tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184990032979540229.post3472087808210144815..comments2023-10-25T09:49:43.089+01:00Comments on BEN'S PRISON BLOG - Lifer On The Loose: Prison Staff Gaggedprisonerbenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14923205052778958118noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184990032979540229.post-74892017857553071462012-01-18T03:20:27.167+00:002012-01-18T03:20:27.167+00:00But this is precisely why a blog *is* needed - to ...But this is precisely why a blog *is* needed - to get at that alternative perspective without looking at it through the filter of the press. I'm pretty sure we are being just as unfair to screws as to cons when we interpret the stories in the tabloids as being a meaningful representation of their opinions.Wigarsenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184990032979540229.post-69263245605826323952012-01-18T03:17:52.494+00:002012-01-18T03:17:52.494+00:00To be fair to the mods on that site, there is a re...To be fair to the mods on that site, there is a real effort to stop people doing that. But how can you, really? Forum mods can't be there every minute of every day checking every post. And it isn't only the cons who are put at risk when officers do that, not by a long shot.<br /><br />But yes, I agree, a dedicated blog by a single individual would be much better - apart from anything else, I lack the patience to trawl through hundreds of threads looking for interesting tidbits and a blog brings some organisation.Wigarsenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184990032979540229.post-15653559787899450312012-01-17T10:39:50.995+00:002012-01-17T10:39:50.995+00:00The truth is that prison officers don't need t...The truth is that prison officers don't need to blog to get their points across. They have a much better and far more lucrative method, one that reaches far more people and regularly ends up on your breakfast tables - tabloid and local newspapers.<br /><br />Journalists all over the country have their pet 'sources' who either slip them unsolicited 'news' stories about the latest manifestation of the supposed 'holiday camp culture' within prisons in return for the odd brown envelope of readies or are kept on a retainer as a go-to source when some celebrity prisoner ends up in their nick or the editor needs a nice juicy quote for their latest prisons-related hatchet job.<br /><br />The question is, are these people any different from the screws that supplement their income by smuggling the odd bit of contraband into prison? And how often does one find one of them, having released/sold confidential information covered by the Data Protection Act, in court facing prosecution? (NB: prison officers also have to sign the Official Secrets Act but are technically only punishable under it if any information that they release leads to the commission of a crime.)joe blackhttp://www.againstprisonslavery.org/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184990032979540229.post-85266400587846667902012-01-17T10:26:23.423+00:002012-01-17T10:26:23.423+00:00You only have to have a little mooch about at pris...You only have to have a little mooch about at prisonofficer.org.uk. to realise that a dedicated blog from a serving officer would be a far better option.<br /><br />The site is littered with prisoners real names. This, at best, - must be illegal, and at worst, very dangerous (on many levels) for the cons concerned. <br /><br />Personally, I think it's worrying that those who are incarcerated are having their personal details bandied about on the net willy-nilly - by those doing the incarcerating.Darbynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184990032979540229.post-41277113966005682992012-01-17T02:30:16.848+00:002012-01-17T02:30:16.848+00:00But in the above example the confidentiality is to...But in the above example the confidentiality is to protect revenue by preventing competitors gaining an advantage. There is no such need within the prison service and I suspect the rule exists purely for reasons of arse covering.<br /><br />I agree wholeheartedly with Ben's position here. We seek out those who think like us and it is all too easy to walk into an echo chamber of your own views and stop listening to the alternatives. I would certainly welcome access to other perspectives.<br /><br />Dear prison officers, we would love one of you to take your courage in both hands and start blogging anonymously.Wigarsenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184990032979540229.post-46834809482181009122012-01-16T21:06:16.269+00:002012-01-16T21:06:16.269+00:00In almost every contract in the private sector con...In almost every contract in the private sector confidentiality is expected from the employees about corporate matters. This is not true for the customers. So I think this asymmetry is nothing special.<br /> I enjoy reading you blog and wish you all the best.<br /> M from germanyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com