“Art for communicating “Free or imprisoned, “When I was in prison...” and rebuilding relation- emotional, informative Benjamin Zephaniah the National Newspaper for Prisoners & Detainees ships is prevalent in this stories have the same tells Rachel Billington exhibition” Clare Barstow effect” Steve Newark how poetry ‘made’ his life a voice for prisoners since Inside Art // page 27 Comment // page 17 Inside Poetry October 2018 / Issue No. 232 / www.insidetime.org / A ‘not for profit’ publication / ISSN 1743-7342 INSIDE POETRY and CHANGING LIVES TOGETHER supplements inside 68 PAGE ISSUE An average of 60,000 copies distributed monthly Independently verified by the Audit Bureau of Circulations PRISONS CHIEF ‘Enough is enough’ Prisons Inspector issues Urgent Notification for HMP Bedford Inside Time report through suicide. We have seen consistent warnings about overcrowding and violence, STEPS DOWN a shocking riot, the creation of a performance As the fourth Urgent Notification Protocol in improvement plan and the imposition of spe- After nine years in charge of Prisons and 12 months was issued by the Chief Inspector cial measures - and none of these drastic of Prisons prison reform group the Howard events has prompted decisive action to turn Probation, Michael Spurr CB ‘has been asked to League calls for bold action to be taken. An- the prison around. Particularly concerning drew Neilson, the Howard League’s Director is what this sustained failure says about the stand down’ by Justice Secretary David Gauke of Campaigns said: “This damning verdict prison system as a whole. Enough is enough. on Bedford prison has not come out of no- More jails will fail and many more people Inside Time report North and East Anglia and where; as the Chief Inspector says, this is a will be hurt unless we see bold action to re- then, following a restructur- story of inexorable and unchecked decline. duce the prison population.” ing of areas, the manager for Since the beginning of 2016, at least six men The CEO of HMPPS, Michael the Eastern region. In 2006, in Bedford prison have lost their lives Inside Time Report page 10 Spurr, will leave his post at he was announced as Deputy the end of March 2019 and Director General of the Prison will spend the following six Service, taking on the role of NEWS FLASH! New Parole Board Chair announced 10 months reviewing the top CEO of NOMS in 2008. In the management structure of 2014 Queen’s Birthday Hon- HMPPS along with Richard ours he was made a Compan- “Top of the world Ma!” Heaton, the Permanent Secre- ion of the Order of the Bath tary. Responding to the an- Michael Spurr for ‘services to offender nouncement by the Ministry management.’ of Justice, Peter Dawson, Di- a change of leader is deluding rector of the Prison Reform Justice Secretary David themselves.” Trust said, “Michael Spurr Gauke said: “I am extremely will be an extraordinarily grateful to Michael Spurr for Michael Spurr joined the ser- hard act to follow. He is an his leadership of HMPPS. His vice as a prison officer in HMP exceptionally principled and focus has been unwavering Leeds in 1983. He then moved knowledgeable leader who on doing the best for his staff to HMP Standford Hill to has selflessly served an end- and for victims of crime, on begin training as an Assistant less succession of short term discipline in the prison estate Governor. After his training ministers. Whoever takes and on caring for and rehabil- he transferred to HMP Swale- over will face the same funda- itating offenders. He is an side, before becoming Deputy mental problems of over- example of the very best of Governor of HMYOI Aylesbury crowded and under resourced public service and civil ser- and then governing Governor prisons. Those are problems vice leadership. I look for- of the same establishment in 16 which only ministers can ad- ward to continuing to work 1993. In 1996 he became gov- dress and none of those whom closely with Michael into the erning Governor of HMP Way- Michael has served so faith- New Year.” fully have delivered. Anyone land, and later governed HMP When the going gets tough... who thinks the problems in Norwich. In 2000, he became our prisons can be solved by Area Manager for London Continued on page 11 Airborne Initiative building hope for Dartmoor boys CALL US: MICHAEL PURDON SOLICITOR 0191 232 1006 VISIT: SOMETIMES YOU JUST NEED AN EXPERT purdonlaw.co.uk EMAIL: PAROLE RECALL CAT A REVIEWS [email protected] LONDON: 7 New Square PRE-TARIFF REVIEWS TARIFF REVIEWS Lincolns Inn, London ,WC2C 3QS NATIONWIDE SERVICE (BY APPOINTMENT ONLY) NEWCASTLE: Wards Buildings, Founding members, serving for 3 years as Chair 31-39 High Bridge ,Newcastle upon Tyne and Deputy Chair of the Association of Prison Lawyers Tyne and