country, a poor country.” Judo star Majlinda Kelmendi speaking just after winning Kosovo’s first ever medal (gold) at their first Olympic games.
“Every Olympic event should include one average person competing for reference” Bill Murray
“Just can’t get excited by Silver & Bronze medals. You win or you lose. Ask real winners like Ferguson, Mourinho, Phelps or Bolt if coming 2nd or 3rd means anything” Piers Morgan on winning.
“I know I’m British. I haven’t spent much time in the U.K., but my parents are British, my family heritage is British, so if I wasn’t British, what would I be? I am British” Chris Froome, winner of a third Tour de France, defending his Britishness.
General Knowledge Quiz 1. From which US city can you travel south to Canada?
7. Name four of the Seven Deadly Sins.
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8. In which year did the Nazis invade Russia?
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Catchphrase Aeroplane
Ocean liner Bicycle Omnibus Caravan Running The object is to try to figure out the well-known saying, Coach Scooter place, to represent. Coasteror thing that each square is meant Skates Dog sledge Skis Donkey Tandem Express train Taxi Ferry The tube Helicopter Tram Horse Trawler Hovercraft Walking Lorry Yacht Motor car Motor cycle
person,
10. What is the normal number of bones in the adult human body?
4. How many balls on the pool table at the start of a game?
206 £
16 £
260 £
Word Morph
5. What was found to be out of focus after it was launched?
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12. Name the three Primary Colours.
6. In what position do adult horses normally sleep?
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Can you morph one word into another by just changing one letter at a time? It isn't quite as easy as you think!
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Thanks to Rob McPhillips HMP Stafford. If you fancy compiling an Anagram Square for us please just send it in 5 x 5 squares, complete with answers shown on a grid. If we use it we will send you £5 as a thank you! Remember to include your name, number and prison with your entry.
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Answers to all puzzles are in the next issue. Only Puzzles on the ‘Prize Winning Puzzles’ page have prizes for completing.
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Rearrange the letters in each row to form a word. Write your answers into the blank grid. The first letter from each word, reading down, will spell the mystery keyword.
2
pore
CHRISTMAS SALE
Thanks to Scott Waring HMP Wymott for compiling this Pathfinder. If you fancy compiling one for us please just send it in either 15 x 15 or 12 x 12 squares, complete with answers. If we use it we will send you £5 as a thank you! Remember to include your name, number and prison with your entry.
1
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11. Where in Scotland is Dunkirk?
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Motor cycle Ocean liner Omnibus Running Scooter Skates Skis Tandem Taxi The tube Tram Trawler Walking Yacht
Aeroplane Bicycle Caravan Coach Coaster Dog sledge Donkey Express train Ferry Helicopter Horse Hovercraft Lorry Motor car
Anagram Square
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1941 £
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9. Name ALL of the Seven Dwarfs.
3. Where did the ukulele originate?
12 £
Jailbreak // Just for Fun 55
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Insidetime September 2016
Parole Hearings • Adjudications • Recalls Members of the Association of Prison Lawyers
56 Jailbreak // National Prison Radio
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What’s on National Prison Radio // September 2016 National Prison Radio is currently available in prisons across England and Wales. We broadcast 24-hours a day, seven days a week, into your cell. If your prison has National Prison Radio, you can listen through your TV by using the tuning buttons on your remote control.
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Insidetime September 2016
