“This offi cer helped me to learn to read, and without the prison experience I’d never have got anywhere in life” Big issue founder John Bird // Comment // page 26 “I had tried to distance “There was no considera- “It’s part escape, myself from these issues tion of the gender she had part therapy, and part the National Newspaper for Prisoners & Detainees because I didn’t possess the openly identifi ed with for simple child-like joy of skills to deal with them or be half her life” running when you could a voice for prisoners since honest even if I wanted to” Transgender prisoner’s be walking” June 2017 / Issue No. 216 / www.insidetime.org / A ‘not for profi t’ publication / ISSN 1743-7342 Andrew Allder death ‘waiting to happen’ Vassos Alexander An average of 60,000 copies distributed monthly Independently verifi ed by the Audit Bureau of Circulations Mailbag // page 4 Newsround // page 12 Jailbreak // page 44 thought fewer than 500 sam- ples were in question. Forensics Initial retesting of samples still held has shown broadly the same results as was pre- sented in court cases. However, 10% of samples are no longer held, cannot be shadow looms retested and thus can no longer be relied on. Much Thousands of convictions may be in doubt due could depend on how crucial the toxicology test results to “potential criminal acts” by lab workers were in the prosecution’s case. It is believed that a small num- Inside Time report investigation for allegedly cases as well as more minor perverting the course of jus- cases such as drug-driving, he ber of serious cases may end tice after issues with test added. Some results of tests up being referred to the Court Police say they fear that scores results emerged in January. relating to levels of drugs in of Appeal because of concerns of convictions may be chal- “We believe there are poten- blood could be wrong. Police about the safety of convictions lenged because of suspected tial criminal acts that took and prosecutors do not know where the testing done by manipulation of forensic test place,” said Vaughan. which can be relied on and are Randox was a part of the pros- results at a private laboratory trying to establish which ecution case. These would be in Manchester. The national Vaughan said the investigation results have been compro- cases where the original sam- police lead for forensic out- had grown, with the results mised. Investigators are look- ples tests cannot be found and sourcing, James Vaughan, of 6,000 samples under ques- ing into alleged manipulation thus cannot be retested. said that two employees of the tion. Scores of cases could be of data from toxicology testing testing services company referred to the Court of Appeal, carried out by Randox as far Randox were under criminal including rape and murder back as 2014. At first it was Continued page 11 Student Johnny with his prize-winning ewe Iona Man of Hope Image courtesy Michael Cooper Irish singer songwriter Foy Well done Ewe! Vance tells Inside Time about A Northern Ireland prisoner has won the power of music to heal a top prize for rearing farm animals at Northern Ireland’s Balmoral Show and change lives Johnny is part of a rehabilitation programme at Hydebank Wood “To a lot people music is a commodity, College in Belfast where sheep rearing was introduced in but in actual fact it’s transformative. September 2016. The two ewes and their three off -spring are part of an agri-initiative at the facility which houses young off enders It’s genuinely transformative. It’s like a and female prisoners who are taught livestock and husbandry religion in that sense. I believe it’s skills in a rehabilitation project which also aims to create working everything, it’s healing, its heartbreaking opportunities when they return to the community. Foy Vance “I could have been a prisoner” 22 and everything in between.” Continued page 13 Rahman Ravelli is a leading and confiscation proceedings. “An exceptional firm with exceptional people, firm in serious, heavyweight Rahman Ravelli Solicitors is the leader in the field” Rahman Ravelli’s hard-won reputation The Legal 500 and complex crime cases. has been earned in cases involving “They are absolutely uncompromising in The firm’s expertise, experience and tax fraud, financial regulation, money laundering, serious fraud, bribery and advancing the proper interests of the client” strong proactive defending ensures Chambers Legal Guide the best possible outcome. Its skilled, corruption, investment fraud and many tenacious defence solicitors are among other major legal issues. Not to mention “Driven by the pursuit of justice and fairness to the UK’s most