The Big Breach - Index of

More documents

Recommendations

Info

The Big Breach; From Top Secret to Maximum SecurityCompliments of http://www.192.com`But who the fuck ever asks us?' the beard laughed.The cells in C-wing were arranged on three landings around a centralatrium, with metal mesh nets across each storey to prevent suicide ormurder attempts, and I was assigned cell 32. The wing had just beenrefurbished and the paintwork on the cast iron stairs was still bright.`Make yourself at home,' grinned the guards, as they unlocked myhandcuffs in the cell. `You're lucky being on the book, you won't haveto share with some other cunt.' They slammed the door behind me,leaving me on my own for the first time. My new home was tiny, about 11feet by 7 feet, with two bunks against one wall, a barred windowoverlooking an exercise yard and a sink and open lavatory against theother wall.I made myself as comfortable as possible by unpacking the few clothesand books reception had allowed me to keep, and storing them neatly inthe small wall-cupboard. My plastic knife, fork and spoon, issued to mein reception, went on the narrow windowsill. The previous occupants hadbeen heavy smokers and the floor was littered with the butts of roll-upcigarettes. There was a mop and bucket in the corner, so I cleaned themup as best I could. Then I had my first wash for three days and made upthe top bunk using the clean but frayed bedding. After three nights ina police cell, sheets and a pillow were a blissful luxury and I sleptwell.We were unlocked just before 9 a.m. the following day. Not sure what todo next, I watched for a few minutes from my door. The other prisonerswere scrambling down the metal stairs to the kitchens on the groundfloor, so I joined the rush to queue for a fried breakfast, served on ametal platter, which we took back to our cells to eat. I muddledthrough the routine of the rest of the day as best I could. Nobodyexplained the myriad little rules and vocabulary of prison; it was justa matter of watching and learning. We were unlocked again at 10 a.m.for daily exercise, a one-hour walk around the prison yard which mycell overlooked. It was a chance to get a look at my fellow prisonersas they traipsed in small groups around the yard or huddled against thesurrounding fences to smoke rollups. Some were laughing and joking,others were looking morose and depressed. Some of the prisoners hadheard on the radio that I had been remanded to Brixton and came over totalk. None could believe that I had been nicked for a writing a book.Ìt's a bleedin' liberty, that is, `commented one shaven-headedcockney, his forearms covered in the livid scars of suicide attempts.As the day progressed, I picked up the terminology of prison. I learntthat àssociation' was a one-hour free period per day when we wereallowed out of our cells to take a shower in the landing shower-blocks,watch television or just chat with the other prisoners. `Canteen' wasnot a cooking pot as it had been in the army, but the weeklyopportunity we were given to buy fruit, sweets or tobacco from theprison shop. It was necessary to ask permission from the screw incharge of my landing, a cheerful cigar-smoking, whisky-reeking Indian,before moving to another landing. I discovered that we could attendvarious workshops and courses for up to two hours a day. There was abroad choice and I put my name down to learn to play a musicalinstrument and started to think that maybe my time might not be toounpleasant.page- 171 - To purchase the original limited edition hardback version of this bookplease call 08000 192 192 or go to http://www.192.com
The Big Breach; From Top Secret to Maximum SecurityCompliments of http://www.192.comBut the authorities had other ideas. That evening, during eveningassociation, two screws came to my cell and escorted me down to theGovernor's office on the ground floor. They stood behind me as theGovernor, a surly Scot, addressed me disparagingly from behind hisheavy metal desk. `Tomlinson, as you know, we've made you a Category Aprisoner. If that decision is confirmed by the Home Office, then you'llhave to move from Brixton jail. We're not equipped to deal with thelikes of you in here ...'I was confirmed as Category A early the next day, Wednesday, 5November. Two screws came to my cell, strip-searched me, ordered me tochange into a prison-issue tracksuit and handcuffed me. `Where am Igoing?' I asked.`We can't tell you that, Basildon, we'd have to kill you if we did.' Idid my best to smile at their joke, though it was one I had heard manytimes in the past few days.I spent two long hours waiting in a holding cell in reception until atlast the door was opened and my escorts ordered me to stand up to refitmy handcuffs. `Sorry about the delay, there was a problem with theescort helicopter,' one of them explained.I presumed he was joking, but later I learned that helicopter escortwas standard for all A-cat prison transfers. They led me out into thegrey autumnal afternoon, to a waiting van - this time from HM PrisonService rather than Group 4 Security.Ìn yer get,' the screw ordered, pushing me up the steps and into oneof a row of tiny cells barely big enough to sit down in, and closed thedoor on me, trapping my left arm which was still cuffed to his wrist.When he was sure I was secure, my wrist was released and the doorswiftly bolted. A few minutes later, the van's engine rumbled into lifeand we started to move. Through the tiny porthole of darkened andreinforced glass I watched the South Circular Road unfold eastwards,but gradually lost my bearings as we headed into unfamiliar parts ofeast London.WEDNESDAY, 5 NOVEMBER 1997HMP BELMARSH13. MAXIMUM SECURITY`Welcome to HMP Belmarsh,' grinned my escort as he opened the cubicleand slapped handcuffs on my left wrist. `You'll like it here ... not,'he chuckled, dragging me out of the vehicle into a grim prisoncourtyard and through a heavily guarded gate to reception. The processwas more elaborate than at Brixton, with strip-searches and X-raysbetween every stage. More of my possessions were deemed illicit,including a white shirt and a pair of black trousers. `They're tooclose to an officer's uniform,' the screw told me curtly. My diary wentbecause it contained a map of the London Underground which `might behelpful if you escaped'. There was little of the good-natured banter ofBrixton and most of the process was done in intimidating silence. Atpage- 172 - To purchase the original limited edition hardback version of this bookplease call 08000 192 192 or go to http://www.192.com
Page 2:
The Big Breach; From Top Secret to
Page 5 and 6:
Page 8 and 9:
Page 10 and 11:
Page 12 and 13:
Page 14 and 15:
Page 17 and 18:
Page 19 and 20:
Page 21 and 22:
Page 23 and 24:
Page 25 and 26:
Page 27 and 28:
Page 29:
Page 32 and 33:
Page 34 and 35:
Page 36 and 37:
Page 38 and 39:
Page 40 and 41:
Page 42 and 43:
Page 44 and 45:
Page 46 and 47:
Page 48 and 49:
Page 50 and 51:
Page 52 and 53:
Page 54 and 55:
Page 56 and 57:
Page 58 and 59:
Page 60 and 61:
Page 62 and 63:
Page 65 and 66:
Page 67 and 68:
Page 70:
Page 73 and 74:
Page 75 and 76:
Page 77 and 78:
Page 79 and 80:
Page 81 and 82:
Page 83 and 84:
Page 85 and 86:
Page 87 and 88:
Page 89 and 90:
Page 91 and 92:
Page 93 and 94:
Page 95 and 96:
Page 97 and 98:
Page 99 and 100:
Page 101 and 102:
Page 103 and 104:
Page 105 and 106:
Page 107 and 108:
Page 109 and 110:
Page 111 and 112:
Page 113 and 114:
Page 115 and 116:
Page 117 and 118:
Page 119 and 120:
Page 121 and 122: The Big Breach; From Top Secret to
Page 171: The Big Breach; From Top Secret to
Page 223 and 224:
Page 225 and 226:
Page 227 and 228:
Page 229 and 230:
Page 231 and 232:
Page 233 and 234:
Page 235 and 236:
Page 237 and 238:
Page 239 and 240:
Page 241 and 242:
Page 243:
show all

The Big Breach - Index of

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?