Wormwood Scrubs - HMP

[Colin Rowledge]

Having recently read in my UK subscribed newspapers, about how 'molly-coddled' prisoners are treated, I thought about the place in the caption.

In the early 1960's I used the tube from work to home and passed the place on a daily basis. It looked a 'god-forsaken' place.

Today, I decided to see what had happened to the place and chanced on a Wiki article. What an eye opener.

I know [or hope] that nobody on the forum has 'inside knowledge' of the place, but as I've not been back to England since 1963, I wonder if the article is accurate.

Colin

[RobinC]

When you ask if the article is accurate, which part are you referring to?

[Peter Goodey]

What article and which wiki*?

Wiki is a generic term describing the characteristics of the software used to produce and maintain a particular type of site. Wikipedia is a well known example of a wiki.

[RobinC]

docuwiki.net/index.php?title=Wormwood_Scrubs (put www. infront)

I think he might mean this one, if so then I can confirm that most of that is true from experience of working at another prison.

[Colin Rowledge]

It was the Wikipedia article and it outlined several events starting in 1979. It mentioned poor conditions in the 1980's due to failings in prison management.

In the early 1960's my parents and I lived near a chap who had worked there after the war and his conversations indicated that it was 'horror' of a place. He told us a lot of the history about the place - from the early 1900's upto the late 1930's.

In my subsribed to newspapers from the UK, it would appear that many of the prisons seem to be like holiday camps and that convicts are handled with 'kid-gloves'. The article indicated that in late 2008 increased gang activity and drug abuse was prevalent and that conditions had deteriorated. This didn't seem to track with how I had read of other institutions.

[RobinC]

I have to disagree slightly, Colin. Yes, prisoners are not treated as harshly as years gone by due to the Human Rights Laws that Cherie Blair introduced in the 1990s but prisons are not "holiday camps". Prisoners still receive severe reprimands if they are caught with unauthorised items or are involved in fights.

The prisons in the UK will never be like those in the US as gang culture is not as widely spread as the newspapers suggest it to be.

I have worked in a prison for over 3 years now and have insight which the newspapers cannot give as they only receive information which the press office releases.

[Colin Rowledge]

I have to disagree slightly, Colin. Yes, prisoners are not treated as harshly as years gone by due to the Human Rights Laws that Cherie Blair introduced in the 1990s but prisons are not "holiday camps". Prisoners still receive severe reprimands if they are caught with unauthorised items or are involved in fights.

The prisons in the UK will never be like those in the US as gang culture is not as widely spread as the newspapers suggest it to be.

I have worked in a prison for over 3 years now and have insight which the newspapers cannot give as they only receive information which the press office releases.

Hi Robin
I am glad that you have 'come on the scene' with regard to this topic and I appreciate the information that you have provided.

I will not discuss politics on this site, but it has struck me that things are much different now in the UK than when I left and some times I cringe over what I read.

Colin

[RobinC]

I know politics aren't allowed to be discussed on Brit-Gen so I'm not going to discuss them either, however, I will confirm that you are right in saying that prisons aren't run how they used to be but that involves all sorts of factors.