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Category: HMP Long Lartin

  • Concerns raised after a Black prisoner at HMP Long Lartin spends over a year in segregation

    Content warning: racism and prison mistreatment

    Campaigners have called for action to end the isolation of Shaqueille Plummer, who has been held in segregation at HMP Long Lartin for over a year.

    They claim that Shaqueille has also been denied access to his personal possessions, such as his books and legal paperwork for the last five to six months. However, the Ministry of Justice now claims that these have been given to him.

    Campaign group Anti-Carceral Solidarity (ACS) is calling for people to write letters demanding an end to his isolation:

     

    Advice says segregation should be no longer than 14 days

    In 2015, a ruling from the UKā€™s Supreme Court found that:

    The use of segregation in prisons should always be considered as a serious measure. Indeed, the Council of Europeā€™s Committee on the Prevention of Torture advises that for punitive purposes any stint should be limited to 14 days

    However, prisoners are routinely held in excess of 14 days. In fact it’s common for UK prisoners to be held in segregation for years.

    A 2021 Justice Inspectorates report found that ā€œPrisoners were held in segregation for too longā€ at Long Lartin.

    Solitary confinement

    According to ACS:

    ā€œSegregationā€ is a euphemism for solitary confinement ā€“ spending almost 24 hours alone in a cell every day, deprived of all sensory stimulation. Spending over 2 weeks in solitary confinement is reported to cause lasting harm.

    ACS says that the denial of Shaqueille’s access to property – coupled with his segregation – was “inexcusable”:

    Shaqueille has no books, no TV and no electric. He is confined to an empty cell on his own for almost 24 hours a day. Access to reading materials is vitally important to survive the brutal conditions of solitary confinement. Such degrading treatment, on top of solitary confinement, is inexcusable.

    When The Canary contacted the Ministry of Justice about why Shaqueille’s books were being withheld, we received this response, which may well show that the pressure from ACS has been working:

    Mr Plummer received books this morning and his property has been collected from Reception and is due to be issued today.

    “Inhumane treatment of Black prisoners” in segregation

    ACS has also pointed out that Shaqueille is a Black prisoner, and demands that the prison authorities “Stop the inhumane treatment of Black prisoners in HMP Long Lartin segregation unit”.

    ACS has described the regime Shaqueille has to go through to get unlocked from his cell. It claims:

    Shaqueille’s unlock level has been increased to 4 man unlock in the last week, meaning that he now has to have 4 officers with him to leave the cell, all wearing body cams. Before they enter the cell, he has to stand against the wall in a degrading and dehumanizing position (known as back wall unlock). These increased punitive measures are being used against Shaqueille because he is Black.

    The Canary contacted the Ministry of Justice for a comment about ACS’ allegations of racism at Long Lartin, we received this reply:

    We have a zero tolerance for discrimination in our prisons and will not hesitate to take action where necessary.

    All claims are investigated and there is no evidence of any racial discrimination in this case.

    Not the first time

    This isn’t the first complaint that a Person of Colour has been mistreated in the segregation unit at Long Lartin. In September 2021, The Canary reported on alleged racism and Islamophobia at the prison. One Muslim prisoner was allegedly disciplined by prison officers after an argument arose when officers tried to stop prisoners from carrying out a call to prayer.

    Segregation ā€œused as a weapon against the vulnerableā€

    According to long term prisoner Kevan Thakrar ā€“ a prisoner who has spent time in the UK’s segregation system:

    [segregation] is used as a weapon against the vulnerable, marginalised and all too often the minorities.

    This is backed up by statistics. A 2017 study by the Runnymede Trust – a racial equality thinktank – found that Black and Muslim prisoners were more likely to be subjected to segregation in prison.

    No impunity

    The reason why it’s so easy for prisoners to be held in segregation for so long is because it happens away from public scrutiny. It’s up to us not to forget about those inside.

    ACS conclude its call by saying:

    HMP Long Lartin believe the walls around their prison will mean they can torture our friend with impunity. We must show them that they cannot.

    Featured image via Flickr/miss_millions (cropped to 770 x 403 pixels), Creative Commons License 2.0

    By Tom Anderson

    This post was originally published on The Canary.

  • A Muslim prisoner is being punished for ā€˜resisting racism and Islamophobia in HMP Long Lartinā€™

    Campaigners have raised concerns about a Muslim prisoner, who they say is being punished for speaking out against racism by prison officers.

