Archive for November, 2008

Stop calling prisoners offenders

I have had a letter from a prisoner complaining that all communications are now addressed to “offenders” in Wakefield prison. He wrote to his MP who took it up with the Minister who replied that prison staff are expected to treat prisoners with dignity and respect and for this reason the word “prisoner” should be [...]

November 26, 2008   Posted in: Rehabilitation  One Comment

Police looking for terrorists

I was stopped by the police this morning.В  I was minding my own business, walking down to East Finchley tube station along the pathway that leads to the back of the station.В  There were three police officers there stopping people and asking for identification. When I asked them what they were doing and why, I [...]

November 21, 2008   Posted in: Government policy  No Comments

Secure training centres using restraints

I gave a briefing to the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture yesterday. I spent an hour and a half giving the committee ideas for what they should investigate and where they should visit. The committee is part of the Council of Europe and has the right to enter any place of detention without [...]

November 18, 2008   Posted in: Inside prisons  No Comments

Low Newton prison concerns

This is a bit of a tricky one.В  I got a phone call from a very authoritative and senior source, not normally a supporter of our public campaigning methods, who said s/he didn’t know where else to turn for action.
S/he was worried about Low Newton prison.В  Apparently four women had self injured at the weekend [...]

November 4, 2008   Posted in: Inside prisons  No Comments