Non-voting constituents
There are two adjacent men’s jails in West Suffolk – one, HMP Highpoint, has been around for many years and at one time enjoyed a reputation for easy escapes.
It is extraordinary how the composition of the 800 or so in the jail have changed over the years – nearly half are from ethnic minorities, many from religious minority groups, and nearly 200 are foreigners. Because of its location near the road and open fields even the most sophisticated fencing has not fully prevented a variety of items being hurled over. There is comprehensive drug testing.
Recently an inmate, Mark Ryder,a convicted murderer, whilst visiting Cambridge absconded, and somehow landed up in Spain. I simply cannot get answers as to how his unbelievable travel arrangements came about, another symptom of the shambles in the Home Office. He has yet to be interviewed about his, six weeks on!
Prison officers have to deal with some extremely difficult customers. They are the forgotten end of the criminal justice system, and frankly have at times a truly terrible job to do. I was reminded of just this when I visited the prison on Friday.