Police visit National Prison Radio
National Prison Radio’s dedicated programme for Gypsy, Traveller and Roma prisoners, ‘Open Road’, has had a visit from Jim Davies, who is Chair of the Gypsy Roma Traveller Police Association (GRTPA).
The GRTPA is a support network for police personnel who are from a Gypsy, Traveller or Roma background.
Davies told the ‘Open Road’ presenters about the discrimination he has suffered from within the police force, and the work the GRTPA is doing to break down barriers and form good relationships between the police and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.
There are currently 62 full GRTPA members from the UK and 6 Slovak members. Jim says there are probably many more Gypsy, Roma and Traveller police officers and staff nationwide who may not feel comfortable disclosing their ethnicity due to the prejudice that still exists towards these groups.
If you are from a Gypsy, Traveller or Roma background, we want to hear from you.
Please write in and tell us your experiences of interactions with the police both good and bad. We want to hear how your background has affected your dealings with the criminal justice system.
Write to Open Road, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XF Remember if you are from a Gypsy, Traveller or Roma background and have not disclosed your ethnicity as W3 (Gypsy, Irish Traveller or Roma) with your prison, you can ask your personal officer to help you change your ethnicity records, or put in an app asking for it to be changed. This helps your prison to provide the services you may need from help arranging visits to allowing more phone credit for calling mobiles.
‘Open Road’ is National Prison Radio’s monthly programme for Gypsy, Traveller and Roma prisoners, broadcast on the second Monday of every month at 8am and 8pm. The next edition will be broadcast on Monday 13 October.
Sometimes in prison it’s difficult to keep up to date with what’s going on in the outside world.
If you’re into music, National Prison Radio can help you keep on top of what’s going on in the charts.
During Friday afternoon lockdown at 3pm, tune into our very own chart rundown, Hot 20, presented by prisoners at HMPs Brixton and Coldingley.
We’ll play you the UK’s biggest tunes, and let you know what sounds to look out for over the coming weeks in our regular feature, Future Heat.
‘Hot 20’ is on National Prison Radio every Friday afternoon from 3pm. It’s repeated on Sunday evening from 6pm.
– Well I have now been able to set up a petition on the HM Governments e-petition site. So Mrs B how are you feeling now the hearing is over, bet these are going to be the longest 2 weeks of your life. just can\’t wait for it to come up for partners hearing, he still hasn\’t even received his dossier yet. I am going to have to ring his solicitor & find out what\’s going on with it.
– Wow Mrs B I am so pleased that your partners hearing picked up, I am really happy that it all seems more positive for you. You can definately work with open, just one step closer to him coming home to you.
Found your petition and signed it. Attended partners oral hearing yday, started off negative but went on and ended positive. We have to wait 2 weeks for a decision it\’s 50/50 for open conditions. I doubt very much he\’ll get release following his recent incidents. We can work with open, at least it\’s a progression.
– I tries to send you the link on here but it refused to allow me…..It is a petiton calling on Chris Grayling to release all over tariff IPP prisoners. look under human rights petitons, as that is what I put it under. I have signed that petition on the Government website. I tried to put a petition on their but it wouldn\’t let me. Hope you are ok.
Nobody that I\’ve read, and I\’ve read a lot, is saying Ched Evans should not be allowed to work at all However there are some professions in which a convicted rapist is not allowed to work, teaching for example. There is a debate to be had about whether sportsman, specifically footballer, should be on that list but let\’s not fall for the fiction that this about ex-prisoners\’ right to work per se, because it isn\’t.
I\’ve been looking for your petetion on petition site but am unable to find it. Could you send the link. Also there\’s an online petition on the HM Government e-petetion website. Someone petitioning to get SOS to reconsider their release test. Worth signing that too and send link to friends and family.
– Mrs B, I have started an online petition, on the petition site. I have a reporter from the BBC on the case, Lord Ramsbotham has also signed the petition so we are on our way. We only have 8 signatures but some people from america have signed it as well.
The guy was found guilty in a court of raping a young
Girl ? She will have to live with that for the rest of her
Life…. What he did was wrong and now he has to except
that people do not want to see him on the pitch. Like all sports
People he had a responsibily to create a good image and have some kind of moral code, on this night he chose not to care about himself or the girl he raped.