    In September,Ā The CanaryĀ reported that Miran Thakrar was given a “nicking” (a prison disciplinary procedure) at HMP Long Lartin after carrying out the Muslim call to prayer. Community Action on Prison Expansion wrote at the time:

    Muslim prisoners were interrupted during the call to prayer by officers banging on the door saying they were enforcing noise pollution rules.

    A non-Muslim officer told [a prisoner named] Miran, ā€œyou donā€™t have to do call to prayer, you only do that at the mosqueā€.

    When Miran told the officer not to explain his religion to him, the Officer gave him a nicking [a prison disciplinary procedure] for threatening abusive language/ behaviour.

    The Canary has seen several complaints made by Miran accusing officers at Long Lartin of racist behaviour.

    ‘Retribution’ for speaking out

    Miran has since been moved to another prison – HMP Frankland – and placed in its Segregation Unit, which campaigners say is a punishment for speaking out against officers at Long Lartin.

    Campaign group Anti-Carceral Solidarity says that Miran is in danger at HMP Frankland, because he has experienced racist abuse at the prison when he was there in the past.

    According to Anti-Carceral Solidarity:

    As retribution for resisting racism and Islamophobia in HMP Long Lartin, Miran Thakrar has been transferred to the segregation unit in Hmp Frankland.

    This has directly put his life in danger.

    Threats to Miran and his family have been made by both prisoners and staff at [HMP] Frankland.

    When Miran was last located in HMP Frankland in 2010, he was abused in the segregation. Officers destroyed his food, starving him.

    The group’s statement continues:

    Officers not only allow racist abuse to continue on their watch but encourage it.

    Campaigners are calling for people to write letters demanding that Miran is moved out of HMP Frankland immediately.

    Anti-Carceral Solidarity claims that Miran is being held indefinitely in solitary confinement at Frankland, because the prison has assessed that it would not be safe for him to be held in the prison’s wing. According to the group:

    Even the prison assessed he would be unsafe on the wing. He is therefore being kept in solitary confinement until he is transferred.

    Miran is being tortured indefinitely as a result.

    The CanaryĀ contacted the Ministry of Justice for comment but had not received a reply at the time of publication.

    End segregation

    According to the Campaign to end Solitary Confinement:

    Solitary confinement is routinely used in UK prisons to impose discipline across all categories of closed prison (A, B and C). Segregation is often used as a punishment and sometimes justified as a form of protection. Most prisons have a segregation unit. Regimes inside of segregation units are “characterised by social isolation and restricted sensory input”. They are designed to restrict a personā€™s interpersonal interactions. People imprisoned in a segregation unit occupy a single cell. These units have far fewer people imprisoned in them, and have more staff per person. People in a segregation unit have allocated ā€˜exerciseā€™ time, if there are the staff available to facilitate this. A segregation unit can only unlock 1-2 people at one time. ā€˜Exerciseā€™ is facilitated in small cages outside where you can walk around in a confined space on your own.

    In 2015, a ruling from UK’s Supreme Court found that:

    The use of segregation in prisons should always be considered as a serious measure. Indeed, the Council of Europeā€™s Committee on the Prevention of Torture advises that for punitive purposes any stint should be limited to 14 days

    However, prisoners are routinely held in excess of 14 days. A 2021 Justice Inspectorates report found that “Prisoners were held in segregation for too long” at Long Lartin.

    In 2016, an employee of HM Inspectorate of Prisons wrote this about Segregation Units in UK Prisons:

    too often we found exercise yards that were cage-like or provided no view of the outside that was not filtered through fences or razor wire. Access to exercise, showers and phones was often inconsistent and in one instance only provided three times a week.

    Segregation “used as a weapon against the vulnerable”

    According to long term prisoner Kevan Thakrar – who is Miran’s brother:

    [segregation] is used as a weapon against the vulnerable, marginalised and all too often the minorities.

    Kevan calls for an end to prison segregation units and Close Supervision Centres (CSCs) – CSCs are the most severe form of isolation that exists in the UK prison system. He concluded:

    With segregation being almost unheard of in the female prison estate it has been shown to not be required. A total abolition of the CSC solitary confinement and segregation units is the only way to end this insidious destruction of human minds and lives.

    Featured image via Anti-Carceral Solidarity (with permission)

    By Tom Anderson

    This post was originally published on The Canary.

  • One 20 second video shows the importance of solidarity with those behind prison walls

    Last week, The Canary published allegations of racism and rising Islamophobia in two UK prisons, HMP Long Lartin and HMP Wakefield.

