Most officers I met were very decent and honourable human beings - totally underestimated, hard working, caring, unappreciated.

The Government, media and society has ignored the extraordinary and appalling situation in the prisons, police, the courts and the judicial system.

It is collapsing, inhumane, dangerous, foul. Prisoners often share a one man cell with two other men. You eat your meal whilst a stranger takes a shit in front of you.

For all those who say - "they committed the crimes - they deserve it" I answer NO, often they did NOT commit the crimes (I didn't). And no human beings deserve to be treated this badly.

We should judge society by the way we treat our inmates.

I warned two years ago - we are looking at a dangerous incendiary situation. The Government deserves all it gets.

JK2006 wrote:

"they committed the crimes - they deserve it"

Let's also remember that these people eventually have to come back into society.

If we have "de-humanised" them - then thats the sort of people who will be returning to our society.

As expected the media condemns them 100%. Why do people insist on taking a position without knowing a thing or bothering to think?

I have to say as I get older and wiser, I despair at the one dimensional, brain dead, tabloid headline mentality of the human race.

JK2006 wrote:

I have to say as I get older and wiser, I despair at the one dimensional, brain dead, tabloid headline mentality of the human race.

I agree wholeheartedly and feel the same way. There is nothing more I can really add to your observation!

During the couple of years I spent at HMP Risley, which is a Cat C, the officers spent most of the time in the tea room, coming out only to lock, unlock and supervise meals. The regime was fairly relaxed but the officers were far from overworked.

There are far too many people in prison, but it's hardly the screws who are suffering. Their strike doesn't draw attention to the real problems.

Grisly Risley we used to call it... I take your point and it's true but the barmy prison situation is going to have to be sorted by revolution not evolution within months or there will be a national riot before Xmas with thousands out on the streets.