Inside Time

I have recently attended a number of excellent conferences and meetings where reform of, and improvements to, the justice system have been discussed. Each of these were filled with people who dedicate their time and energy to this important task, but I am under no illusion as to why I’m invited. It’s not to give my incisive contributions, but because I write about them for Inside Time and so I am part of ensuring that these important events are reported.

I am writing in response to Amy Cobin’s Mailbag (‘Single-room allocation’, April), stating that women with poor mental health are no longer eligible for single rooms at HMP Styal. What she reports is absolutely true, and it’s not the first time this has happened. I have been coming to Styal for a little less time than Miss Cobin, but I have still witnessed many deaths due to poor mental health.

To summarise your recent Mailbag correspondent (‘It’s your lot’, April): “Sex offenders are scum and should be denied a voice. How very dare they have an opinion or dissenting view? Big tough men can bully sex offenders, as they are morally superior and God has appointed them judge, jury and executioner.” Sounds reasonable. The writer makes the point that all sex offenders create victims, who may be damaged for life – to which I would add that the damage may be intergenerational.

I write in reply to the Mailbag from ‘name supplied’ of HMP Liverpool (‘It’s your lot’, April). Vulnerable Prisoners (VPs) attempting to have their voices heard. Why not? We are all paying the price for our crimes. A small majority of us are maintaining innocence. A case of the jury believing one statement over another. Do not make out that you are the pinnacle of criminals and you sit above VPs, as you are only a robber or a burglar or a drug dealer.

I am writing this letter to vent my disgust with this prison’s healthcare. Medication is always late. Even when you go to get it on your due date, it’s not late by a day or two, it’s 10 to 14 days late. Medication is reduced or stopped without any warning. You go to pick up your monthly meds only to be given a week’s worth and when you go back the next week you are told you picked up your monthly meds last week, even if you have the box clearly stating what you were given.

I have been around the prison system. I’ve been 15 different prisons, but this one takes the biscuit. Since being here, the kitchens have refused to fulfil my special diet, and if wing staff didn’t bring me food from the Bistro, I would go hungry. I put in to the healthcare who have advised me that they’ve emailed the kitchens who have yet to listen. Also, since coming here, we’ve had to redo all of visits and phone numbers, which is a joke as I’ve been to private jails before.

In their most recent report on HMP Downview, prison inspectors expressed concern at the high number of women leaving the jail to homelessness. They found that less than one quarter of those walking out of the prison gates had suitable homes already arranged, and 10 per cent left to homelessness or did not attend the housing they were allocated.

The Government is considering raising the age of criminal responsibility from 10, to bring England and Wales into line with other countries. Justice Secretary David Lammy (pictured) announced last month that he will consider a range of options. One would be to raise the age to 12, which would match the position in Scotland. In most European countries the age is 14 or higher.

Following a highly-critical Prevention of Future Deaths report issued after an inquest into the suicide of Paul Thompson from HMP Norwich, the prison has improved its release rules for prisoners recognised as being at risk of self-harm. Prior to his release in July 2024, Mr Thompson had been telling prison staff that he felt suicidal, but as he was not released until 7.20pm, mental health staff did not have the opportunity to assess him before he left the prison.

An inquest jury in Nottingham found that 47-year-old Stephen Metcalfe died at HMP Lowdham Grange as a result of using synthetic cannabinoids. This is the second inquest in the past two months to have found that a death at Lowdham Grange was caused by Spice-type drugs. Mr Metcalfe had been found unconscious in his cell on 30 December 2024 and taken to hospital, where he died later that evening.