    A demonstration was held in solidarity with prisoners at HMP Wakefield on Saturday 11 September. The crowd can be heard chanting “Black Lives Matter”, and then – hauntingly – the prisoners inside begin chanting the same slogan:

    Muslim prisoners in the Segregation Unit allegedly denied basic necessities

    Campaigners say the prisoners’ chants were coming from HMP Wakefield’s Segregation Unit, commonly know as ‘the Seg’. Last week The Canary reported allegations that Muslim prisoners in HMP Wakefield’s Segregation Unit – as well as at HMP Long Lartin – were being subjected to abuse and denied basic necessities. A statement from Community Action on Prison Expansion (CAPE) alleged:

    One man is on 7 man unlock. This means 7 officers with shields enter each time his cell is opened and he is required to stand at the back of his cell in a certain position, or be attacked by 7 armed officers.

    Others are being denied the most basic necessities. Someone has been denied hot water and blankets, and hasnā€™t been allowed to leave his cell to use the shower or exercise. He has not been seen outside his cell for a month.

    Someone else was refused his right to a shower and exercise because there was a female officer on the wing. However other prisoners reported there were in fact 6 male officers on the wing

    When officers are challenged they retaliate with nickings [allegations of breaking prison rules]. One personā€™s access to his money has been cut off ā€“ the only way he is able to purchase edible food and phone credit to maintain contact with his support network.

    All of these prisoners are practicing Muslims.

    Systemic racism

    Last week, The Canary also reported:

    Muslim prisoners are subjected to systemic violence within the prison system. Just this year, The Canary has reported severalĀ alleged racist attacks on Muslim prisoners ā€“ coupled with the mistreatment and abuse of another ā€“ at HMP Full Sutton and Long Lartin. CAPE allege that one individual prison officer has carried out three attacks on Black prisoners who are practising Muslims at HMP Long Lartin over the past nine months.

    According to CAPE, 15% of the UKā€™s prison population is Muslim despite Muslims making up just 5% of the total population. In Close Supervision Centres where prisoners face the ā€œmost restrictive conditionsā€ seen in the UK prison system, around half of prisoners are Muslim.

    34% of those who died in police custody ā€“ the majority of whom died in prison ā€“ are of Middle-Eastern or Asian origin.

    Black Lives Matter

    The demonstration on 11 September was in protest at these conditions, and in solidarity with those incarcerated at HMP Wakefield. One prisoner at HMP Wakefield – who preferred to remain anonymous – told campaigners:

    It has really uplifted everyone. We are really proud of the demonstration and very happy about it. We had a great time!

    We need more people to get in contact and get involved.

    Response from the Ministry of Justice

    Throughout 2021, The Canary has reported on allegations of racism at UK prisons. The response from the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) has always been a flat, outright denial.

    Last week, we asked the MOJ Press Office to comment on the specific allegations of Islamophobia at HMP Wakefield. At the time a Prison Service spokesperson said:

    All claims are investigated. We have a zero tolerance for discrimination in our prisons and will not hesitate to take action where necessary.

    We informed the MOJ that we were writing this story, but they told us the press office would make no further comment on the allegations of Islamophobia and racism.

    The MOJ has consistently chosen to outright deny allegations of racism and violence by prison officers, rather than engaging with the details of any of the allegations being made by prisoners. This culture of denial shows an inherent disregard for the lived experience of prisoners.

    Effective organising on both sides of the walls

    Saturday’s demonstration is an example of how incarcerated and non-incarcerated people can work together to fight the systemic racism and violence of the prison system. The MOJ’s wall of silence over campaigners’ allegations illustrates the way that the carceral system relies on keeping the public in the dark over what’s going on in UK prisons. But, our solidarity and our organising can find ways to bypass their walls and challenge the oppression of the prison system.

    Featured image provided to The Canary by Anti-Carceral Solidarity (with permission)

    By Tom Anderson

    This post was originally published on The Canary.

  • Prison officers have allegedly ā€˜upped their racism towards Muslims because of what is going on in Afghanistanā€™

    Several allegations of Islamophobia and racism in UK prisons have been made in the past weeks. Campaigners are linking increased reports of Islamophobia to recent events in Afghanistan.

    Racist and Islamophobic violence against prisoners is common, but one prisoner at HMP Long Lartin told Community Action on Prison Expansion (CAPE):

    the screws [prison officers] have upped their racism towards Muslims because of what is going on in Afghanistan. Some of them served there.

    Prison abolition campaigners tweeted:

    Prison officers allegedly interrupt Muslim call to prayer

    At HMP Long Lartin, Muslim prisoners conducting a call to prayer were allegedly interrupted by prison officers. CAPE wrote:

    Muslim prisoners were interrupted during the call to prayer by officers banging on the door saying they were enforcing noise pollution rules.

