Robert Buckland QC “We know what works, we “It’s a chance to feel human, Parole changes: what know what the evidence says, to see the sky properly, to we know what to do. And smell the turf, it feels amaz- you need to know the National Newspaper for Prisoners & Detainees we’re getting on with it.” ing. It really picks me up.” The introduction of the New Prisons Minister Parkrun, a life changer Reconsideration Mechanism a voice for prisoners since Newsround // page 12 Comment // page 27 Information // page 31 July 2019 / Issue No. 241 / www.insidetime.org / A ‘not for profit’ publication/ ISSN 1743-7342 PPO PHONE CHANGES 39 / IS REHABILITATION WELCOMED? 21 / THE SECRETS OF DHL 29 An average of 60,000 copies distributed monthly Independently verified by the Audit Bureau of Circulations PRISONERS ‘TO GET THE VOTE’! 4 ● But only in © Alan Fogarasy - Wolverhampton Express & Star Wales; Prison wolves on Johnny knocks ● And only for a UK reservation ‘em out warm! those serving People driving into Wolverhampton, on the A449 Stafford Road, may have been a bit Champ boxer visits prison four years or less; confused to see six large paintings of wolves on the central reservation. The pictures were “Johnny walked into the ● And if only the the idea of a company called Eurovia who event and there was no ‘I’m were doing improvements to the road and they Senedd agrees. commissioned the pictures from prisoners at a celebrity’ bravado, he was © Deposit Photos nearby Oakwood. The paintings were created straight in with the crowd of by five prisoners through the learning and skills Inside Time report provided any deterrent from group leader Andrew RT department. When the pictures are removed prisoners having a chat, a committing crime, they wrote. Davies said the public would they will be auctioned to raise funds for Victim brew and a biscuit.” not support such a move. Support and mental health charity Mind. The Welsh Assembly's equal- The academics said prisoners ity committee is holding an should be given a postal vote “In my opinion giving those inquiry into voting rights for for assembly and local elections behind bars the opportunity prisoners. Dr Robert Jones in Wales, and this would be “a to vote would go down like a and Dr Greg Davies from Car- powerful demonstration of cup of cold sick with the ma- diff University's Wales Gov- [Wales’] commitment to the jority of the Welsh public,” ernance Centre told the promotion of human rights and said Mr Davies. committee that the loss of a democratic engagement”. vote was due to a sentencing But Plaid Cymru justice “lottery”. They said restoring spokesperson Leanne Wood voting rights would improve said giving prisoners voting Wales’ international standing. rights was “in the interests of upholding human rights and In their report, the academics the principles of democracy”. argued the loss of the vote was subject to a lottery, in Mark Day from the Prison Re- that the same offence may or Andrew RT Davies: “In form Trust was asked by La- may not result in jail time de- my opinion giving those bour AM John Griffiths how pending on a judge’s ruling. behind bars the opportu- “public opinion might be rec- They said out of 47 Council of nity to vote would go onciled” with giving prisoners Europe members, only the down like a cup of cold the vote “on the presumption UK, Armenia, Bulgaria, Esto- sick with the majority of that there might be a degree nia and Russia denied prison- the Welsh public.” of difference of opinion ers the vote. amongst the general public”. “It is our view that this would Giving the vote to those who enhance the international Mr Day said politicians had reside in Wales - rather than reputation of Wales and, at “an important role” in up- those in prison in Wales - the same time, help to miti- holding “fundamental rights”. would improve their reinte- gate the damage caused by gration and resettlement on the UK government's refusal “I think I'd also look at the release, according to the re- to comply with its legal obli- example of other countries, searchers. Removing the vote gation to implement adverse such as the Republic of Ire- had resulted in prisoners judgments of the ECHR [Euro- land, who did get rid of their being “forgotten and margin- pean Convention on Human own ban on prisoners voting alised by policy makers, pol- Rights],” they added. with very little public fuss, so iticians and the public at I think it can be done,” he said. large,” and there was no evi- Both UKIP's Gareth Bennett dence the loss of voting rights and former Conservative For more details see page 15 Write to: ENGLAND AND WALES IMPRISON • 13 St.John Street MANCHESTER M3 4DQ NEWS FLASH! MOST PEOPLE IN WESTERN EUROPE! 13 • 15 Old Bailey LONDON EC4M 7EF 2 Mailbag ‘Mailbag’, Inside Time, Botley Mills, Botley, Southampton SO30 2GB. Insidetime July 2019 insidetime Get the right people Warnings Mailbites a voice for prisoners since 1990 Charles Ferndale - HMP Long Lartin from Tampon madness the national newspaper for prisoners published by Inside Time Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of I would like to make a modest suggestion; it is that no one Probation L Burdett - HMP Swaleside should be made a Secretary of State in any field unless that The New Bridge Foundation, founded in 1956 to Name withheld - As most of you know, Swaleside is a category B create links between the offender and the community. person is formally well-educated in the relevant field and can MALE establishment. I emphasise the MALE bit demonstrate a high level of experience, knowledge and skill HMP Birmingham because now they are actually selling sanitary Inside Time is wholly responsible for its editorial in the field governed by the ministry to which he/she is being towels on the canteen list! Let’s look at this content. Comments or complaints should be appointed. I suspect that were these criteria followed then I have been recalled to directed to the publisher and not to New Bridge. logically, biologically everyone in the male most of the ministries would have to be vacated. prison for breaking my li- prison cannot ovulate. Even if they have Board of Directors cense conditions by getting 3 warnings. But, who checks undergone gender reassignment surgery they “My criterion is so rational that I wonder why it Trevor Grove Former Editor Sunday Telegraph, the warnings given out in are still incapable of ovulating. I just cannot Journalist, Writer and former Magistrate. seems so novel.” order to make sure that they get my head around this, when is this political Dr Peter Bennett Trustee, New Bridge are fair and just? correctness going to end? Foundation and former Governor of HMP Grendon Would we allow a newsagent to conduct open-heart surgery? Geoff Hughes Former Governor of HMP Belmarsh Would we allow a politician to do so? Is the expertise re- For example, one of my Smoking ban positives John D Roberts Former Company Chairman and quired to make the right decisions about whether or not to warnings was for misusing Managing Director employing former prisoners A prison librarian leave the EU any less specialised than that required to do medication. I’m on several Louise Shorter CEO Inside Justice and former I work as a librarian in a large prison in the producer BBC Rough Justice successful open-heart surgery? Would a rational person leave different forms of medica- Alistair H E Smith BSc FCA Chartered Accountant, such decisions to any of the contestants now masquerading tion for an illness. I asked North of England. I’ve read some of the Trustee and Treasurer, New Bridge Foundation as experts on the probable long- and short-term conse- Probation the name of the correspondence about the smoking ban and quences of leaving the EU? Would a rational person think drug that I was allegedly I’ve certainly noticed the improved condition The insideteam that a training in law would equip a person to make such a misusing? I was told that of library books now that their covers aren’t decision wisely? A training in law confers primarily a skill in Probation had received a shredded to use as roaches. But one of the how to evade legal consequences. It helps people to avoid re- confidential phone-call to best results from the ban was when I bumped sponsibility. It might be useful for spin-doctors, but not for say I was misusing my medi- into a former library orderly who had said responsible people. cation. They did not know - frequently - how he couldn’t wait to smoke a the name of the drug I was real cigarette on his release. Imagine my Had the standard of qualification for Ministers that I