HMP Onley “... A vicious circle where fear, frustration and boredom increased the demand for drugs, which in turn fuelled the Inside Bitch ‘explores and “We offer Blackness as an violence.” challenges public percep- explanatory factor, as if we the National Newspaper for Prisoners & Detainees tions of prison and women don’t need to know anything A damning report by HM in prison.’ Rachel Billington else about them.” Akala Chief Inspector Peter Clarke a voice for prisoners since Comment // page 16 Comment // page 22 Information // page 38 April 2019 / Issue No. 238 / www.insidetime.org / A ‘not for profit’ publication/ ISSN 1743-7342 FACE RECOGNITION FOR VISITORS 11 // CHRIS GRAYLING FOCUS 12 // EASTER STORY 30 An average of 60,000 copies distributed monthly Independently verified by the Audit Bureau of Circulations GUILTY! Five Medomsley officers convicted of ‘abuse for pleasure’ of prisoners office between 1975 and De- cember 1980, and a separate charge of misconduct in public office covering a later period from January 1981 to Decem- ber 1985, inflicting grievous bodily harm to the boy on the cargo net, three charges of 15 assault causing actual bodily © HMP Ford harm, wounding with intent. Officer A, 74, was convicted of Ford’uck sake! Inside Time report beaten into submission, the misconduct in public office fact that they were young of- and assault causing actual fenders meant it was less likely bodily harm. Officer B, 71, was Daffy tilers put smiles on faces at HMP Ford Five former Medomsley De- they would be believed and convicted of misconduct in tention Centre prison officers they knew it. The favourite de- public office. Officer Neil have been convicted of historic vice of the officers was to ask Sowerby, 62, was cleared of physical abuse at the institu- the trainee to give his name. misconduct in public office, tion - which the jurors were Usually he would give his sexual charges and assault. told, was done purely for the name but fail to add “sir” to In the final trial Officers C and enjoyment of the officers and his reply. That would then be D, 70, were both convicted of as a means of degrading and an excuse for punches and/or misconduct in public office humiliating the young boys in kicks sometimes with broken but cleared of assaults caus- their charge. Boys were beaten noses, black eyes and the like.” ing actual bodily harm. David as soon as they arrived as a McClure, 63, was cleared of way of instilling fear into The PE instructor was con- assault and misconduct. All them, they heard. One, a PE victed of misconduct in public five of the convicted former instructor, was said to have officers will be sentenced to- used PE sessions to beat and gether at a later date. humiliate the young prison- ers, some of whom ended up More than 1,600 victims have in hospital. One boy ended up now contacted police to say in a body cast for weeks after they were abused at Medoms- falling twenty feet when he ley, and the Durham Constab- was knocked off a cargo net ulary investigation into what with bricks and stones: as he went on there is now thought lay crying with agony, the PE to be the biggest historic child instructor said: “Shut up you “There wasn’t a regime of abuse probe the country has soft bastard, there’s nothing abuse, these are individu- ever seen. wrong with you.” als that have abused their positions, either by taking They include boys being The trials, which opened in that opportunity, or seeking dragged semi-naked from toi- September 2018, heard from out that opportunity, who lets for taking too long, and 71 complainants. Jamie Hill used their position in being forced to eat salt for QC told jurors: “This was vio- public office to gain access talking during a meal. lence seemingly carried out to vulnerable individuals. for the enjoyment of the of- These people had been Teesside Crown Court heard ficers. And they were serious getting on with their lives, how one young prisoner was crimes then as much as they what’s nice is we have beaten up by the officer in would be now. To simply say been able to bring justice charge of physical training that it was a different time to these people who think when he tried to tell him that with different attitudes would they have got away with it another officer - later jailed be to abdicate responsibility and re-balance the for sexual abuse - had raped for investigating serious alle- situation for the victims.” him in the kitchens. gations of crime against peo- Detective Chief Supt. Write to: • 13 St.John Street MANCHESTER M3 4DQ ple made vulnerable due to Adrian Green • 