Prison is Unfit
Prison branded not fit for purpose
All Credits: Northampton Chronicle
A privately-run prison in Northamptonshire dogged with controversy has been branded “not fit for purpose”.
HMP Rye Hill, near Daventry, was labelled a failing prison with a “culture of drugs and violence” after a jury accepted Lenworth Beecher, who was caught smuggling in £12,000 drugs, had acted out of duress from threats to him and his family.
The former workshop instructor at the category B prison said his wife, who also worked at the prison, and his children would be harmed if he refused. Acquitted of possessing class A and C drugs with intent to supply, Mr Beecher called on the Government to investigate the GSL-run prison, which opened in 2001.
Judge Richard Bray said: “I cannot leave this disturbing case without expressing my concerns at the shocking state of affairs which has been revealed at Rye Hill prison. “Things have come to a desperate pass when a member of staff, who has been caught carrying into prison a substantial quantity of drugs including heroin, cannabis and steroids, is found not guilty on the basis of duress from a prison inmate.
“The jury felt constrained to acquit having heard the clearest evidence of violence and threatening behaviour within the prison. “The evidence is there is a culture of drugs and violence at this prison and it is not fit for purpose.”
Speaking after his acquittal, Mr Beecher said he agreed with the judge’s comments, adding: “Justice has been done. The Government really needs to look into Rye Hill prison. Very seriously.”
Mr Beecher was caught carrying 21 grams of heroin, 200 steroids tablets and half a kilo of cannabis, worth £3,000 but £12,000 inside prison, when he was searched on arrival at work in August. He told the jury: “They could easily kill me or my family. “I knew there was a 90 per cent chance I would be caught but all I could think about was my family.”
Steven Evans, defending, said his client knew the risks involved but had acted out of fear of reprisals from both inmates and a Jamaican drug dealer.
A GSL spokesman said: “Rye Hill Prison works in close partnership with Northamptonshire Police to develop intelligence to combat the problems faced by all prisons which include people attempting to smuggle in drugs.”
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It is appalling that someone could get off on such serious charges in a UK prison in modern society.
It would seem that officers are indeed protected by the state in most cases, and this is something we should be worried about.
Charles
Can you believe that Samantha Prime, one of the officers involved in the Michael Bailey case is now a security duty manager at Birmingham Airport !!!