recom- supposedly misusing, nor surprise when I noticed him vaping, I asked Erwin James John Roberts Rachel mend been adopted years ago, then not only would most the amount, nor when. him what had happened to the ciggies, he Editor in Chief Publisher Billington OBE Ministers not have been appointed, but disastrous appoin- replied he’d bought a packet as soon as he and Director Associate Editor tees like Chris Grayling, would never have been made. Prime How is this fair? Since when could but found he no longer liked smoking Ministers who appoint people who are unlikely to be compe- were secret phone-calls from cigarettes, he said they tasted horrible. He tent, or known to be incompetent, should resign. anonymous sources grounds finished the pack, because he didn’t want to for putting me back in prison waste his money but had bought no more. So, One of the most important qualifications a good Prime Minis- for years? At least in court a good result from the smoking ban. J also has ter must have is the judgement to appoint skilled Secretaries you are allowed to question found a job and a place to live, not easy after of State. Mrs May has failed miserably in this capacity, and your accuser, but Probation Noel Smith Paul Sullivan David Roberts spending many years in prison. Commissioning Editorial Operations failure to follow this rule is a symptom of a dishonest do not seem to observe that Editor Assistant Manager government. legal nicety. Bank problems J Howard - HMP Moorland I would like to comment on the letter titled Officially ‘0% interest’ by anonymous of HMP Rye Hill. the LARGEST I’m pretty sure you can open a Halifax account prison law whilst in prison, and in doing so you must be Colin Matthews Justine Best Carla Rowe provider in able to correspond with the bank. At the Layout and Head of Admin Assistant the Country Design Administration moment I am trying to get my address The National Prison Law Specialists changed to my current prison for my Barclays account, but have had no response. But I do Trusted by more prisoners in England and Wales know that you CAN contact the bank you than any other Solicitors. open with within prison, I’ve seen fellow inmates with bank statements sent in with the Gary Bultitude John Bowers Louise Van With Experts across the Country, prison’s address on the front. Hope this helps. Website Design Proof Reading Mechelen we can represent you in ANY PRISON. and Advertising Accounts Bank accounts in prison page 36 Supervisor Call our dedicated team on 0115 986 0983 Correspondence or write to us at: FREEPOST RTAB-BATB-HGAU Inside Time Botley Mills, Botley, Southampton, Carringtons Solicitors, Hampshire SO30 2GB. Telephone: 01489 795945 [email protected] / www.insidetime.org Nottingham NG2 2JR. The emailaprisoner service Facebook: InsideTime / Twitter: @InsideTimeUK www.carringtons-solicitors.co.uk allows family, friends, legal Subscribe professionals and organisations a quick, efficient, secure way to Inside Time is distributed free of charge send a message to a recipient in throughout the UK prison estate. It is available to Our Expert team of over 40 specialist advisors prison from any device and any other readers via a postal subscription service. have a wealth of experience to offer you including: location. 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Star Letter of the Month Slave wages Mailbag 2-11 Congratulations to this months winner Sean Maher - “And people still foolishly proclaim who receives our £25 prize HMP Wayland this as a free country”. Using slaves for cheap work Page 8 It was all me... was meant to have been Name withheld - HMP Lindholme scrapped years ago. If you Newsround 12-17 are running a business in “The truth is I’ve been in and out of prison all my life and the UK, you will be put in Feltham is an in the end, I got an IPP sentence, which I de- jail for making people work irredeemably served. It took me a long time to be able to for next-to-nothing. Yet the fl awed institu- say that, but I was out of control and some- government (HMP) can still Page 12 tion.” one was going to get hurt or killed. get away with it, with no one Fierce, but not that fi erce saying anything about it. We Comment 18-30 © Deposit Photos work all day, with some jobs Getting out took a lot, but I did it. But only “It feels exciting requiring hard work and get five months later I was recalled. Again, it to span the centu- HMS Belfast not a ‘battleship’ the high end of £2.50 a day took time to see I had deserved this, drugs, ries, countries and which we are meant to live poor behaviour etc. It was confusing at first S A Tyler - HMP Hull cultures.” as I would not see it was my own doing. on. Most prisons won’t let Page 18 Thing is, you see all these years I’ve wasted In the April issue, Paul Sullivan described HMS Belfast as a ‘battleship’. No, it you have anything posted Information 31-39 it’s always been me, not the police, the is not a battleship, it is a light cruiser mounting only 6-inch (152mm) guns, in, so we can only buy courts, probation or peer pressure. and unless Belfast has three main gun-turrets at the stern, that is only twelve through the catalogues and “Although some 6-inch guns rather than the 15 stated in his piece. they seem to get more and progress has been more expensive. made there is still “The choice has been my own, a long way to go.” god knows I have looked for another Mr Sullivan then describes Belfast as helping to sink the ‘massive’ Scharnhorst. Well, yes, it did help. The 36,000-ton Scharnhorst could be more accurately Also, with all the cutbacks Page 35 reason, but it is me that picks up over the years the food we described as a battle-cruiser, as it was armed with just nine 11-inch (280mm) Legal 40-47 that pipe.” guns in three turrets, but more than a match for the Belfast. However, what get has gone from three actually did for the Scharnhorst was HMS Duke of York, a genuine full-fat meals a day to one hot meal “It is important so if we want to eat we have I can hold my hands up now and take it on battleship. not to assume to supplement this with the chin. It’s uncomfortable, as who amongst that matters not prison canteen. So surely, us likes to admit those things about our- The MoD may have thought HMS Belfast suitable for preservation as a mu- proven by a court we need to be getting more Page 41 selves? I am 54, no family left that wants seum ship, but they can never be forgiven for scrapping HMS Warspite. This Our open, friendly solicitors working are irrelevant.” money for our work. Therein Crimi nal Defence will help you with all sledgehammer of a ship was a veteran of Jutland, and the undisputed heavy- aspects of Prison Law including: anything to do with me, not said in self-pity Licence recall • Adjudications are countries that pay mini- Parole hearings • IPPJailbreak queries 48-60 but regret. I will have to go to approved weight victor of Narvik. Warspite did not ‘help’, it was the main event, an ar- Judicial review • Sentence planning issues mum wages for jobs, which Call us on 01865 518971 premises when I get out but sat in my cell moured colossus of significantly greater historical value than a piddly little or visit www.hinesolicitors.com “Don’t worry would allow us to live a de- now that doesn’t sound too bad, but when run-of-the-mill cruiser. about me, found Oxford Freepost address FREEPOST RTHU - LEKE - HAZR cent life whilst in custody Hine Solicitors | Seymour House the time gets nearer I get scared as I’m more 285 Banbury Road | Oxford | OX2 7JF guilty or found and the other half could be familiar with what I am leaving behind than Editorial note innocent, I’ll still put in a savings account for what I face. So please readers, don’t become Thank you for your excellent letter. You provide some fascinating further Page 53 collect my fee.” after our release. the person writing this. information and we would welcome any contribution you may wish to submit. Prison psychology courses Chris Morin - HMP Wakefield No Upfront Over the last twenty years, or more, prisoners have been subjected to the many courses that Fee REQUIRED have been bouncing around the prison estate. Courses such as Anger Management, CALM, Thinking Skills, etc, with the end result being Horizon or Kaizen, which replaced the old SOTP. I don’t think it’s the courses, but the whole psychology department that need reviewing. We are specialists in raising finance quickly to pay outstanding “The only people that actually benefit is those being paid to run or facilitate confiscation and other types of enforcement orders. these courses.”
