From the Ed:
I was able to visit Ben yesterday, and give him a 2 hour break from the punishment block.
He was not wearing his watch; he said that counting the hours only makes it worse. Obviously, there is nothing to do down there (except, as some have pointed out, think). No TV, no newspapers, and very little natural light so a recipe for depression, really. The "window" is a few glass bricks. He said he has resorted to making paper mache balls to stuff into the holes in the vent to stop the draught! He gets 3 visits a day; the Chaplain, a nurse and the prison Governor all visit prisoners in the block daily.
Ben has asked if people could drop him a line, just post cards would do, to give him something to read and ease the boredom. Only 3 days in, and 21 days is a long time. 10 days is more usual for a phone.
I have printed off all the comments, and there have been a lot on the phone issue, and sent them in. But I suspect they will linger in security awhile before he gets them. So maybe your comments on a postcard? Even if it is negative, say what you feel because now is the time to let him know because he has nothing else to do but read.
Ben Gunn A8761AN, HMP Shepton Mallet, Cornhill, Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 5LU
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Dear me, poor banged up, busted, bored Ben, it must be terrible in there, I can't even begin to imagine.
ReplyDeleteHow they keep torturing the man, its bad.
I will drop him a line as soon as.
I'll ring him, whats his mobile number?
ReplyDeleteHmmm... one of those "Greetings from Reading" cards with a picture of how much better things on the outside aren't?
ReplyDeleteShould have downloaded a 'file' when you had the chance Ben!
ReplyDeleteHa ha! I'll send these in, it'll make him smile if nothing else.
ReplyDelete21 days for a phone? I suppose it shows that the powers that be enjoy a joke.
ReplyDeleteKate in Australia
I suspect a postcard from me would take longer to make it across the Atlantic than those previous comments are going to take to get out of security, and I don't have that much to say anyway, so I'll just wish him luck in not going completely nutty with boredom.
ReplyDeleteI can only base anything I may contribute to this site on how things were (‘inside’) some 14 or so years ago. However, I’d be very surprised if much (in real terms!) has changed since then.
ReplyDeleteHaving spent time in the punishment blocks of every secure establishment I’ve ever been to, I can readily identify with Bens plight.
Things wouldn’t be quite so bad for Ben if he had just the 21 day block time to contend with. But couple that with the concern he will have for the ‘wider picture’ (and possible repercussions!) and you have all the ingredients for a very miserable time indeed.
I was released directly (known as a ‘block discharge’) from the brutal regime of ‘Rochester’ Borstal block after a 13 week spell, aged 16. When I was sentenced to a ‘fresh whack’ (and ‘Rochester’ refused to take me back!) I was sent to ‘Dover’ another one of the ‘top three’ (the third being ‘Portland’) Borstals to be avoided. Here also, I spent (what amounted to months!) longer than I care to remember in the subterranean concrete cells (former accommodation for Napoleonic prisoners of war I believe!) that served as its punishment wing.
I don’t know if this still applies, but in days gone by (in both YP and adult prison) you would be held down the block under one of three types of punishment;
The first, Cellular Confinement (C.C), would entail having your mattress/bedding removed every morning at about 6am and being left with just a piss-pot and jug of water for company. The Governor could only award 3 days of this punishment. The Board of visiting magistrates (BOV or Board of visitors) could dish out 28 days of the same.
The Second award was ‘No Associated Work’ (NAW) which (if my memory serves me well) was much the same as above – but you kept the ’privilege’ of working in your cell. The Governor could give you 28 days of this.
The Third, was to be held in segregation on ‘Good Order and Discipline’ (GOAD), which effectively meant being ‘taken out of circulation’ for months (if not years!) at a time on what could be no more than ‘suspicion’ of being involved in ‘subversive activity’. The Governor could renew this order on a monthly basis.
The authorities would ‘justify’ this draconian treatment.... (You never knew if you’d be there days, weeks or months!) ....by allowing you to keep your bed!
With the Editors news of her 2hr visit, I can only presume/hope that things have mellowed a little since I was last in the same position as Ben.
That said, in my experience, all ‘blocks’ are designed to destroy the soul and intimidate the individual. And although brightly lit, - the atmosphere is generally ‘dark’ and menacing.
Step lightly down there Ben.
I can only base anything I may contribute to this site on how things were (‘inside’) some 14 or so years ago. However, I’d be very surprised if much (in real terms!) has changed since then.
ReplyDeleteHaving spent time in the punishment blocks of every secure establishment I’ve ever been to, I can readily identify with Bens plight.
Things wouldn’t be quite so bad for Ben if he had just the 21 day block time to contend with. But couple that with the concern he will have for the ‘wider picture’ (and possible repercussions!) and you have all the ingredients for a very miserable time indeed.
I was released directly (known as a ‘block discharge’) from the brutal regime of ‘Rochester’ Borstal block after a 13 week spell, aged 16. When I was sentenced to a ‘fresh whack’ (and ‘Rochester’ refused to take me back!) I was sent to ‘Dover’ another one of the ‘top three’ (the third being ‘Portland’) Borstals to be avoided. Here also, I spent (what amounted to months!) longer than I care to remember in the subterranean concrete cells (former accommodation for Napoleonic prisoners of war I believe!) that served as its punishment wing.
I don’t know if this still applies, but in days gone by (in both YP and adult prison) you would be held down the block under one of three types of punishment;
The first, Cellular Confinement (C.C), would entail having your mattress/bedding removed every morning at about 6am and being left with just a piss-pot and jug of water for company. The Governor could only award 3 days of this punishment. The Board of visiting magistrates (BOV or Board of visitors) could dish out 28 days of the same.
The Second award was ‘No Associated Work’ (NAW) which (if my memory serves me well) was much the same as above – but you kept the ’privilege’ of working in your cell. The Governor could give you 28 days of this.
The Third, was to be held in segregation on ‘Good Order and Discipline’ (GOAD), which effectively meant being ‘taken out of circulation’ for months (if not years!) at a time on what could be no more than ‘suspicion’ of being involved in ‘subversive activity’. The Governor could renew this order on a monthly basis. The authorities would ‘justify’ this draconian treatment.... (You never knew if you’d be there days, weeks or months!) ....by allowing you to keep your bed!
With the Editors news of her 2hr visit, I can only assume/hope that things have mellowed a little since I was last in the same position as Ben.
That said, in my experience, all ‘blocks’ are designed to destroy the soul and intimidate the individual.
Despite being brightly illuminated,- the atmosphere is generally ‘dark’ and menacing.
Step lightly down there Ben.
Pity Ben didn't think about the consequences of his actions. Rules are rules in prisons. He was on the brink of a freedom of sorts, but blatantly chose to ignore the determinants involved & therefore must suffer the consequences of this. Yet also, his blog, which is published in 'Inside Times' (the prisoners' monthly,)can't much be helping the other inmates at Shepton/ nor other prisons, with this much revealing of mobile phone use - which makes for more random searching of cells. It's possible that Ben may be 'ghosted' back to a 'B' Cat. prison now. However, perhaps he really doesn't want to be released at all?!
ReplyDelete@ Anonymous. Rules are indeed rules in prison. It's a pity the screws can't read them isn't it!
ReplyDeleteDarby, above. Ben told me they call it "Cellular Confinement", as mentioned on your comment. I didn't ask for details, but he did tell me that he makes his coffee from the hot tap!
ReplyDelete@Anon 7.05pm
ReplyDeleteWell said. The majority of mobiles are taken into prisons by the very same guards who then "randomly search" for them.
Stay strong Ben, use that vivid imagination you have.