October 2019 / Issue No

“She would have under- “No prison is perfect, “I do not film to provoke, stood what you are all but beneath that there but to record” the National Newspaper for Prisoners & Detainees experiencing” Anne is good work if you look Rex Bloomstein talks Frank goes to the Scrubs! for it” Simon Shepherd about his new film a voice for prisoners since Comment // page 19 Comment // page 28 Comment // page 30 October 2019 / Issue No. 244 / www.insidetime.org / A ‘not for profit’ publication/ ISSN 1743-7342 NPR CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH 50 // PRISON GARDENS IN BLOOM 16 An average of 60,000 copies distributed monthly Independently verified by the Audit Bureau of Circulations News in brief Say no to knives! A serving lifer who was sen- tenced for a knife killing aged 15 is fronting a new anti-knife crime campaign aimed at schools in the West Midlands. Sadam Essakhil (below) wants to deter other young people from carrying knives. In a video he explains, “I just went out there feeling that I needed to protect myself. But from Trailblazers award winner with Lord David Ramsbotham 14 what? When you think about it you don’t need that knife.” This is his powerful message. Dr Jenny Somerville presents Ishmail with a special award Blazing a Trail © Andy Aitchison On the Knife Wire page 10 Former prisoners win awards! Young people in prison charity Trailblazers which celebrated its 21st anniversary at the House of Lords in September. Lord David Ramsbotham, former prisons inspector, who hosted the event said, “This is what prison should be, finding the WINNER! best in those we incarcerate.” Serving prisoner wins ‘Educator of the Year’ prize at prestigious Prisoner Learning Alliance Awards Officially Inside Time report chair of the PLA, Professor former PLA winners, summed the LARGEST Tom Schuller. Prison educa- prison law up the day with her acknowl- provider in tors from all over the country edgement of prison educators the Country “I still remember the first attended, creating an atmos- everywhere. “People who night after bang up, all alone phere of hope and optimism help people in prison to be- The National Prison Law Specialists in the cell…” said Ishmail for all incarcerated people in come the better versions of (above) “On many occasions, the UK. Held at the beating themselves are the true pro- Trusted by more prisoners in England and Wales learners would refuse to en- heart of the Open University tectors of society. Fewer than any other Solicitors. gage with Education. As al- (Walton Hall, Milton Keynes), ways, I would use my life the day was full of applause prison leavers who offend With Experts across the Country, skills to convince them other- and mutual respect and mean fewer victims. That’s we can represent you in ANY PRISON. wise. Their success was my encouragement. why we do what we do. This success and only together is an issue that we should all Call our dedicated team on 0115 986 0983 could we achieve the results.” The Prison Reform Trust’s be supporting.” or write to us at: Paula Harriott, who opened FREEPOST RTAB-BATB-HGAU The event was hosted by the event introducing two Full report pages 34/35 Carringtons Solicitors, Nottingham NG2 2JR. Talent www.carringtons-solicitors.co.uk inside! Our Expert team of over 40 specialist advisors have a wealth of experience to offer you including: Another Me, this year’s UK exhibition of Koestler winners at • Parole Board Reviews • Category A Review London’s Southbank Centre is • Recall to Prison • Minimum Term Reviews curated by award-winning • Police Interviews • Sentence Planning Boards musician Soweto Kinch. The title for the exhibition invites • Independent Adjudication Hearings • Re-Categorisation visitors to reassess their per- • Governor Adjudications • Transfer ceptions of people who have • HDC “Tagging” & Sentence Calculation • Close Supervision Centre Review spent time inside. Inside Time’s Rachel Billington was an early observer. “This is the for immediate FREE advice public face of nearly eight call us at the local rate on thousand entries,” she says. 08454 750 650 18 The Test - HMP Greenock © Koestler Carrington Advert 155x130 09.2018.indd 1 23/10/2018 12:37 2 Mailbag ‘Mailbag’, Inside Time, Botley Mills, Botley, Southampton SO30 2GB. Insidetime October 2019 Prejudicial convictions? insidetime Boris visits Mailbites a voice for prisoners since 1990 R Bagnall - HMP Littlehey Change of clothes at Styal the national newspaper for prisoners published by Leeds I submit that a lot of guilty verdicts for sex-crimes in the UK T Springthorpe - Prisoners friend and family Inside Time Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Zac Capel - HMP Leeds The New Bridge Foundation, founded in 1956 to are unsafe. As soon as