Prisoners seem to be asking for too much these days, but all we are asking is for you to help us DO YOU NEED MONEY TO PAY YOUR CONFISCATION? turn our lives around. If other countries can have low prison populations, low reconviction rates then it really begs the question, what are prison psychologists doing to British prisoners Our efficient and helpful team can explore the possibility of releasing in their care? So, let’s all find common ground and find something to help all prisoners turn money from property and other assets in the UK held or jointly held by their lives around. Prisoners need to have trust in psychologists as I want help, so I can return you to settle your order and preserve your property. to society a changed person, otherwise bring back the death penalty; it’s got to be less painful. Our team works with experts who have extensive knowedge of such Contributing to Mailbag orders and who can provide realistic solutions to you whilst liaising directly with your case lawyer and family members to achieve If you would like to contribute to Mailbag, please send your letters to the this, or alternatively you can contact us directly. address on the left. It is very important that you ensure the following details are on all paperwork sent to Inside Time: YOUR NAME, PRISON NUMBER & PRISON. Failure to do so will prevent us responding to you and your submission being withheld from publication. Please note letters for publication may be edited. ‘Mailbag’, Inside Time, We will be using the new ‘Money Transfer Service’ for prize money so include Botley Mills, your DOB on your entries. Botley, Southampton, To avoid any possible misunderstanding, if you have a query and for whatever Hampshire reason do not wish your letter to be published in Inside Time or appear on the £ SO30 2GB. website, or yourself to be identified, please make this clear. TIMELESS No Upfront FIVE We advise that wherever possible, when sending original documents such as legal PROCESS Fee REQUIRED STAR REVIEWS papers, you send photocopies as we are unable to accept liability if they are lost.
We may need to forward your letter and/or documents to Prison Service HQ or @ [email protected] 01992 568820 another appropriate body for comment or advice, therefore only send informa- Bridge Finance Direct, Prince of Wales House, 3 Bluecoats Avenue, Hertford SG14 1PB tion you are willing to have forwarded on your behalf. 4 Mailbag ‘Mailbag’, Inside Time, Botley Mills, Botley, Southampton SO30 2GB. Insidetime July 2019 On the IPP Wire What a Art for art’s sake Anthony O’Connor - IPP funding Halal liberty! HMP Wakefield Sam Little - HMP Woodhill Scott - HMP Holme House Thank you Inside Time for continuing to mention In April 2018 all hobby and the IPP sentence. We are trying to raise funds to I love the basis the Western art catalogues were taken hire a decent human rights solicitor to challenge World is built on with all the off all wings until further the government over the IPP sufferers. If all freedom of choice and ac- notice. The reason given 2500 IPP prisoners donate £10 we will raise ceptance. But, I was recently was that someone had pur- £25,000 for the case. David Blunkett “regrets” told, by a member of the ca- chased an item that was for- introducing it, the ECHR ruled it a breach of tering staff, that during the bidden. But surely it was human rights and yet we still suffer. It’s time we Muslim Holy Month of Ram- Security’s error that he had pulled together, raised the funds and took the adan an outside, profes- been allowed to go ahead government to task for knowingly breaching sional chef comes in to cook with the order and then re- our human rights and the human rights of our all the meals for the Muslim ceive the item? families. So, if you’re a serving IPP who has not prisoners. And, after looking yet seen freedom since you were sentenced, further into it I was told ex- We got one catalogue back please send me your name, prison and prison actly what is in the Rama- 6-months later in October, number to add your name to the class action. dan meal-boxes for the but the hobbies catalogue is The link to donate is - www.justgiving.com/ month and, believe me, it the only one now allowed. crowdfunding/ipp-judicial-review-solicitor-appeal “Good to see you again Johnny!” consists of some good The trouble is that it does high-quality food, all of not contain the specialist art Info for IPPs good-sized portions cooked materials that we need. I Kevin Willis - HMP Ashfield to perfection. talked to the Number One What a champion knockout! Governor in October and ex- On the topic of IPP, again, the readership After being in prison for over plained to him that there might be interested in this; A while ago my Ryan Horan - HMP Lindholme a year, forced to eat tiny por- were no proper art materials personal contact sent the following message tions of under/overcooked in the hobbies catalogue to Martin Jones, CEO of the Parole Board. I heard that a motivational speaker was coming to the prison and started see- ing posters of boxing legend Johnny Nelson (that’s him on the left) popping slop I seriously couldn’t be- and we need real art materi- “I have been sent a copy of your blog article up around the wings, which got me very interested. lieve my eyes, or, indeed, my als to paint and do other art- recently published. It was a very positive article nose (as it hadn’t smelt good work for the Koestlers. He which I appreciated reading. I wonder, however, I had the honour of spending the younger years of my childhood and several food for over a year). So, I said he would look into it if there have been any improvements in the way of my teenage years training at the St Thomas Boxing Gym on Newman Road then thought to myself: ‘Oh, and make sure we got our your Board works, which underline the words I in Sheffield. So, any time any fighter from the gym that trainer Brendan Ingle well at least the menu- art materials. That was read. As an intelligent member of the public, I founded is mentioned I fill with pride knowing I can legitimately claim to choices will be non-Halal for 7-months ago, I’ve seen him never knew about indeterminate sentences. I have known these legends. Some of the best memories of my childhood took a month so at least I might again in February and he was shocked to learn their existence. It seems to be able to get some non-Ha- said the same thing. Prom- be contrary to the principles of open justice place in that gym; I’ve met and sparred with several world champions, got VIP tickets to world title fights, and learned how to defend myself, something lal chicken for a change.’ But ises, promises. which I thought were fundamental to our law. when I went to order I saw When I learned that this sentence had been I am forever indebted to Brendan Ingle for, may God rest his soul. that the menu was the same Like many other inmates, abolished in 2012, ‘but not retrospectively’, I was Halal only meat menu! I find art and model-making astounded. If they are inappropriate sentences “I had not seen Johnny Nelson since 2010, when he was bringing a vital part of our rehabilita- today (and have been since 2012), then they are children into prison in order to try to deter them from a life of tion and therapeutic as it is inappropriate retrospectively. The success you I am a Christian and refuse talk about would be to eliminate the imprison- crime. I explained to him the mistakes I had made in my life to eat animals that have so peaceful and calming. ment (or purgatory) for the remaining 2598. As and he made it clear he was disappointed in me and in true been savagely killed and Now, we cannot even buy a Daily Mail reader, I am in favour of criminals blessed by someone else’s headless matches on the being punished, but such punishment has to be Sheffield fashion, told me in his own words to get my head religion, so I have gone veg- canteen sheet like every transparent and just - an IPP given post-2012, down and get on with it.” etarian and lost a lot of other prison. We can buy the meets neither of these criteria.” weight. Surely, I have glue but not the matches. In Johnny walked into the event and, unlike most speakers or visitors who come human rights, too? I don’t short, we need the specialist I suggest that everyone concerned take this into a prison, he wasn’t clinging onto his escort, there was no ‘I’m a celebrity’ want to eat no Halal meat art catalogue back. Can information and use it to badger their MP’s blessed by an Iman. And I someone offer advice or any and others. bravado, he was straight in with the crowd of prisoners having a chat, a brew and a biscuit, dead casual like. In true Johnny Nelson fashion he started talk- shouldn’t have to. help? Probation not pulling their weight ing and instantly gripped the audience. Caz Laundry-Boy - HMP Garth Human after all He told us how he came from being the underdog in Brendan’s bunch, to Another year and another “knock back”! Nothing holding the world record of having the most defences of his WBC Cruiser- Name withheld - HMP Manchester sends us IPP’s a clearer message that there will weight title, which he held until his retirement. He briefed us on his exploits be no mercy or forgiveness than Jeremy Wright as world champion and told some really funny stories that only someone with Diversity is mainly about race, religion, sexuality, gender MP’s recent remarks that if the risk is too high an insight into the murky world of professional boxing could tell. and other well-known characteristics. However, what about then we will spend the rest of our lives in custody. different kinds of prisoners? Everyone is different and there are different sorts of prisoners such as the players, the big Unfortunately, when nobody’s managing this It was a brilliant morning and the crowd sat and listened in awe as this great boys, the minions, the non-compliant, the compliant, the so-called risk, we face an uphill battle. For champion spoke to us as equals. There was a Q&A, which was great as it gave dirty protesters and the smashers, etc. those of us who have spent up to fifteen years the whole crowd the chance to interact with Jonny on a personal level. in prison we have almost reached the point of no return - depending on age of course, in But, it seems that regardless of which kind of prisoner you From me and all the lads, we would like to send a massive thank you to terms of finding work, starting a family of our are, you will never be able to please everyone. If you are a Johnny Nelson and the Brendan Ingle Foundation for making such a wonder- own and establishing a social circle. As for the player you will have staff on your back, if you are compliant, rest of us, we are already into the foothills of ful event possible. Best of luck for the future. you will have other prisoners on your back, if you are a vul- this whilst it is very wrong for the Chairman of nerable prisoner you will have most prisoners on your back, the Parole Board to attempt to console us by Corrections and Clarifications if you’re a minion, you will have the big boys on your back stating “more IPP’s are being released than and so it goes on and on! ever before”, when historically they’ve hardly The policy of Inside Time is to correct significant errors as soon as possible. released any of us. All the sympathy in the Corrections will appear in the mailbag section of each issue and on the relevant Prisons are meant to be places of rehabilitation and wouldn’t world is meaningless to us unless it translates web page. If you notice an error please feel free to write to us at the usual the first step be to accept others as they are? Everyone is dif- into recommendations for release. The truest address providing the date and page number from the newspaper, alternatively ferent but that makes the beauty of the world and if instead words I’ve ever heard spoken about the IPP have a friend or family member call or email us (see below). of being violent, mean or scared of prisoners who are differ- sentence is that “we’re in a situation where only ent, people took the time to talk to them and get to know we can help ourselves” but sometimes probation Inside Time, Botley Mills, Botley, 01489 795945 them, maybe we could all learn a lot from each other. need to start pulling their weight too. Southampton, Hampshire SO30 2GB. [email protected] Remember, we are all human regardless of our differences. Adam developed painful pressure sores and was left with permanent scarring after he was not supplied a pressure relieving mattress from the prison. We helped him secure £18,000.
