The Big Breach - Index of

The Big Breach; From Top Secret to Maximum SecurityCompliments of http://www.192.comlast, they ordered me to sign my personal file and, with me holding abin liner of my remaining possessions in one hand, escorted me down alabyrinth of bleak and cold corridors to cell 19, Spur 1, Houseblock 4.HMP Belmarsh was opened in 1991 to house approximately 900 prisonersand is one of only five prisons in Britain equipped to house maximumsecurityCategory A prisoners. Most A-cat's are there on remand,awaiting trial at the secure court complex linked to the prison bytunnel. If convicted they are sent to one of the `longtermer' A-catprisons such as Durham, Parkhurst on the Isle of White, or Long Suttonin the Midlands. Belmarsh is also a local jail for south-east London,so it houses some convicted petty offenders serving short sentences.Because of the harshness of the regime and its elaborate security, itis also used to house troublesome prisoners as punishment formisdemeanours committed in more comfortable jails. The prison is builton reclaimed marshland which was deemed unsuitable for normal housingbecause of the infestations of rats and mosquitoes. The fourhouseblocks are arranged at the corners of a large quadrangle, alongwhose sides are all the other areas needed for a functioning prison:reception, visiting-rooms, chapel, gym, hospital, kitchens andworkshops. Each houseblock is a secure unit in its own right. A commandand control room, known as the `bubble', controls the only entrance,consisting of two heavy doors, electronically linked so that both cannever be open at the same time. Each door has a video-intercom and thecontrolling officer in the bubble can only release it if he recognisesthe requesting officer. Inside the houseblock, three spurs lead viavideo-locked doors from a small central atrium containing the hotplatearea where meals are served. There are also exits via walk-throughmetal detectors and video-locked doors to secure areas for A-cat legaland social visits and out to the exercise yard.Of all this, though, I knew nothing as I dropped my bag in the cornerof the cell just after 2 p.m. and sat down on the stained mattress tosurvey my new home. It was grim and grubby, though slightly bigger thanthe cell in Brixton. The heavy steel door, slammed ominously shutbehind me, had a small solid perspex window at eye height, covered by asliding hatch which could only be opened from the outside. A small andheavily barred window overlooked an exercise yard, in which a fewprisoners were aimlessly walking, surrounded by 20-foot-high fencingbridged with anti-helicopter cables. Down one wall a metal bed wasbolted immovably to the floor, a sturdy cupboard was fixed above it,opposite was a small bolted-down metal table and bench, and in thecorner was a filthy toilet with a broken lid. Unlike Brixton, thetoilet was situated to give some privacy if a screw were suddenly toopen the sliding inspection hatch; but just to ensure that there was nohiding place, there was a smaller additional window over it so that hecould inspect you if he wished. Between the toilet and the door was aporcelain sink which looked like it had not been cleaned for months,above it a scratched unbreakable plastic shaving mirror and a buzzer tosummon the screws in an emergency. The lugubrious mustard-painted wallswere smeared with gobs of butter, splattered mosquitoes, stains ofdried snot and blobs of toothpaste which previous occupants had used tostick up posters. There was graffiti scribbled in blue biro above thebed. `Methadone strips the life out of you,' somebody had scrawled in ashaky hand. Another message was more hopeful: `Remember, no matter howlong you are doing, you'll get out in the end ...' Under the cupboardwas a simple Spanish prayer. High up on all four walls were patterns ofpage- 173 - To purchase the original limited edition hardback version of this bookplease call 08000 192 192 or go to http://www.192.com