Junior “Policy should be based on “The system hasn’t got the “It is a time for reassurance, clear researched evidence capacity and capability to coming together and small and not on the whim of do the things that it needs acts of kindness which every- the National Newspaper for Prisoners & Detainees Government.” Andrea Albutt to do” Dame Anne Owers one can do.” Juliet Lyon CBE a voice for prisoners since Comment // page 19 Comment // page 23 Comment // pages 26-27 April 2020 / Issue No. 250 / www.insidetime.org / A ‘not for profit’ publication/ ISSN 1743-7342 BELOW THE BELT 21 // FOOD FOCUS 24-25 // PROGRESSION REGIMES 33 An average of 60,000 copies distributed monthly Independently verified by the Audit Bureau of Circulations ALSO CORONAVIRUS What you need to know l Prisons working closely with Public l Procedures in place to manage l “The safety and wellbeing of staff, pris- Health and NHS. outbreaks of infectious diseases, prisons oners and visitors is paramount and at the are prepared if cases are identified. heart of our approach.” Prisons Minister how you use the gym or library or the jobs you different ways we can do that. do. It will probably mean less time out of your Jo Farrar - CEO Prisons and Probation cell. If you become unwell, or you have been in You can help to keep yourself and the prison contact with someone who has become unwell, healthy by continuing to follow the hand washing Right now, the country is facing something it has then you will need to stay in your cell until we can guidance and doing the same thing as people in never experienced before and everyone is having be sure you aren’t infectious. the community are doing. This includes social to do things differently. This is to help stop the distancing, particularly if you are over 70 or have spread of coronavirus and keep people healthy. I want you to know that you will still get basic pay a health condition that might make you and your incentives won’t change if you can’t vulnerable. Most children aren’t going to school, lots of peo- work because of this. I also know that you may ple are working from home, and the elderly and be worried about how your family might cope Everyone is feeling anxious about this situation people who might be more vulnerable to illnesses with the restrictions in the community, particu- because it isn’t something we are used to experi- are ‘socially distancing’ themselves. This might larly if they are unwell. They will also be worried encing. It does impact on everyone and now, mean they do not use the tube; they avoid large about you. more than ever, we need to work together to keep gatherings; or gatherings in smaller spaces. everyone healthy. One of our main priorities during this time is to We also need to make some changes in prisons to make sure that you get plenty of contact with Thank you for working with us at this difficult keep you healthy. This may include changes to your families and we are looking at a range of time. VISITOR GUIDANCE: www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-and-prisons#visiting-prisons-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak CORONAVIRUS: BULLETIN BOARD 32 // PRISONS TRY TO MAINTAIN REGIMES 12 // CCRC UPDATE 42 // NPR UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE MONTH 46 MICHAEL PURDON SOLICITOR CALL US: 0191 232 1006 SOMETIMES YOU JUST NEED AN EXPERT VISIT: purdonlaw.co.uk PAROLE - RECALL LONDON: 7 New Square, PRE-TARIFF REVIEWS Lincolns Inn, London, WC2C 3QS (BY APPOINTMENT ONLY) CAT A REVIEWS-TARIFF REVIEWS NEWCASTLE: Wards Buildings, NATIONWIDE SERVICE 31-39 High Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne, Founding members, serving for 3 years as Chair and Deputy Chair of the Association Tyne and Wear NE1 1EW of Prison Lawyers 2 Mailbag ‘Mailbag’, Inside Time, Botley Mills, Botley, Southampton SO30 2GB. Insidetime April 2020 Slave industry insidetime Bringing shame Mailbites a voice for prisoners since 1990 R Handley - HMP Ashfield on Islam Why DHL? the national newspaper for prisoners published Raj Koli - HMP Onley by Inside Time Limited, a wholly owned I have been in prison since March 2015 and I Name withheld - HMP Wakefield subsidiary of The New Bridge Foundation, have seen a lot of goings on that would raise I am sure there are many inmates just like me founded in 1956 to create links between the the anger of the calmest person. The guy The recent and past terror attacks in London, offender and the community PUBLISHED wondering how often does the contract/ who wrote the article ‘Prison is a business’ in Manchester and around the world by so- WEEKLY ONLINE AND MONTHLY