‘Filth, Degradation’ In U.K. Prisons

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30057, 15 February 1963, Page 3

‘Filth, Degradation’ In U.K. Prisons

(N 2 .P j 4 .-Reuter —Copyright) LONDON, February 12. Filth, degradation, brutality, callous doctors, semi-starvation diets. This is the scene behind the wall of Britain’s prisons, according to a report by 23 former convicts.

The report covers 12 prisons where the 23 men and women signatories were held in the last two years. It calls for a complete revision of Britain’s prison system.

and the Home Secretary <Mr Henry Brooke). The former prisoners criticised degradation of prisoners, callous doctors, unhygienic conditions, dirty clothes and bed linen, semistarvation punishment diets, brutality by some warders, and cases of prisoners being encouraged to steal from fellow-inmates. Pig-meal for Porridge They said grade three pigmeal was used for prisoners’ porridge, meat was of inferior quality and “the taste of dishwater permeates much of the food.” Because of lack of knives and forks food had to be “shovelled” into the mouth by hand. Women prisoners were issued “filthy” cardigans, their dresses were changed only once a week and their underwear was “scratchy and uncomfortable without being warm.”

Copies have already gone to the Prison Commission

One prisoner at Hollaway women’s gaol in Landon, asked an officer if her lost toothbrush could be replaced and “w'as advised to steal someone else’s.”

_ The former prisoners said: “Some of us have witnessed brutality in the course of infliction of punishment

Military Structure

“We would recommend the abolition of the military structure in prisons." In one instance women prisoners had been told to scrub floors with their nail brushes.

The report urged more prison welfare officers, the appointment of qualified psychiatrists to every prison, separate centres for housing and treating sexual offenders, and better facilities for work and training. “Prisoners should be addressed by their Christian name or title, officers should be able to learn whether a woman prisoner is a Mrs or a Miss,” the report said. Three of the former prisoners are nuclear disarmers. Mr Colin Smart, aged 23, gaoled for six months in five prisons; Mr Douglas Brewood, aged 25, gaoled for one month; and Miss Margaret Turner, aged 39, imprisoned for six months.

Cruise Liner Pilot.—Captain D. N. McLeish, of Lyttelton, left last evening for Wellington to join the 21,141ton Swedish cruise-liner Kungsholm. After piloting the Kungsholm into Milford Sound, Captain McLeish will continue aboard until Sydney, after which he will return to Christchurch by air.