November 2019 / Issue No
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Not so credible, Prison on film! “I see these people with no not so true Insights abound with way out and make the con- ‘Nick’ inquiry blasted as the National Newspaper for Prisoners & Detainees unprecedented TV access. nection. It was a special and ‘lamentable, inadequate and Rachel Billington tunes in. beautiful experience.” MIRI inexcusable’. a voice for prisoners since 1990 Comment // page 18 Comment // page 34 Comment // page 32 November 2019 / Issue No. 245 / www.insidetime.org / A ‘not for profit’ publication / ISSN 1743-7342 EVERYBODY NEEDS A BREAK 22 // SUDBURY OUTWORKERS 25 // SCOTTISH FOCUS 30-31 An average of 60,000 copies distributed monthly Independently verified by the Audit Bureau of Circulations AGEING PRISONERS As the number of prisoners aged 60 plus continues to multiply, are Britain’s prisons ready to cope? Anna Walker any period of incarceration not needed for their physical adds around ten years to the capabilities and which inevi- physical age of a prisoner. tably are very expensive as Prisoners aged 60 plus are the well?” The oldest person in fastest growing group in Brit- Prisons Inspector Peter Clarke prison is a 104 year old man. 31 ain’s prisons. As of December warned the number of men 2017, more than 13,500 people over 50 being held in jails The obstacles facing this gen- aged 50 plus were incarcer- would rise to more than eration of prisoners include: Singing out of oblivion! ated, making up 16 per cent of 14,000 by 2022, representing mobility, incontinence, men- the entire prison population. 17% of the prison population. opause, isolation, dementia, Top Scottish songwriters work with those in recovery That number has trebled in “The Prison Service has so far bullying, poverty [state pen- the past 20 years. By 2020, it’s said that it’s not going to de- sion is no longer paid upon to create 5-Track EP with Distant Voices project expected to rise to 15,000. The velop an overall strategy to incarceration] and difficulty reason for this ageing popu- deal with this issue,” he said. adapting upon release. A Uni- lation is a combination of “When prisoners get older, versity of Oxford study found Young that more than 80 per cent of We can help you with all male prisoners aged 60 plus BEING ON YOUR suffer a chronic illness or dis- SIDE IS ONE THING. Criminal and Prison Law cases ability. Although there are some palliative care suites FIGHTING YOUR CRIMINAL LAW across Britain, there aren’t CORNER IS ANOTHER. • Police Interview Assistance nearly enough to meet demand. WE DO BOTH. • Magistrates Court • Crown Court Advocacy Many of our prisons were built during the Victorian era, • Defending false allegations to house young men in the peak of physical fitness. Says • Miscarriage of Justice © Andy Aitchison/Library image Peter Clarke, Her Majesty’s • Court of Appeal Applications tougher sentences and the less capable physically or in- Chief Inspector of Prisons, rise in convictions of historic firm, they don’t provide an “In [HMP] Dartmoor, con- • CCRC Applications sex offences. The latter means escape risk, they still have to structed in 1804 to house pris- that many are inside for the be held in custody very often oners of war, the cell doors We will always assess if you are eligible PRISON LAW first time, and struggling with and it’s not to say they are simply too narrow to ac- for legal aid. If you are not eligible for the physical disadvantages wouldn’t present a risk to the commodate wheelchairs.” legal aid we o er a ordable xed prices. • Independent Adjudications that accompany old age. public if they were completely • Parole Board Hearings What’s considered ‘old age’ in at liberty. But the question is Mark Newby, Hollie Alcock and Nick prison varies significantly do they need to be held still in Elderly prisoners feature Hayles are all Solicitor Advocates and • IPP and Lifer reviews levels of security which are pages 26-27 will always reply to your letters and calls. from wider society, because • Pre Tari and Guittard Applications • Cat A reviews Baby death at bronzefield QualitySolicitors • HDC applications The death of a newborn baby whose mother gave was able to happen.” Adding that it was vital Jordans • Sentence Calculation and Planning birth alone at Britain’s largest women’s prison findings were made public, she said: “The in- is the subject of 10 investigations, a justice vestigation must identify clear actions to safe- minister has told the Commons. The baby died guard the lives of mothers and babies, who we on 27th September. Deborah Coles, director of believe should not be in prison at all.” the charity Inquest, welcomed the involvement For Life’s Important Moments of the Ombudsman and said: “There must be Led by Mark Newby, Solicitor Advocate with a strong record for quashing convictions the most robust scrutiny of how this tragic death Inside Time reports page 12 Doncaster offi ce: 01302 365 374 4 Priory Place, Doncaster, DN1 1BP www.qualitysolicitors.com/jordans NEWS FLASH! LORDS ISSUE WARNING TO GOVERNMENT ON LONGER SENTENCES! 