Wear, NE1 1EW 2 Mailbag ‘Mailbag’, Inside Time, Botley Mills, Botley, Southampton SO30 2GB. Insidetime October 2018 Possession is 9 £10million not enough Mailbites insidetime points of the law a voice for prisoners since 1990 Mark Wrightwick - HMP The Verne Alistair Goldie - No messing the national newspaper for prisoners published by Stuart Longford - HMP Stafford Inside Time Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of HMP Brixton I see that the government has pledged £10 million to stop The New Bridge Foundation, founded in 1956 to drugs and violence in prison. The Minister for Prisons, who As a first-timer, I have noticed that HMP Stafford create links between the offender and the Whilst on a transfer out of pledged the money, has promised to quit if in a year he has must be the safest prison in the country. After community. HMP Bure, the reception of- not tackled the problem. In my mind he has already lost the spending time at HMP Birmingham (say no A not for profit publication. ficer took and destroyed 10 battle. Surely, he should be saying ‘I will reduce violence and more) I came here in March 2017. This prison prison-issue milks and 10 drug use in prison’. Semantics to one side, I hope he keeps does not tolerate any form of violence Inside Time is wholly responsible for its editorial packs of prison-issue cereal. his promise. whatsoever. On occasions where there has content. Comments or complaints should be I told her that she could not directed to the publisher and not to New Bridge. been a hint of anything regarding arranged do that as it was mine and Prisons need more money, I know every part of society is fights or bullying, the staff/management deal Board of Directors was my legal entitlement. The calling out for more funding. The difference with the Prison with it very quickly. Residents get transferred officer told me that the food Service is it has not been properly funded for years, it has straight away, no messing about at all. This Trevor Grove Former Editor Sunday Telegraph, was ‘prison property’ and been underfunded for decades. Prison deaths and high reof- prison has some very experienced staff who Journalist, Writer and former Magistrate. that I am not allowed to have fending rates are indicators. Britain has the highest rates of are very understanding. I would like to thank Dr Peter Bennett Trustee, New Bridge it. This, despite the fact that the governor and staff for all the hard work Foundation and former Governor of HMP Grendon prisoner suicides in the world. More needs to be done for the it was issued to me for meals. Prison Service not just a slight re-jigging, real help like the they’ve put in. Keep it up, your work is not Geoff Hughes Former Governor of HMP Belmarsh Surely this is an act of theft? going unnoticed. John D Roberts Former Company Chairman and millions of pounds already taken from the budgets that could Managing Director employing former prisoners be put into training and education. Louise Shorter Former producer, BBC Rough Justice Could you please tell me Terry’s success who prison food is for, and Alistair H E Smith BSc FCA Chartered Accountant, Prison is a part of everyone’s lives even if you are not con- Mark Trowbridge - HMP Highpoint South Trustee and Treasurer, New Bridge Foundation do staff have a right to take nected directly with the justice system, thousands of prison- food from a prisoner after it The recent Terry Waite event here at Highpoint ers leave prison every year to re-join society. I am sure that has been issued? Once the South, hosted by the Equality & Diversity Team The Editorial Team the general public want ex-prisoners to be mentally and food is given to a prisoner and attended by over 50 residents, was a who decides when it should physically as healthy as possible. So, keep Britain healthy, resounding success. Everyone who attended be eaten? not just those who have never been to prison. this event was impressed by Mr Waite’s talk and the amount of time he spent before and I had a gastric bypass and I Editorial note after talking to the lads on a one-to-one basis. am limited to what and when I There are only a few countries where suicide rates for prisoners He has a wonderful calming nature that can eat. I have never seen a have been studied. In the UK over a 25-year period, suicide everyone found inspiring. On behalf of the Erwin James John Roberts Rachel prison rule, PSI or PSO stat- rates for prisoners were reported to be approximately five times governor, residents, staff and Equalities Team Editor in Chief Publisher and Billington OBE ing that prisoners must eat higher in men than the general population rates, and in at HMP Highpoint South, I would like to Director Associate Editor and drink only when told to.