someone accused of a sex-crime steps create links between the offender and the community. into the dock, especially if children are involved, the jury, Once again, the female prisoners are having Inside Time is wholly responsible for its editorial being only human, see the accused in a different light. Today we had a visit from their clothing scrutinised. There appears to be content. Comments or complaints should be the new leader of our no consistency to the changes. The changes directed to the publisher and not to New Bridge. The idea of being innocent until proven guilty becomes a fal- esteemed country, Mr Boris come out of the blue with no specified lacy as the onus is now on the accused to prove his/her inno- Johnson. We were not told timeframe for prisoners friends etc to be able Board of Directors to buy the next appropriate clothing that’s cence. In many cases, the only evidence is word of mouth he was coming, most likely to stop us having a mutiny permitted. My friends in HMP Styal are very Trevor Grove Former Editor Sunday Telegraph, from the accuser, who the jury already tend to believe be- as he is not well thought of. fed up they have been told they can only have Journalist, Writer and former Magistrate. cause of their bias against your charge. Therefore, the odds Phil Wheatley Former Director General of Prison All of our association and clothes sent in on the anniversary day they Service. of being found guilty are far greater, especially if the accuser yard time was cut short and came to prison. Otherwise they must buy Dr Peter Bennett Trustee, New Bridge is a good actor and a good liar. I asked the staff why we clothing from a catalogue. Well I don’t know Foundation and former Governor of HMP Grendon were being locked up early who has the spare cash to buy from catalogues. John D Roberts Former Company Chairman and This brings me to the article in the August issue of Inside but was told they had no Why should they have the same underwear to Managing Director employing former prisoners Time concerning the use of polygraphs. I read, with interest, live in for a year? It might be what the reception Louise Shorter CEO Inside Justice and former idea. Things really started to producer BBC Rough Justice that the biggest users of this equipment in the UK is the Pro- smell fi shy when not one, governor does but don’t expect all females to Alistair H E Smith BSc FCA Chartered Accountant, bation Service, who have used them since 2007, in spite of not two but three governors do. Can anyone in authority explain how and Trustee and Treasurer, New Bridge Foundation them being considered only 80-90% accurate. Lie detectors descended on the wing and why these changes keep happening, that have been used on some released prisoners as part of their li- pretended to take notice of would be helpful. The insideteam cense conditions. Failing a test can result in a recall to prison. what a small group of cat D-seeking prisoners had to Great mail robbery say. They smiled big false Darren Biggs - HMP Hewell “My question is, if polygraph tests are not accept- smiles, but they weren’t ed and recognised in UK courts, how the f*** can really listening. Mr Johnson In reply to the mailbag by Dean Holford, has been given a false ‘Where’s the mail?’ (August issue), I am the Probation Service use them to return some impression of HMP Leeds. experiencing the same problems. I was given a Erwin James John Roberts Rachel poor sod to prison?” He never saw the problems court slip last week which came as a surprise Editor in Chief Publisher Billington OBE we have to deal with every because I had no idea I was due in court. It and Director Associate Editor turns out my solicitor had been writing to me It seems to me that it is only the accused who is made to take day, just breezed in and about it since early July, but I had not received a test, and only after the fact. What about the accuser? Are talked to the hand-picked his letters. I asked the wing S.O about it and he they not capable of telling lies? Some have been found to be minority. The trouble is, by the governors covering up told me I was on a Public Protection Order, doing so in very high-profile cases. the problems it means that which was news to me. I had received no mail Mr Johnson won’t help at all. I would like to know why I was not So, how about letting the defence and prosecution use poly- informed that I was on a Public Protection Noel Smith Paul Sullivan David Roberts because as far as he’s graphs on both the accused and accuser before any trial? Commissioning Editorial Operations concerned there are no Order and why my legal mail was withheld? Editor Assistant Manager This gives both sides an idea who is telling the truth.

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