Adam was a paraplegic and relied on a wheelchair. Upon arriving at prison, he was seen by a GP and requested a pressure- relieving mattress but wasn’t given one for more than 2 years. Just over 12 months after his request, he noticed discolouration on both hips and his lower back, which developed into three pressure sores. Adam was given dressings by healthcare but left to dress the wound himself instead of receiving wound care from healthcare. While the sores healed, he was left with significant scarring.
At Prison Injury Lawyers, we contacted a medical expert who said that Adam should have received a pressure-relieving mattress within 48 hours. They also said that he should have been given proper dressing for his pressure sores immediately and that healthcare had been negligent in failing to do so. We settled Adam’s claim in April 2019 for £18,000.
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2930_InsideTime_June_PIL.indd 1 17/06/2019 15:17 6 Mailbag ‘Mailbag’, Inside Time, Botley Mills, Botley, Southampton SO30 2GB. Insidetime July 2019 Thanks to What about us Mental health lottery the medics two-strikers? Kai Sowe - HMP Isle of Wight Robert Marti - Lloyd Thomas - Mental health is a huge part of today’s society. We hear sto- HMP Isle of Wight HMP Peterborough ries about young people and old, suffering with depression, I want to write this letter of anxiety, schizophrenia, PTSD and other mental health is- thanks to the healthcare We are the forgotten few, us sues. For some people just speaking about mental health can staff of Albany and hospital ‘two-strikers’ or ‘automatic be a touchy subject. This is astonishing, especially as suicide staff at St Mary’s on the Isle lifers’ as they like to call us, is the biggest killer of men under the age of 40 in the UK. of Wight. In January, I brought in by the Labour noticed my skin and eyes Government in 1997. If the Young people are taking their own lives after viewing suicide were turning yellow and I IPPs think it’s all over and related content on social media sites such as Instagram and was suffering with very bad Unfair shot that release is the final hur- Facebook. I myself have suffered from the effects of mental stomach pains. I was taken © Deposit Photos dle, then think again. It is health and had I not been lucky enough to be able to reach to the local hospital and Frothy coffee for you, no water for us only the start, and if Proba- out to loved ones and professionals, I often ask myself where diagnosed with gall stones tion doesn’t like you then would I be now? I often question why cuts are being made to and told they would pass Dave E Ferguson - HMP Wakefield you are in trouble and will services which are vital to vulnerable people in our society? through me. But, later that likely be recalled before you Here at Wakefield, many of us have been left questioning night I was passing blood, can say ‘recall report’. The “When people are stuck in a constant battle how the prison budget is being spent. so I knew that something Home Office will not even inside of their own heads, why is there no safety was wrong and then I question these reports and Currently, prisoners are not issued in-cell kettles. Consequently, collapsed, staff responded immediately issue a warrant net to catch people when they fall? ” we have to rely on hot-water boilers on the landings in order quickly, and I was taken to for you. hospital on the island and to fill our flasks. These regularly break down and when they More needs to be done by our government to help those who do they are often left in a state of disrepair for weeks, and need it the most, but with issues such as Brexit taking prior- they told me I had to go to I am not an IPP. I was Southampton hospital. I was sometimes months on end. This leaves prisoners with no hot ity above everything else I fear that issues regarding mental sentenced in 2001 to an auto- taken by helicopter and, water for drinks, despite this facility being a legal requirement. health will always be left at the bottom of the pile. It may matic life sentence (2-striker). once at Southampton, I was sound cliché, but you can have all the money in the world, The ECHR ruled my sentence told I had a tumour in my Despite this, HMP Wakefield’s governor has spent part of the but money can’t buy happiness. You can be stuck behind unlawful in 2003, and the stomach. I was there for over prison budget on a coffee bar (a proper Baristas) for staff in the bars but be free in your mind. Never be afraid to speak to British Government replaced a week and the care I centre of the main residential unit. Who knows how much people. Remember, always try and keep an “open mind”. received was impeccable - this has cost. It is not even as though staff appreciate it. Most it with the IPP. Now, with all I can’t thank them enough. have been complaining at having to pay 50p for a coffee that the focus on IPP, I feel I am now having chemother- would cost a member of the public £3-5 on civvy street. forgotten. apy and feeling a lot better and hopefully on the road to At least they can get a hot drink when they want one, we The only reason the IPP was recovery. So, I would just prisoners can rarely even get hot water. I would question why brought in is because the like to thank the hospital staff actually need a Baristas bar when they already have ECHR ruled the 2-strike sen- medical staff and prison their very own restaurant staffed by prisoners and ‘tea-boys’ tence unlawful, so, to make officers who watched over on the wing. We just want working hot-water boilers, so we it lawful they brought in the me. can fill up our flasks for the night. IPP, which was then abol- ished because it was inhu- mane. So, I am serving the first unlawful version of the sentence. I cannot begin to
Shaw and Co Solicitors © Deposit Photos explain how this sentence Personal Injury Compensation Experts has damaged and destroyed The perfect cuppa my mental health. Over 20 years experience in personal injury compensation claims Tom Bell - HMP Littlehey When the 2-strike sentence If you have had In response to the letter ‘HM Tea’ by Mark Dalgleish (May was abolished I thought they issue). This is a question that from time to time comes up in would convert my sentence the national press. However, often missed is whether a teapot BAD DENTAL TREATMENT to 6-years and, by that time I is being used or just a bag and cup. had already served 3-years, BAD MEDICAL CARE so I thought I would be re- There is a certain science to tea-making which means there is leased. I’m now hearing the a ‘correct’ way but there is also a ‘best’ way. The simple rules AN ACCIDENT exact same talk from the are that tea, whether loose or bagged, releases its best IPPs. But the government flavour and aroma when hit directly with boiling water, decided that the decision whereas milk can suffer a slight taint if hit with the same. would not be made retro- spective, so all of us serving These rules lead us to the method for both teapot and cup this sentence are still suffer- tea-making. To make tea in a pot, boil the water in a kettle, Call Chris or Sharon anbout your claim ing and none of us can see a but just before it reaches boiling point pour a small amount way out. The thing about into your teapot and swill it around before emptying it. This FREEPHONE 0800 389 1590 this sentence is never having is to pre-warm the pot. Then add the teabag or leaves and a release date to work to- pour the now boiling water in and leave to infuse. or email us at [email protected] wards; the time we serve is for no purpose. It is awful Next, put the correct amount of milk in the cup and then pour Shaw and Co Solicitors Ltd torture and my mental- in the tea. As it is no longer at boiling-point it won’t taint the health is failing. milk. When making tea in just a cup, put in teabag, pour Three Indian Kings House boiling water onto the teabag, allow to infuse, remove teabag My human rights have been then add milk and stir. There you have it, the perfect cup of tea! 31 The Quayside, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3DE erased, I cannot begin to describe what damage it has n Darren Townsend - HMP Hindley your call is con dential and your claim for compensation will be done to me. I made a mistake Re; ‘HM Tea’ (May issue) - the perfect cuppa is so, so easy. All when I was a young man, at you need is a decent teabag (Tetley or Typhoo), hot-water, sugar represented on a strictly no win, no fee basis. 