highly rated when it its role in having shaped the law in the all and this shines through in every aspect” comes to criminal cases and restraint highest courts. Chambers Legal Guide Telephone Roma House, 59 Pellon 1 Fetter Lane 01422 Lane, Halifax, West London EC4A 1BR 346666 Yorkshire HX1 5BE Also in Birmingham www.rahmanravelli.co.uk / [email protected] Nationwide Service The strongest legal representation in the fields of serious, complex and business crime 2 Mailbag ‘Mailbag’, Inside Time, Botley Mills, Botley, Southampton SO30 2GB. Insidetime June 2017 insidetime Star Letter of the Month Punishing Mailbites a voice for prisoners since 1990 Congratulations to this months winner who receives our £25 prize visitors I love Lincoln the national newspaper for prisoners published by Name withheld Inside Time Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of I am shocked to hear how awful some other Respect us too prisons are, but I have been here at Lincoln for The New Bridge Foundation, founded in 1956 to My son is in Swinfen Hall. create links between the offender and the 6-months and have found the staff to be Jason Shields - HMP Wymott On our last visit, we saw a community. approachable and friendly. The main problem notice about how they are for this prison is that although it is a B-cat, it is A not for profi t publication. I have read the much-criticised White Paper that is Liz Truss’s cutting the visiting time by only classed as a ‘holding prison’. This means 15 mins, not a lot you may Inside Time is wholly responsible for its editorial plan for reform and rehabilitation, and most of it seems to be we will undoubtedly be moved elsewhere to content. Comments or complaints should be think but when you only see about the recruitment of new prison offi cers. There is a con- do rehab courses when, in my opinion, this directed to the publisher and not to New Bridge. your relative once a fortnight siderable amount of cash being used as an incentive to prison could do it better. I would love to do then it seems like a lot. The become a prison offi cer. It seems that the POA have got their my sentence here as the regime is fair to Board of Directors reason stated on the notice everyone. My question is: why can’t such a own way yet again, with a planned 3-5 thousand pound pay was due to insuffi cient staff . Trevor Grove Former Editor Sunday Telegraph, well-run prison like this be turned into a rise and approximately £30,000 for new starters and a prison While we were waiting to go Journalist, Writer and former Magistrate. proper rehabilitation centre? Invest the money offi cer apprenticeship scheme. This is for people who need no over for our visit we over- Dr Peter Bennett Trustee, New Bridge if you want rehabilitation. And well done to all recognised qualifi cations to do the job. heard two guards talking Foundation and former Governor of HMP Grendon at Lincoln. Geoff Hughes Former Governor of HMP Belmarsh about the cut in visiting John D Roberts Former Company Chairman and But prisoners are, as we all know (the suicides and self-harming times, they were saying that Name withheld - HMP Lincoln Managing Director employing former prisoners is not being done by prison staff ), going through far worse they are changing the prison Louise Shorter Former producer, BBC Rough Justice routine as the prisoners than what prison offi cers are going through (at least they go Smoke Spice and die Alistair H E Smith BSc FCA Chartered Accountant, would be locked up earlier Trustee and Treasurer, New Bridge Foundation home to their families at night), so where is our pay rise? on the weekends and the Warning to all Spice smokers. I smoked Spice only way to save the time on the 31st of March 2017, and ended up fitting, The Editorial Team Prisoners are not appreciated or rewarded for the work we was to take it off the visitors. I stopped breathing and went on to a life-sup- are forced to do for private companies in prison workshops Ok they need to save time port machine for 2-days. Please do not smoke all over the country. Our minimum pay is around £4, but and they have routines to this awful stuff because you think it won’t happen to you, I thought I would be okay but I most of us are earning £8 to £10 per week, with a deduction follow but why are the visi- nearly died and I am very lucky to be alive of £1 for TV rental. tors being punished? What have we done wrong? As a today. My 8-year-old son and my mum came visitor, it does feel like we to say goodbye as the hospital staff said I had a “Where are our incentives and production bonuses are on a punishment, that we very small chance of surviving.