IN PRINT tender to supply canteen for HMP estates get called Muslims are not Islamic acts, they are the March issue of Inside Time forgot to men- put out? And why is it that DHL always secures acts that are a disgrace and bring shame on tion that the prison business is a multi-mil- the contract? Why don’t Prison Service Islam. The religion of Islam is based upon Board of Directors lion pound ‘Slave’ industry. the words of Allah (SWT) and the sunnah administration award the contract to a major Trevor Grove - Chairman Former Editor Sunday (doings) of the Prophet (PBUH). Taking the supplier like Tesco/Asda or any of the others? Telegraph, Journalist, Writer and former Magistrate. “Who truly benefits from us being latter first, the Prophet (PBUH) never at- These major suppliers sell everything. Not only Dr Peter Bennett Trustee, New Bridge forced to work for commercial tacked or killed unarmed people going about would it be cheaper for the inmates, but it Foundation and former Governor of HMP Grendon their business. When he went to war it was at would be a refreshing change. Surely, DHL John D Roberts Company Director employing companies for a pittance of pay?” a prearranged time and place. He faced his cannot be the only company in the race, again? former prisoners enemies face-to-face, weapon-to-weapon, Louise Shorter CEO Inside Justice and former producer BBC Rough Justice I would say the profit goes to the govern- unlike what these cowardly terrorists do. The benefits of Xbox Alistair H E Smith BSc FCA Chartered Accountant, ment, the commercial companies that are A Pike - HMP Littlehey Trustee and Treasurer, New Bridge Foundation happy to use prisoners when it suits them, As for those who kill themselves in their act Phil Wheatley Former Director General of Prison of terror or who wear fake suicide vests so though they probably would not offer a job Xboxes are a time-killer for us prisoners and Service. that they will be killed, they are going although they don’t have a direct relation to to a released prisoner as they’d have to pay against the command of Allah (SWT) of do rehabilitation, they do keep us calm and The insideteam proper wages, and the prisons themselves not kill yourselves. Setting out with the in- benefit. But never the prison slaves. tention of being killed is equal to killing entertained, and this is exactly what we need yourself. whilst under the stress of being locked up in Boris Johnson wants to increase prison sen- prison. There are several prisons with confus- tences and build more prisons. Why? Obvi- There is, therefore, no martyrdom for these ing and contradictory rules about Xboxes - some allow them, and other jails will only ously in order to increase the number of people or for those cowards who talk others into doing these acts. allow them unless they were brought with the slaves available. We have the hypocrisy to John Roberts inmate from another prison. I feel that all complain about other countries and the slav- Publisher For these people only hell awaits, for no mat- prisons should allow them due to the benefits and Director ery they use, but we are no different in the ter how much they or their family and friends they bring. Why punish the majority because a UK. ask for forgiveness, there is no forgiveness minority might misuse them? We need to for disgracing Islam. streamline the rules around Xboxes and then We should have a system much like in Scan- let everyone know exactly what they are. dinavia where prisoners work off their debt So those who may be thinking of committing to society with a proper wage to take care of such an act in the mistaken belief of martyr- their families and get out to something other dom and heaven, wake up. Follow the words Not so grisly Risley Erwin James Rachel Noel Smith of Allah (SWT) and the sunnah of the than 46 quid and no prospects. Anthony - former prisoner Editor in Chief Billington OBE Commissioning Prophet (PBUH) or prepare for hell. Associate Editor Editor I spent 9 months at HMP Risley on G-wing. May 19-Feb 20. These have got to be the worst months of my life ever. The VP wing, while it has genuinely respectful staff and quite a few decent respectful inmates, I got to comment on the scary regime ongoing there. Spice Ben Leapman Paul Sullivan David Roberts heads are constantly wandering around the Reporter and Editorial Operations wings, there is a constant air of threats and Feature Writer Assistant Manager violence. And I relate my experience there to 9 months in hell. The food is shocking, unless you enjoy heaps of potato or rice with your meagre main. Nine channels of boring TV.