18-years-old I received or sweetener - whatever your preference. Milk is not needed. All 6-years for robbery with a you are doing with milk is diluting the taste of the actual tea. fake gun, I am now 43 and Also, the teabag can be used twice. Try it without milk, as NO WIN NO FEE still paying for it. Why am I nobody wants to use those disgraceful whiteners nor waste still serving this sentence? their precious milk. Trust me, you won’t go back. Insidetime July 2019 ‘Mailbag’, Inside Time, Botley Mills, Botley, Southampton SO30 2GB. Mailbag 7 Incompetence ‘County Lines’ groomers History = Autism? personified Antony Yallop - HMP Peterborough Kevin the Vance - HMP Ashfield A prisoner’s mother -
comment from the web The use of ‘County Lines’ drug-dealing has been garnering a lot of attention in the press recently, and the use of minors I agree with part of the ob- servations in a letter by Gareth My son was released from and children, some as young as 8, are being referred to as ‘gangsters’ by that reprehensible rag The Sun. Since when HMP Whatton (May issue). I prison on April 23rd, 2019 have had psychology on my on electronic tag. He was re- did we see anyone that exploits children as anything other back since god knows when leased to my address. Several than predators, just like paedophiles? and now, at the 11th hour, days after his release, he (10th of June) it has been put was threatened. Believing I am in prison for drug offences, which I deeply regret, but at to me that I should think he was in danger, he left our least I can say that all those involved were adults capable of about undertaking an as- home that night and did not making their own decisions. When I first came in, 6-years sessment for autism. Why? return until the following ago, anyone caught using children for any reason was la- Well, I am a competent and day. He contacted his Of- belled a ‘nonce’ and put on the protection wing. And with enthusiastic academic writer fender Manager and ex- good reason. who has been writing a plained what had happened. I speak as one who has been exploited at a young age. There study on the 1982 Falklands Campaign since 2010 and, On Friday 10 May his Of- were adults who saw a vulnerable and naive child from a bro- guess what, the contracted fender Manager contacted ken home and supplied me with drugs that made me feel him and stated she had been wanted. I thought they cared about me, but it was me that was psychologist reports this as advised to move him imme- sent to a young offenders’ institute, and they weren’t charged. being ‘an obsessional inter- diately, otherwise he would est’ which is supposedly a be at risk of going back to symptom of autism. Al- Top screen read “I gradually came to see them for what they were though I am IPP (13 years © Andy Aitchison / doctored image prison. She found him ac- commodation the same day - users and social outcasts by their own peer group.” done of a 4-year tariff), I and he moved immediately. have flatly turned down pre- Inside disc? As I grew up I noticed that they didn’t have many peers their vious suggestions, such as own age and that was why they hung around with children. I TC, PIPE and HSP, and I am John Davies - HMP Wandsworth The electronic monitoring service were informed but know for a fact that these people I used to hang around with also turning down this latest are now in their 50s and still doing the same thing - unchal- cynical, immoral and callous I was wondering if you might consider making Inside Time were unable to relocate his lenged by police and they have never spent a day in prison form of bullying too. It is not available on a searchable DVD that could be used by prison tag box until his address for one reason - they are informants. right, I mean, is Dan Snow, libraries as a resource? I have found Inside Time an incredi- had been approved by HMP Anthony Beevor, Max Hast- bly useful resource but keeping a large box of hard-copies in Oakwood. (The prison he Child exploitation for the use of selling drugs should be treated ings, et al ‘Autistic’ because my cell is a constant target for Volumetric Control. A searcha- was released from). Despite as seriously as child sex abuse. If there are any YOs reading they study and write about ble DVD of back-issues that could be loaded onto prisoner-use the address being used and this, please listen to a wise word from one who has been history? I think not. This is computers in prison libraries would be so helpful. approved by the Probation Service, the person/persons where you are now, and I have the experience to know what’s just another symptom of the coming next. You have been groomed but you can still step off misuse of power and the Editorial note dealing with this at Oak- the path. Go home to your family and don’t spend your best In 1990 when Inside Time was launched, prison librarians kept wood were aware of this, but ramblings of people who are copies of each issue in the library reference section. Several failed to act and jeopardised years in here with the likes of me. It is no life to be proud of. clearly round the bend. prisoners also kept their own archive copies in their cells but my son’s liberty. that was almost 30 years ago when Inside Time was quarterly and just 12 pages. Very different from today’s 56-60 pages. Finally, 6pm 16 May his Of- fender Manager called him We have previously explored the idea of a CD but there are and stated: “Your address practical issues about supplying one for each issue and the po- has finally been approved. tential security concerns associated with CD’s being sent in and But due to the time it has viruses that could be on them and infect the PC. taken to approve your ad- dress and your tag box not On a positive note, our aim is to have Inside Time’s free access being relocated, you may website available on or via the prison intranet. This would also have to go back to prison!” be linked to the in-cell technology currently being rolled out and the prison computer suites. A full archive of Inside Time How can this be justified? back issues is on our website, along with a full search facility. Who on earth makes these This is not going to happen overnight, but we are hopeful that decisions? How many more it will happen. It may commence with us supplying copies of people are at risk of being each issue to go on the intranet which would be a start. Rest as- returned to prison, failed by sured, we have no intention of dropping the printed version of an inadequate, bureaucratic Inside Time so no need for concern if your prison is technologi- unjust system run with cally behind the times. impunity?