15 Old Bailey LONDON EC4M 7EF their incarceration. They were Medomsley Focus page 10 2 Mailbag ‘Mailbag’, Inside Time, Botley Mills, Botley, Southampton SO30 2GB. Insidetime April 2019 and suicides … ignorant? officer is not corrupt, they Mailbites insidetime Dear Rory… are automatically assumed Short-sighted? Naive? He a voice for prisoners since 1990 Richie Hall - to be doing, and I quote “a chats about “in-cell tele- phones” okay I’ll jump on HMP Moorland terrific job”. Maybe 2% of Positive outcome the national newspaper for prisoners published by prison officers nationwide board with that but it won’t Name withheld - HMP Hull Inside Time Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of stop mobile phones as he Upon reading “Expecting are “terrific”. The New Bridge Foundation, founded in 1956 to believes. As a person who gave up smoking a number of create links between the offender and the community. More” in the Comment sec- years ago, I was concerned that a smoking tion of the February issue, I “As all prisoners know, environment and potential boredom at times Apparently, he’s “a big sup- Inside Time is wholly responsible for its editorial honestly could not decide might lead me to relapse. Thankfully the content. Comments or complaints should be what the government porter of goats and dogs” … smoking ban ensured that this did not happen. directed to the publisher and not to New Bridge. whether Prisons Minister think staff in prisons erm …okay! The only intelli- It also appears to be a positive outcome for Rory Stewart’s ignorance gent quote of the whole in- Board of Directors are like (on paper) is the vast majority of inmates who, hopefully, outweighed his short sight- terview... “the best governors not necessarily what will remain abstinent from smoking for the rest edness or whether his na- are listening to prisoners”. Trevor Grove Former Editor Sunday Telegraph, of their longer and healthier lives. I’m aware Journalist, Writer and former Magistrate. ivety outweighed them both. they are like in reality.” He also says prisoners “have that opinions on the smoking ban are divided, Dr Peter Bennett Trustee, New Bridge I’m an IPP which, as Stephen a clear idea about what however, the benefits clearly outweigh the Foundation and former Governor of HMP Grendon Faulkner of HMP Feather- Hence this “prison officers works, they are the core of negatives and my thanks to the governor of Geoff Hughes Former Governor of HMP Belmarsh stone rightly pointed out in handbook” will just be a dif- our business”. If he truly be- John D Roberts Former Company Chairman and the Star Letter in your Febru- ferent set of rules, that staff HMP Hull for supporting this. Managing Director employing former prisoners lieves this, then why does he ary issue, means I am actu- can bend to their will. Louise Shorter CEO Inside Justice and former want us to get PAVA sprayed producer BBC Rough Justice ally a political prisoner. whenever we’re wearing No work, not happy Alistair H E Smith BSc FCA Chartered Accountant, On to PAVA spray, 100% it flipflops on the landing? James Hollingsworth - HMP Oakwood Trustee and Treasurer, New Bridge Foundation I will start with the Prison will be used to punish pris- I am writing about the situation here at The Inside Team Minister’s idea to scrap short oners and enforce rules. I The insideteam I’ll finish with this final quote Oakwood. I have heard of a number of good sentences in order to reduce cannot comment on the about reducing violence in “graduate programme” he reviews about purposeful activity in this prison numbers. Of course, prisons; “I’ve got to begin talks about as I’ve never establishment but for the past 5 weeks I have I’m all for this, short sen- bringing it down. If it’s still heard of it. been unemployed. I have put in a number of tences simply don’t work. going up in August, I’m gone”. Comp 1’s and Comp2’s as there is no justified However, Mr Stewart, when So he must bring it down This one’s funny though - reason as to why I shouldn’t be able to gain a sink is clogged it is not and if it goes up, he quits … “no bars on windows”. Fi- employment or get some sort of education. I enough to simply stop add- what if it stays the same? Erwin James John Roberts Rachel nally we can watch pigeons also suffer from mental health problems and ing to it - it must be un- Editor in Chief Publisher Billington OBE pecking at mountains of it’s not very helpful being banged up 23 hours clogged and the clog One last thing before I go, and Director Associate Editor rubbish and clearly see the a day every day.