    A non-Muslim officer told [a prisoner named] Miran, “you don’t have to do call to prayer, you only do that at the mosque”.

    When Miran told the officer not to explain his religion to him, the Officer gave him a nicking [a prison disciplinary procedure] for threatening abusive language/ behaviour.

    CAPE also said that “officers are using their power to harm prisoners who are practicing Muslims” at another prison, HMP Wakefield. According to a statement by the group:

    One man is on 7 man unlock. This means 7 officers with shields enter each time his cell is opened and he is required to stand at the back of his cell in a certain position, or be attacked by 7 armed officers.

    Others are being denied the most basic necessities. Someone has been denied hot water and blankets, and hasn’t been allowed to leave his cell to use the shower or exercise. He has not been seen outside his cell for a month.

    Someone else was refused his right to a shower and exercise because there was a female officer on the wing. However other prisoners reported there were in fact 6 male officers on the wing

    When officers are challenged they retaliate with nickings [allegations of breaking prison rules]. One person’s access to his money has been cut off – the only way he is able to purchase edible food and phone credit to maintain contact with his support network.

    All of these prisoners are practicing Muslims.

    Prisoner complains of being treated like “a monkey and a slave”

    CAPE say that they have received an email from the governor of HMP Wakefied denying the allegations of Islamophobia at the prison and claiming that “the prisoners here are being treated with dignity and respect”.

    But CAPE reports that since the governor’s denial of its allegations, a Muslim prisoner named Michael Peters has been “rushed” by a group of officers in the prison after asking “why he was being treated like he was a monkey and a slave”.

    Retaliation for those that speak out

    The reports from CAPE paint a picture which shows that those who speak out against the racialised violence of the prison system face violent retaliation.

    The Canary has previously reported that a Muslim prisoner named Kevan Thakrar was placed in the Segregation Unit at HMP Full Sutton earlier this year after he spoke out against the prison authorities.

    Similarly, Kevan’s brother Miran was reportedly placed in HMP Long Lartin’s Segregation Unit as a punishment for protesting against the prison officers allegedly preventing Muslims from conducting a call to prayer.

    Earlier this year, The Canary reported that a police complaint had been made after Dwayne Fulgence – another Muslim prisoner – was left bleeding on the floor on his cell after an alleged attack by officers. Since then Dwayne has been moved to HMP Wakefield, but authorities have denied him access to his possessions. According to one campaigner:

    Dwayne has been denied his property since he’s been in Wakefield, for at at least 6 weeks. He can’t see because his glasses are broken and the prescription is in his property. His incoming and outgoing mail is being withheld and his apps to get people onto his visitors list are just being ignored. They are really trying to isolate him.

    Campaigners claim that the treatment of both Dwayne and Kevan is in retaliation for speaking out against racist attacks on prisoners. CAPE says that Dwayne’s treatment amounts to “psychological torture” after he stood “up to racist physical abuse from officers”.

    The Canary asked the Ministry of Justice’s press office for a comment on the allegations referred to in this article. A Prison Service spokesperson said:

    ā€œAll claims are investigated. We have a zero tolerance for discrimination in our prisons and will not hesitate to take action where necessary.ā€

    A pattern of racism and abuse

    However, Muslim prisoners are subjected to systemic violence within the prison system. Just this year, The Canary has reported severalĀ alleged racist attacks on Muslim prisoners – coupled with the mistreatment and abuse of another – at HMP Full Sutton and Long Lartin. CAPE allege that one individual prison officer has carried out three attacks on Black prisoners who are practising Muslims at HMP Long Lartin over the past nine months.

    According to CAPE, 15% of the UK’s prison population is Muslim despite Muslims making up just 5% of the total population. In Close Supervision Centres where prisoners face the ā€œmost restrictive conditionsā€ seen in the UK prison system, around half of prisoners are Muslim.

    34% of those who died in police custody – the majority of whom died in prison – are of Middle-Eastern or Asian origin.

    “we are watching and we will not remain silent”

    Campaigners have pledged not to remain silent against the alleged racist violence taking place behind prison walls. According to CAPE:

    Prison Officers think they can get away with this treatment because they are far away from accountability, behind the prison walls.

    We must let them know we are watching and we will not remain silent.

    They can not continue to torture people with impunity.

    We say: No Justice, no peace.

    Featured image via CAPE (with permission)

    By Tom Anderson

    This post was originally published on The Canary.