GRAHAM & CO Stevens So lic itors Incorporating Rose, Williams & Partners CRIMINAL SOLICITORS PRISON LAW Criminal Litigation & Advocacy Specialists Adjudications Prison Law Experts Home Detention Curfew Oral Hearings Please contact CRIMINAL DEFENCE Recall Andrew Mandleberg, Confiscation Michelle Patterson or Harpreet Jhawar Crown Court Representation Fraud for • Parole Applications • Lifer Panels Assault/ Drug Cases APPEALS INCLUDING SOPO VARIATIONS AND DISCHARGES • Adjudications • Licence Recall CCRC Applications POCA Appeals and enforcement. • All criminal proceedings & appeals FUNDING Legal Aid Available on permitted services Union House, Uttoxeter Road, Fixed Fees Available Longton, Stoke on Trent ST3 1NX 0845 095 0011 CONTACTUS (local rate) 01227 918436 [email protected] Agency work undertaken 34 MORTIMER STREET, HERNE BAY, KENT CT6 5PH 24 hour Emergency Helpline 07659 111000 ›› Registered with EMAP ‹‹ 8 Mailbag ‘Mailbag’, Inside Time, Botley Mills, Botley, Southampton SO30 2GB. Insidetime July 2019
On the CCTV Wire in order to make comparisons of facial features. We are con- Disabled stantly under the microscope in this country, our every move Sex offenders is watched, and our features are stolen every day without our and trapped permission by the government (in both their national and charity work Prisoner’s friend - HMP Armley Seeing me, local capacity), big business (CCTV in shops and shopping Stuart Longford - seeing you centres), the police and god knows who else. HMP Stafford I am writing on behalf of my Even in prison we are on camera every time we step out of disabled friend here who is It really frustrates me when I the cell. In the more secure units there is even CCTV in the on F-wing. The lift hasn’t read the newspapers and hear cell. But I have recently read that under data protection laws worked for about two and a we are allowed to request that the operators/owners of this on the news about us sex of- half months now and they fenders being ‘dirty bastards’ CCTV surveillance supply us with copies of our images on re- always make an excuse so quest. So, by law and in theory, we can ask them for a copy all the time. Why don’t we that he cannot go out in the hear about the good things every time they scan us with their CCTV. Maybe it’s about fresh air. He says the food is time we started doing this, fighting back against the casual we do whilst we are serving disgusting and they bring theft of our features by faceless ‘authorities’. our sentences? Like the his dinner to him because of money we raise, year-in- his disability and it’s not year-out, for charities like © Deposit Photos Face in the crowd what he orders and not The Veterans, Royal British Police state Piers Ravenhill - HMP Pentonville worth having, he was Legion, Blind Veterans, actually told to buy his own! SSAFA, Katherine House, the Name withheld - HMP Birmingham Reading recently about Ed Bridges’ crowdfunded legal action Poppy Appeal, McMillan against South Wales Police has really set me thinking. Mr Cancer Support, Samaritans The police forces across the country are using facial recogni- Bridges is arguing that images taken of him shopping and at Lacking the very and, on top of that, all the tion cameras on the public, and some people might say that a protest against the arms trade - which were taken using Au- national disasters. is fair enough. But I can almost guarantee that the face of tomated Facial Recognition (AFR) cameras - is a breach of his basics every person with a criminal record has been downloaded human rights, data protection law and equality law. onto the database for these cameras. Otherwise they G Robinson - HMP Armley Since March 2017, when I wouldn’t recognise any criminals. This means that if you came to Stafford, the figure There are currently 3 CCTV cameras within 15-feet of my cell This letter is a complaint have been photographed at the police station then your data raised for all the above char- door here at Pentonville. There’s nothing extraordinary about conditions here for the and photo have been downloaded to the police recognition about that in this day and age. Nor does it bother me. I don’t ities by residents here is disabled. I am disabled and camera. So, if you’ve even had a caution at the police station really know the official reasons for the cameras, but since £5,878.48, which is a large in a wheelchair, meaning then your photo is in their system. A camera cannot look at a this country has become the CCTV surveillance capital of the amount of money especially that I cannot use stairs to get face and tell a name, age, address and criminal record with- world I suppose I am conditioned to it. when a huge proportion of the out this information being pre-programmed into the data- to the library or to get my residents are on an average base. Think about that for a moment and then tell me that we But now that I have considered Mr Bridges’ complaint, my clothes changed, but, most £8 per week wage. We might do not live in a police state. concern is that some of the cameras in our jails are of the AFR importantly, I and the other not have much, but when it variety. Maybe all prisoners faces and their unique and iden- disabled men cannot go comes to stuff like this you Not a good image tifying features are already being ‘harvested’ by HMPPS and outside for exercise because see the best in people. I have added to the AFR database? We already live in a world where the lift is not working. We lots of respect for anyone M Khan - HMP Liverpool all users of the internet, its apps, smartphones and so on are have asked the guards when who donates what little they NOT the customers; they are the product. Data is everything the lift might be fi xed but have to good causes. The recent proliferation of CCTV in this country has turned and companies like Google, Amazon, Facebook, et al are su- us into one of the most-watched human communities in the they do not know anything premely aware that user-profiling is the road to riches. and are not particularly This prison has been raising world. Even the old Soviet Union, with their secret-police and money for charity for a very interested. I have been asked Cold War paranoia, did not poke their noses into their citi- So, is it a ridiculous notion of mine that to have all previous long time and it is about time to write this letter on behalf zens’ daily lives on such a large scale. And people still fool- imprisoned people’s day-to-day movements 100% trackable the local tabloids realised of the men who cannot use ishly proclaim this as a ‘free country’. (either ‘live’ or retrospectively) has probably already been that we are not all bad and we deemed equally ‘valuable’ to some form of Home Office the stairs to go outside for do have a heart. Rather than The Automated Facial Recognition (AFR) cameras are a newish think-tank? Do we have any human rights arguments to put fresh air. If anyone reading keep making us sound like intrusion, and you have to wonder how massive the authori- forward, or are we just government property in prison and this can help us we would be evil monsters, print some- ty’s database of images of us are. It would have to be very big therefore cannon-fodder without a legal leg to stand on? grateful. thing positive for a change.
JANINE DOOLAN SOLICITOR LLB (HONS) Nirinder Dhillon PRISON LAW SPECIALIST Nationwide coverage NATIONWIDE PRACTICE LIVERPOOL BASED Legal aid available for: Peer & Co. have 15 years experience Parole Cat A representation Experienced Prison & Criminal with DETENTION, BAIL and Defence Solicitor Licence Recall Pre Tari Sift DEPORTATION cases and Removal Cases Return to Closed - Lifers/IIP Parole Reviews Isn’t it time you choose the right Write to: Independent Adjudications 54 St James Street, Liverpool, L1 0AB Category A reviews legal team? Call now Pre-Tariff & Tariff Reviews Re-categorisation BAIL applications & representation at the HDC “Tagging” Immigration Tribunal Criminal appeals DEPORTATIONS – Appeal the deportation Police interviews decision and fullrepresentation at the All criminal matters Immigration Courts Legal Aid available Temporary Admissions (Fixed fee options also available) Section 120 Notices and Responses Detention and Release 07539 406 411 Prison and Detention Centre Legal visits
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Nirinder Dhillon London: 0207 1833 706 I have been quali ed as a solicitor for 22 years and have PO Box 666 Birmingham: 0121 5540565 specialised in prison law for 13 years. When I take your case, Watford: 01923 901150 you deal directly with me, an experienced quali ed solicitor Egham, TW20 2DW Emergency 24/7: 07833675415 who specialises in Parole and Licence Recall Hearings. Insidetime July 2019 ‘Mailbag’, Inside Time, Botley Mills, Botley, Southampton SO30 2GB. Mailbag 9