14 2 Mailbag ‘Mailbag’, Inside Time, Botley Mills, Botley, Southampton SO30 2GB. Insidetime November 2019 insidetime Joint Enterprise - No release date? Mailbites a voice for prisoners since 1990 No student loan Resolve - thank you the national newspaper for prisoners published by a sham Name withheld - HMP Hull Connor Beckett - HMP Channings Wood Inside Time Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pawel Stragowski - HMP Armley The New Bridge Foundation, founded in 1956 to I have just completed a 10-week programme create links between the offender and the community. It has recently become apparent that Student I would like to mention a very important and called Resolve, which is a violence-reduction Inside Time is wholly responsible for its editorial difficult issue, namely Joint Enterprise. Finance England/ Student Loan Company is course that looks in detail about yourself and content. Comments or complaints should be seemingly acting in a discriminatory man- the reasons behind why you offend. After 10 directed to the publisher and not to New Bridge. intense weeks I feel like a new man, my wife I believe that this law is just an excuse for Po- ner; particularly towards prisoners serving and children can already see a difference in Board of Directors lice and Prosecution to use when they cannot indeterminate sentences. me, I’m not saying I’m now an angel, but I find enough evidence to convict the right per- Trevor Grove - Chairman Former Editor Sunday definitely feel like a better person. So, I would Telegraph, Journalist, Writer and former Magistrate. son. Obviously, the decision is always in the In two known instances, where the applicant just like to say to the people running this Dr Peter Bennett Trustee, New Bridge hands of the jury, but when a case is not for a post-graduate student loan is a post-tar- course - a massive thank you, you have done Foundation and former Governor of HMP Grendon clear-cut the Judge gives them the opportu- iff lifer, the SFE has declined the loan on so much more than the course for me and my John D Roberts Former Company Chairman and nity to convict everyone involved via Joint grounds that there is no release date. This is family. I would highly recommend this course Managing Director employing former prisoners Enterprise. Louise Shorter CEO Inside Justice and former contrary to their own policy and that of the to anyone. producer BBC Rough Justice Prison Service, which acknowledges for stu- Alistair H E Smith BSc FCA Chartered Accountant, “The result of this can be that the Think carefully Trustee and Treasurer, New Bridge Foundation dent loans that tariff-expiry is considered as Phil Wheatley Former Director General of Prison jury has a clear conscience because earliest release date. Benjamin Burns - Rampton Hospital Service. they are covered by ‘the law’, the As the Prime Minister has ordered a major responsible person is convicted, but Despite appeals against the loan refusal, the overhaul of sentencing guidelines it begs the The insideteam SFE remains intransigent. Such refusal has question is this really necessary? Judges what about others who are now already have adequate sentencing powers, e.g. affected the ability of these post-graduate victims of this law?” Extended Sentences (EDS), Discretionary Life, students to properly fund tuition fees and Automatic Life and Whole-Life sentences. The has necessitated borrowing from family as Of course, you can appeal, if you have concern here is that the judges will have enough money to pay legal fees then you may well as writing numerous begging-letters to limited or no discretion as to sentence. For charitable trusts. years the public have been angered by ‘soft’ or Erwin James John Roberts Rachel have a chance. I’m one of the victims with no unduly lenient sentences and this is aggravat- Editor in Chief Publisher Billington OBE money struggling in a fight for my life. I’m and Director Associate Editor here for being in the wrong place at the If there are other indeterminate sentence ed by the complexity surrounding sentencing. If experienced barristers struggle to under- wrong time. But I’m a pretty lucky man to prisoners who have been affected by SFE stand then how is the average lay person going have the support of my family and girlfriend loan refusals, please drop a line to Post-Grad- to understand? The government should think who never stopped believing in me. uate Research, The Learning Hub, A Wing carefully before implementing what could be PIPE, HMP Hull, HU9 5LS.