This is the story of what’s life like inside filmed by people who had been through it. There are knives, drugs, and a lot of violence. And there’s a load of mobile phones that have been smuggled in. Untold: The Secrets of UK Prisons, Channel 4
There are over 94,000 people locked up in prisons across the UK. ibid.
It is against the law to punish children by sending them to prison. But 4,000 under-17s spent time behind bars next year. Tonight World in Action looks at how they came to be there. World in Action: The Prison Children, ITV 1977
They were being remanded in custody before trial. After trial 2,000 were not put back behind bars. ibid.
With two other inmates Frederic Rashko is locked in a twelve foot by nine foot cell at Strangeways Prison Manchester for twenty-three hours a day. World in Action: Banged Up, ITV 1979
Prisons in Britain are in crisis. In the last two years Victorian conditions, overcrowding, allegations of mistreatment, have brought riots and demonstrations at Walton, Gartree and Hull. ibid.
A prison officer at HMP Bronzefield disabled the call bell to her cell after first-time mum Rianna Cleary asked twice for help as she went into labour. Baby Aisha was found dead in the 18-year-old’s arms by fellow prisoners the next morning when they found the pair covered in blood. BladeoftheSun tweet 30th July 2021
Ghislaine Maxwell’s life in prison isn’t going too well. She is giving the New York Metropolitan Detective Centre one star … Complaining about the way she has been treated behind bars. True Crime Recaps: Ghislaine Maxwell Update, Youtube 11.46 short, 2021
In March 2021 new charges were filed against her alleging that she groomed a 14-year-old girl with shopping trips and other treats. ibid.
She has already proven to be a flight risk. ibid.
A trusted female corrections officer in Alabama falls for an accused killer: chaos ensues. True Crime Recaps: Officer Helps Prisoner Escape! Vickey & Casey White Case, Youtube 9.38, 2022
In April of 2022 while Casey was awaiting trial for the 2015 murder of Connie Ridgeway, Vicky helped him escape from prison. But their getaway was short lived. They were captured after a high-speed chase. ibid.
Vicky took her own life when they got caught. ibid.
Round the other bar if you want a drink. Now look, man. Don’t push it. Round, do you mind? Out. The Wednesday Play: 3 Clear Sundays by James O’Connor, director Ken Loach, landlord’s colour bar, BBC 1965
Ain’t done nuffink? You’ve knocked out the wickedest copper on the manor! ibid.
Religion? You’ve got to have a religion. ibid. screw to black man
And the biggest crime you can commit is getting caught. ibid. Ma to boys
I’m sorry to say now that you witnessed a murder. ibid. Governor to two framer inmates
A proper mug is our Danny … Now he’s up on a murder charge. ibid. Ma
Behind every cell door lies a secret history … I’m uncovering the hidden past of Britain’s jails. Britain Behind Bars: A Secret History I, Channel 4 2024
Highway robbery was the stuff of swashbuckling history. ibid.
HMP Dartmoor is one of Britain most notorious prisons … Dartmoor has built a reputation as Britain’s toughest jail. ibid.
The optimism of 1851 changed quickly as public opinion turned against ideas of rehabilitation. ibid.
The prison erupted in January 1932. ibid.
The Inquiry ignored prison conditions and blamed the riot on a small group of violent individuals. ibid.
The practice of whipping continued until 1948. ibid.
There were repeated calls to close Dartmoor for good. ibid.
You can have a small layer of fog in your cell in the morning. ibid.
In 1990 riots broke out here in Dartmoor and across other UK prisons. ibid.
‘It’s still very scary-looking. Needs a paint job.’ ibid. 90s prisoner returns
I’m heading to Shrewsbury prison in Shropshire … When Shrewsbury prison opened in 1793 it was the main execution site in the west of England. Britain Behind Bars: A Secret History II
It never leaves you, that moment when you go down to the cells. ibid.
In the early 19th century over 200 crimes were punishable by death. ibid.
More than 160,000 convicts were sent to Australia. ibid.
Victorian reformers successfully campaigned to cut the number of capital crimes from over 200 to just 5. ibid.
‘I didn’t kill them, I executed them. Well somebody had to do it, didn’t they.’ ibid. Albert Pierrepoint
This is Shepton Mallet Prison in Somerset. One of the oldest prisons in Britain. Opened in 1625 it operated for nearly 400 years before its closure in 2013. Britain Behind Bars: A Secret History III
Treadmills would continue to be used in prisons until 1902. ibid.
A policy [diet of bread and gruel] described by one inmate as scientific starvation. ibid.
Deep in the Berkshire countryside sits one of Britain’s most feared institutions, Broadmoor Hospital, a place where dangerous men are sent, when there’s nowhere else for them to go. Broadmoor: For the Criminally Insane s1e1, Channel 5 2024
A psychiatric hospital like no other. ibid.
Today Broadmoor is home to over 200 men, and for decades it’s treated some of Britain’s most notorious criminals.
Broadmoor’s patients are detained under the Mental Health Act. ibid.
For Broadmoor the first challenge is to safety contain new arrivals. ibid.
Broadmoor is home to some of the most difficult and dangerous patients in Britain, and looking after them is one of the most difficult and dangerous jobs in Britain. Broadmoor: For the Criminally Insane s1e2
‘You have a big control room which coordinates every patient movement.’ ibid. comment
1993: After the murder of shop assistant Nisha Sheth, Bryan was diagnosed with paranoid psychosis and schizophrenia and sent to Rampton high-security psychiatric hospital. He was described as a model prisoner. And after eight years he was discharged into community care. But far from being rehabilitated, in 2004 Bryan went on to commit an even more unthinkable crime.
‘A friend called Brian Cherry, whom he not only killed brutally, but also dismembered and fried his brains.’ ibid. comment
Today, patients are still sent to Broodmoor’s intensive care wards and secluded for safety. ibid.
Broadmoor Hospital, a place where dangerous men are sent when there’s nowhere else for them to go. Broadmoor: For the Criminally Insane s1e3
‘He [Jimi Savile] had charmed his way into a position of most extraordinary authority.’ ibid. comment
‘It really is the lunatic taking over the asylum.’ ibid.
Ronnie’s [Kray] life inside Broadmoor was a far cry from the other patients. ibid.
A small group of staff were sadistic and tended to have very fixed views of the patients – often saw them as animals. ibid. former trainee makes allegations
Inappropriate sexual relationships between staff and patients. ibid. psychology therapeutic unit scandal
This is the story of how to get out of Broadmoor … Breakouts from Broadmoor are incredibly rare. But not impossible. Broadmoor: For the Criminally Insane s1e4
1991: One of Broadmoor’s most dangerous and depraved patients managed to escape … He was convicted child rapist John Saunders. ibid.
‘1993: The Wolfman [Saunders] decides to escape again.’ ibid.
Every release from Broodmoor hospital has its risks. ibid.