The real victims If you’re up for deportation Worse than Mailbites E Poveda - Yarl’s Wood IRC Kevin Isham - HMP Whatton dog food Big thanks for my recovery I have just been transferred from HMP Anon - HMP Risley I have mentioned in previous letters that I am one of an ever- Bronzefield to Yarl’s Wood IRC (Immigration Mark Wells - HMP Preston growing number of inmates listed as “convicted but maintain- Removal Centre). I was held nearly 3 months I would say that the food I would like to say thank you to G-Wing here ing innocence”. Now, I have to admit, being jailed for some- past my release date because I have an Ital- served here doesn’t always in Preston. Thanks also to the Spectrum staff thing I haven’t done has given me an opportunity to see, first- ian passport although I have lived in the UK look the most appetising but and all of the staff for their help in my hand, the absolute shambles the (in) justice system in this third for 37 years, almost my entire life. what do you expect for 83p recovery. If anyone is wanting to be clean, world, politically correct, dog-hole of a country has become. per head per meal! The food then the Phoenix Recovery unit in Preston jail However, last year I was served a Deportation is, however, unbalanced Order (20th of June 2018) and on this jour- is the place to be. If it was not for this I would Not having to be hung up with guilt or shame for my “of- with a heavy emphasis on ney, I have discovered that there is no Legal not be clean and in recovery now. I would not fences” has allowed me to turn my attention on something carbohydrates and not enough Aid for the purpose of immigration except for have the relationship with my kids and family much more important - the plight of the 40-50% of the guys protein and fat. I am not those with exceptional circumstances albeit that I have now, and this has all been possible in here that, like myself, haven’t done a damned thing! And sure how this and the meals like mine. So, for those that have a working thanks to this unit. They have given me the by extension their families, and friends, who, like my own shown in the photographs tax history they can apply free of charge to tools to help with staying away from drugs. I partner, do the sentences with them day after day. (in the May issue) can be HMRC for their recollection of tax history have been given a chance at life again. Thanks. qualified as ‘nutritional’ and which takes 40 days to process. Let’s be straight now, if all the guys convicted of “sexual of- ‘healthy’ as the MoJ put it. fences” were guilty why are visiting halls full of more wives, Are we safe? Also, for those who have children, but they Further, I doubt that the girlfriends, mothers and fathers than you can shake a stick are not in their custody and not adopted, food barely reaches the Jodie Finn - HMP Downview at? It’s because they know the truth that their husband, boy- recommended daily adult they could apply to the Family Court via the Apparently HMP Downview is trialling a unit friend, son and friend didn’t do a thing. male calorie intake. We do C100 form for legal right to see their children for transsexuals (men to women) and some of and costs £200 without a Barrister (the form get fruit sometimes, which looks past its sell by date or us think it is a very bad idea. High risk unit? “I know things will get better and the truth will code could be incorrect however there is What a joke. These people are high-risk to such a form 100%) this can potentially void is battered by the time it gets out, it usually does in the end and this witch-hunt to the wings and then the women, yet they share education, gym and the Deportation Order. Then I discovered the library with us. I mean, the authorities will end.” that if one is to be deported they are not eli- vegetables, they are either cannot be serious. These people still have their gible for the discharge grant. Which I think steamed to a pulp or hardly male-parts and women here do not feel safe. It’s already started, with the Liam Allen “rape case” being is a liberty because I haven’t been deported steamed at all. Recently the It is only a matter of time before one, or more, exposed as false and the story about the rape “victim” that so that is a load of “BS”. Then my poor little prison said that it was taking was recently jailed for 10 years after her allegations were Polish friend, Anna, who was voluntarily de- away milk from prisoners who of us gets raped. The governor was walking proved false. I believe in karma and know those guilty of put- ported was then in a situation where she had used to receive an additional around here with the Prisons Minister and a ting myself and thousands of other victims through hell will to beg the Immigration Officers for money for carton at weekends, as this few people from HQ the other day and I asked face punishment for their crimes - that’s inevitable and one travel when she arrived in Poland. would save £31,000 a year, them is it OK to have rapists walking around can only pity them for what’s to come. To those who, like my which would be spent on with their parts intact in a women’s prison? partner and myself, are going through the horror of a false I’m not sure whom I should approach to chal- new pool tables. I am sure Their reply was - ‘We can’t comment on that’. conviction, I say this - never give up, never stop shouting lenge the eligibility of the Discharge Grant most prisoners would rather When will you comment? After the damage your innocence. I’ll finish with this quote “believe in yourself and I have informed the Befrienders Charity the money be spent on better has been done? What a disgrace. and there will come a time when the rest of the world will that work here at Yarl’s Wood IRC and they quality and more wholesome food. have no choice but to believe you”. seemed very enthusiastic to try. Hypno-rectification A real gem amongst us Name withheld - HMP Moorland Legal aid may be In response to the mailbag in a previous issue available on your case. George Aylett - former prisoner titled ‘I am a paedophile’ by unnamed at HMP Crown Berwyn, I’m not going to say I sympathise and I was shocked to hear that Jess Berens has I’m not going to say well done for your DEFENCE SOLICITORS passed away, shocked. I found out via twitter admission of honesty, however I will say that when I thought of contacting her regarding a you are brave for saying it - knowing it’s a Our specialist POCA team headed by Solicitor- Advocate joint venture. Me and Jess started our time in problem and seeking help. Many people Katie McCreath has saved over Dartmoor, I think a month apart, and we would avoid the subject completely or say the were there together in our creative writing negatives, because they have nothing else to classes for the next 2 to 3 years. Being IPP, say. I don’t have the same problem but saw £1/2 billion C ontact obviously I progressed through but through- something when I was considering quitting
from confiscation for individuals 0121 392 8000 out my time there doing all the wings and smoking that might just help you. There are pretty much every job going. and defended enforcement proceedings to ensure government-registered hypnotherapists, for which you would pay around £150 per session. default sentences are not activated for non-payment Please write to: Personally, I’ve never believed in that sort of of financial orders. “She was one of the very few FREEPOST CROWN SOLICITORS constants and when everyone was thing, but if you really are serious then it must surely be worth a try, right? We are a specialist bespoke team of dedicated shutting doors on me she was the experts, who successfully challenge draconian Email: one opening windows.” At last cases of all values. [email protected] Jim Callaghan - HMP Oakwood Me and Jess, we done our time together and PRISON LAW ADVICE & REPRESENTATION we both knew that we had, amongst many It’s been a long time coming. Now the police things, sort of cemented our relationship and can ask to see a victim of sexual crimes mobile CRIMINAL DEFENCE & APPEALS made it stronger. The article Jess wrote in the phone. Previously police have not looked at CONFISCATION & POCA Spectator was about me. ‘Colin’ is me and I’m the victim’s phone record. This can show if the pleased to have had such a person as Jess so-called victim has been a willing participant IMMIGRATION with me when facing the bottomless pit of in sex. Police should have a balanced view of endlessness which is IPP. Having someone both parties not just believing what the victim Defending our clients nationwide from exaggerated like Jess to help channel your emotions and says. The weight of justice has been on the . creative ability, and to actually believe in victim’s side. Police have failed in their duty, & inflated figures sought in POCA matters you, is invaluable and only an IPP will un- making the so-called perpetrator a victim derstand how it feels. themselves of injustice. Police have found it Don’t give in to sums that you will regret easy to be able to convict on hearsay and not – Let us help protect your legitimate income & assets! I’ve been out 2 years now, so it can and does on clear evidence. I hope the new measures happen, but you have to want it and if you bring a better level of justice. Mobile phones come across gems like Jess along your sen- are only the start, the internet plays a big role 0121 392 8000 www.crowndefence.com tence then treat them well, because you don’t in sexual activities and also must be know when the next gem is coming. investigated. 10 Mailbag ‘Mailbag’, Inside Time, Botley Mills, Botley, Southampton SO30 2GB. Insidetime July 2019
On the Kyle Wire when anyone with a bit of sense might wonder that if they are so good at detecting the truth Wrongful Not freaks then how come they are not used in the courts? Or why the American military and dismissals? Katie - HMP Oakwood Knee-jerk snowflakes courts stopped using them? The odds are M Khan - HMP Oakwood As a pre-op trans woman I found the opinions of two fellow Evan Prevett - HMP Lewes quite good that a percentage, even a pretty large percentage, of Kyle’s guests actually were ladies (May issue) disheartening. What happened to equality The axing of ITV daytime favourite, the Jeremy Over the years I have seen a for all? innocent of stealing their nana’s pension book huge number of prisoners be Kyle Show, is another harmful step towards or cheating on their partners. But he didn’t puritanism within television and broadcasting removed from prison em- Many people come out as trans for various reasons, some, give a toss, he sent them off to live with his ployment for unjustified rea- today and a blight upon a society that is stated results. like myself, after years of struggling with gender identity and becoming overrun with snowflakes. sons. Many prisoners do not gender dysmorphia, as the two authors in May’s paper I’m have the knowledge to chal- sure will have gone through. Prison gives people time to re- A lot of prisoners watched the Jeremy Kyle lenge these unjustified dis- Nobody is saying that the death of a guest Show, which proves how, with our limited TV flect on where