Prison or Butlins??

[Loosehead]

Just been reading about a prisoner who escaped and phoned the police to complain that his jail was too soft! Now if the prisoners think that, I mean how far from Butlins must our prisons be?

[january_bug]

Yes, one prisoner must accurately represent all of them.

I think we get your point now Loosehead - your views on prisons are really clear.  I do hope that next time the job of Home Secretary comes up, you'll be applying. 

[Loosehead]

Great, I'd love to do it!

[january_bug]

Excellent.  Well why don't you dedicate a bit more time to getting elected as an MP then?  Put your time where your mouth is, and all that. 

[Loosehead]

How do you know I'm not an MP? I seem to have found a subject that interests you, go on get it off your chest, think of me as your local New Labour MP.

[january_bug]

We don't have Labour where I live - well, not a credible candidate anyway.  I live in a safe Lib town, and vote in a safe Con constituency. 

I think your views on prisons are really really clear now.  I just don't see why it needs a fresh rant with EVERY story that comes up in the press (or so it is starting to feel).  If I ranted about my feelings, the "Commie/Loony Liberal" dirt would be flung pretty hard and fast - you lot have at least taught me not to bother expressing a true opinion on here.  Still - clears the way for more of your rants I suppose. 

[Loosehead]

I don't remember the last time I asked a question about prisons. I have commented on other peoples questions though but I would doubt my views are that well known.

What has taught you not to express your true opinion? Not me certainly, and I have usually tried to be constructive, with the occasional attempt at irony, we have even agreed on things in the past! Surely you are not offended by differing views.

Do you want to hear my ideas for the future of the penal system?

[flashpig]

If it was that enjoyable, why did he escape?

[Loosehead]

read the question again, he escaped and complained that it was too soft.

[january_bug]

I'd like to read the original article - if that would be possible.  Thanks. 

[flashpig]

I hate those loony liberal prisoners, expecting the government to do everything for them. If it was too soft he should have got off his scrounging backside and made life harder for himself.

They just expect the hard life to be handed to them on a plate don't they?

[VINNY100_2]

Butlins must have changed...the last time I stayed there ..it was like Stalag 13!!!(:)

[flashpig]

I suppose then that it isn't such bad news about prisoners being allowed to vote. I mean, that's one more voter who shares your views about prison being a soft touch.

[Loosehead]

It's on Page 22 of the Express.

[january_bug]

THAT explains a lot Loosehead. 

I don't buy the Express, so I'll see if it's online.  Would obviously help to be able to source this story.  Cos it sounds VERY recycled to me - I've definitely heard it before. 

[Loosehead]

Well it's obviously not in the Guardian then!

[january_bug]

Wouldn't know.  Don't buy a paper at all.  And certainly have never bought the Guardian.  Nor the Morning Star before you start that cr.A.p again.  I read bbc.co.uk and watch the news on TV.  We get the Torygraph at home, but I don't like reading broadsheets in the morning.  Prefer them in the tabloid sizes, but we get it in the bigger size. 

Hope that's ok with you. 

[flashpig]

Do you reckon that's why that woman was so grumpy to have someone else pay her council tax? It seems likely she was probably just having too much of a lark inside. I mean, how many pensioners get a weeks holiday at the expense of the taxpayer?

[Grunty]

I don't know about this incident but the problem is often that people get so used to prison discipline that life outside is difficult.

I once knew a man who, on the day he was released, would steal a screwdriver from Woolworths.  If he was not stopped, he would ring the police from a public telephone and tell them where to pick him up.  As a goodwill gesture, he was once released on Christmas Eve.  I met him on Christmas morning and he was moaning that he couldn't find anything to get arrested for.

[january_bug]

Grunty's story also illustrates the point that I am going to make, that I will probably get shot down in flames for:  some prisoners have (had) a hard life.  Not very intelligent, poor education, literally poor, broken family life etc.  Any combination of these factors, will trigger some people into crime.  Others will pull themselves up by their bootlaces and get on with life - pity there aren't more like them!

I know people will say "pity the prisoners!?!  What about the victims!?!".  Well picture the victim.  65 year old Sir John Whattley-Smyth, white, married, boy at Eton, girl at Cheltenham Ladies College, wife is a lady who lunches etc etc.  He's a Tesco shareholder and all the thieving in stores means his dividends will be a little lower this year. 

See, not ALL victims of crime will get our symapthy.  But some prisoners, in my opinion should.  They are not rapists or people who terrorise Grannies (those that commit that sort of crime obviously deserve something worse than Butlins, although I'm pressed to think of anywhere much more depressing than the Pwelleli (sp?) camp). 

There are some prisoners who have had it tough and have frankly just c0cked up one too many times.  They don't need boot camp, they need a re-education.  Whipping them won't help, teaching them just might. 

 Again - if you think it's THAT easy, then take early retirement, and keep robbing Tescos till you get sent down.  Saves on the council tax bill.  And missing all your grandchildren's birthdays, well, not that bad eh?  Oh yeah - you could get them to come to prison to see you, nice little trip for them!

[Chessman]

Sorry for butting in on this apparently private thead between Loosehead and january_bug, most enjoyable, but in the paper I read, the Mail, (don't have a heart attack), after he phoned to complain how soft it was, he never gave himself up, so was the escape a genuine attempt at freedom, or not.