Name and address supplied

Name supplied at HMP Rochester writes: This is a very sensitive topic in prison and is still a taboo subject. I suffer with autism and struggle to make meaningful relationships. Until I came here, where I met a wonderful guy who I have a very strong connection with. After about a month we started dating. I moved onto his wing and I was happy. However, things soon turned sour, and our relationship became prison knowledge. Homophobic prisoners were spreading rumours.

I am very concerned that Inside Time continues to refer to a ‘Sex Offender Register’ (for example, in a letter from HMP Kilmarnock in the Mailbag section of the January issue) in light of the fact that Sexual Harm Prevention Orders (SHPOs) are now being imposed on those with no sexual offence convictions of any kind. This has been widely available information on both the Crown Prosecution Service and Sentencing Council Guidelines websites since at least 2023.

The Government could have helped the two-strike lifers many years ago. Instead it seems we are treated as political prisoners. The Government does not want to help two-strikers in case of another public backlash, like that seen after the Justice Select Committee recommended the resentencing of all prisoners on IPP (Imprisonment for Public Protection) sentences.