things in life have gone wrong and what to do appearing on the show isn’t a tragedy, and missals as they are unaware to remedy matters for the future. channels, bored we must be. Or how thick we of the process of appeal. there can be no doubt that ITV and other actually are. channels should be doing more to support A small number of prisoners “Finally addressing the elephant in the room of reality TV participants, especially in the my gender identity has been a major factor in immediate weeks after filming. However, to Show of shame do complete the process of the complaint’s procedure, completely remove the programme, which has The Don - HMP Belmarsh improving my mental wellbeing and my life in gone a long way to helping thousands of which, in my opinion, So glad to hear that the Jeremy Kyle Show has general, at last being at peace with myself.” people across the years, is a knee-jerk should be done as a formal- been taken off our screens for good. It was an ity because the chances of reaction, one that is all too common nowadays Who are we to judge why others come out as trans? Do we embarrassment for our country. the establishment admitting as politicians, newscasters and other up- know what their life-journey has been? Should we not have they were wrong would be per-class individuals flock to get airtime. more solidarity as sisters together, or do we think we are the low. One of the common rea- Trying to appear ‘noble’ in their defence of the “Anyway, if I want to hear a couple only ones with the right to be trans? Is it the preserve of those sons for dismissal is ‘secu- lower-classes. further along the pathway of transition to look back with dis- of toothless geezers arguing about rity intel’. Prisoners should dain at those at the start of their journey and say - ‘You are petty nonsense I only have to walk be aware that the PPO inves- What isn’t mentioned is that, generally not woman enough’, or ‘Not trans enough’? No, that is dis- tigations are effective, and speaking, the viewers of this show are for the around the landings and I will be crimination and bigotry right there, the sort that we as trans that is why it is a good idea most part from the same background as the obliged.” people have to fight against every day. guests. Whilst, of course, a lot of people find to go through the complaints procedure to get to the Pris- humour in the show, it actually contributes a But, fair play to Jeremy, he managed to milk it One does not have to have surgery in order to satisfy an opin- ons Ombudsman stage. lot to the lives of those participating - whether for a long time and got rich off the backs of ion of being a woman and a Gender Recognition Certificate it be through offering free DNA testing, drug/ the poor wrecks he dredged up for his ‘show’ can be gained without it. Many trans people do not have sur- It should be noted that there alcohol rehabilitation, or family relationship and the general public’s stupidity. I wonder gery because of the major risks involved. As a trans inmate I is usually a backlog and it mediation. It is time that everyone grew up a how a prison psychologist might view his lust find that it is a difficult conundrum for the authorities. For may take 4 or 5 months be- bit - nobody is forced to participate. Don’t for voyeurism and bear-baiting? He definitely those of us who are pre-op, I agree that it is probably not the fore they pick up your case. hide behind the assertion that you are saving wouldn’t be getting parole. best to be placed in the female estate, but neither is being in But it is worth the wait be- people from ridicule. Let them choose. the male estate. cause they can recommend Added worries the prison to apologise, have However, it is a negative view to say that being placed in the Prison Service love Jeremy John Stubbs - HMP Whatton you reinstated and change female estate means immediately I would not be able to con- Jarod Yusuf - HMP Leicester your NOMIS entry, so it re- trol my urges, just as lesbian, gay and bisexual inmates have I watched the news with horror as they told flects the unfair dismissal. self-control. Or should we be segregated? I think not. More With the recent suspension of the Jeremy Kyle the story of the man having committed suicide They also pay the outstand- needs to be done to address the needs of trans inmates and a Show, which many prisoners watch and after having a lie-detector test on the Jeremy ing wages while you were unit especially for trans people is a step in the right direc- resonate with, what is the Prison Service going Kyle Show. I feel terribly sickened by this news, dismissed, right up until tion. It is not unusual for a prison to have a prison within a to do? The Prison Service obviously think this the man’s family and friends must be heart- reinstatement. prison. Many have VP units. programme is good for the prison population broken. I fear this may not be an isolated case, and think it is an element of control, however given that the Probation Service do not give It would also be a good idea The logic of the MoJ providing a trans unit should be ap- they could not be further away from the truth. any support for the people that they put to make the prison aware of plauded in my opinion, as it is a big step to providing a safe Perhaps HMPPS could commission a new through lie-detector tests. I worry for myself PSI 06/2012, which, evi- space where trans inmates will have access to the appropri- show to entertain the thousands of prisoners and other people having to go through this dently, they choose to ig- ate facilities list without the huge fight it otherwise takes. sitting in their cells with nothing to do under unreliable test. I previously wrote to say that I nore. Don’t just sit back and About time we stuck together and supported each other. the guise of ‘purposeful activity’. suffer from anxiety and this news just adds to take it, use the process. After all, we may not be the only trans in the village. my worries. Good riddance to Kyle Mark P - HMP Birmingham Reality check Justice double standards HS Khatkar - HMP Full Sutton My joy at that poor excuse for entertainment Bruce Child - HMP The Verne the Jeremy Kyle Show being taken off the air is This month finally brought some good news, only tempered by my sadness that someone praise the lord, Jeremy Kyle has now joined Before I came into prison, I thought little about the justice system. Since ending up inside I had to lose their life for it to happen. the majority of his viewers in the Job Centre have, naturally, taken far more interest. Now all I can see are the inconsistencies in the pro- queue. For far too long this man has been a cesses, the sentences and the very laws themselves. There are countless reports that leave me The show itself was nothing more than bully on our TV screens and, no doubt, confused. The two examples I’ve cited below are recent high-profile cases. ‘poverty porn’, designed so that the stay-at- destroyed thousands of lives with his so-called home middle-classes and their equally lie-detector test, a test that the British justice The proposed exemption from prosecution of some army veterans who are alleged to have enamoured but thick as shite working-class system stated doesn’t work when determining committed crimes whilst on service many years ago has inherent double standards; if a sup- fan base could laugh at people they consid- someone’s innocence. Kyle is an outright posed crime took place in Iraq it would not be followed up, if events took place in N. Ireland ered worse off than themselves. A Barnum & hypocrite when you take into consideration then it would. If a solider deliberately injured, shot or killed an unarmed bystander does it Bailey freakshow for the modern era where the fact that he judges folks on national TV make any difference whether the person was in Baghdad or Belfast? Surely it is still a crime? the marginally better off could point their when he has a chequered history himself. And should any crime be ignored just because it took place a long time ago? nicotine or quinoa stained fingers and laugh until their saggy bellies hurt so much they My sympathy goes to the family of the man In the same way I felt that the outcry against the possible granting of legal aid to Shamima could barely reach for the bong. who sadly ended his life, destroyed by the Begum also smacks of double standards. It seems the public view is that since she went will- Jeremy Kyle Show. Let us hope that the ingly to join the IS group in Syria she should suffer the full consequences of her actions, no As for Kyle himself, what an absolute horror of government step in and put a stop to these legal aid, no citizenship and prosecution as a terrorist. However, this was a young girl a man. Laughing, threatening, shouting and farcical reality shows now that a number of “groomed” on the internet who was only 15 when she left the UK. The tabloid press and many taunting from behind his huge ‘bouncers’, too people have taken their lives as a result of others feel she was old enough to make up her own mind. terrified to actually face most of his ‘guests’ appearing on them. The prison healthcare will without protection. Calling people liars and have to order a hell of a lot of antidepressants I am not trying to defend soldiers who commit crimes or young people who engage in terror- destroying families with his ‘infallible’ lie-de- now for all the cons who lived for the Jeremy ism, but surely victims of all crimes should know that the justice system treats them fairly and tector testing, and then intimating that there Kyle show as they will now be very depressed. those accused should be able to understand the laws under which they could be convicted, was no way the lie-detectors could be wrong, Especially my mate Liam. and the sentences objectively fair. YOU SLIPPED IN THE SHOWER... ?! IF YOU HAVE BEEN INJURED IN PRISON SPEAK UP! YOU COULD HAVE A CLAIM FOR 1000S OF POUNDS.
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