– Mrs B, Yeah that is great news, he is really backing us on our cause, so hopefully on the 8th we will get further. I know it will be after your hubby\’s hearing but hopefully if we can get our way we will have over tariff IPP prisoners released. I am looking to start a petition on releasing over tariff IPP prisoners.
Hi Mrs Gregory, oh wow that is great news. I will also email him, I know I\’m likely to get the same answer but our strength is in numbers, if only we could do a petition. I hope we\’re lucky second time round although the 8th will be after my hubby\’s hearing. I\’ll also update you if I have anything new.
– Mrs B, I have an update for you. I received an e-mail back from Lord Ramsbotham, he stated that they tried again last 2 get over tariff IPP prisoners released, but maddeningly the labour party abstained & we lost the vote against a government whip. He is going to say it again on dec 8th. I have e-mailed back asking whom in the labour party I can e-mail 2 make any difference, I also thanked him for his support in our campaign. Hope that this brings some light into such a dark time for you !!.
– If a person drinks and commits a crime for example drink driving,he/she cannot be absolved of it just because he/she was drunk.Similarly if a woman has sex with a bloke and then after retrospection decides to call it rape,I do not see the justice of blaming the bloke.It\’s just that people are jealous that Ched Evans was a successful footballer and decided to either get money out of him or tarnish his image
– Mrs B just an update to let you know that I have e-mailed Grayling again as I haven\’t heard anything back from him. I have also e-mailed Lord Ramsbotham, so if & when I hear anything back from either of them I will let you know.
– Don\’t worry Mrs B, I will keep you updated on what is going on with Grayling & the Lords, my hubby knows what I am like, he knows that I will keep on at everyone 2 get a result so he won\’t waste his breath telling me not 2 contact them ha ha.
Yeah I deal with that with my hubby aswell, first thing he ever says when he phones is who\’s there & he worries that I\’m cheating, it is hard on them with worrying what we are up 2, but they also need 2 realize that it is hard on us as well.
I know what you mean about skin 2 skin contact.
Aww Mrs Gregory, at least it\’s a step in the right direction. I think from the time the dossier is sent to the parole board it takes around 18wks for a hearing. Any longer than that and the fact we\’ve been experiencing delays calls for a judicial review. Def tell your hubby to stay humble and away from any temptations. I have noted your email address so may take u up on your offer. I\’ve really enjoyed reading everyone\’s posts. If you get a response from Grayling and the House of Lords please update me on what they said. my hubby has asked me to hold off from contacting the lords as he doesn\’t want to rock the boat before his hearing. I don\’t see it as rocking the boat, I see it as getting support with our hearing. The reason why my hubby tells me to go and live my life is because it will help him get on with his sentence, he says while I\’m around he can\’t concentrate on his sentence always wondering if im cheating ect. I love him too much to give up on him just cause I have my own needs, I\’m not that shallow n selfish, I\’m in for the long run no matter what. Not gonna lie though it BLOODY hard and sometimes you just crave skin to skin contact. But I won\’t get in to all of that on here.
– Thanks Errol. They deliberately wind him up anyway cause of his past behavior.
He will read it carefully as he has had enough parole hearings & knows what to do, his solicitor is going to see him about his dossier once she has read it.
Mrs Gregory: What your husband will have to watch is staff deliberately trying to wind him up so he kicks off and they can write negative reports to scupper the parole hearing. Both he and his solicitor should read the dossier very carefully as it will be full of lies and double meanings specifically put there to mess him up.
– Thanks a lot Ex Government Hostage, trying to stay strong for the both of us as my partner doesn\’t see a light at the end of the tunnel.
Mrs B he got himself all excited for nothing, I phoned his solicitor yesterday & she said it\’s only his dossier that will be ready this month, he misunderstood it. I had to break the news to him when he phoned, I know the screws are just gonna cause probs for him now as at the beginning of his sentence he was really bad.
My heart goes out to you both, it really does but please don\’t give up.
If you give up, if your partners give up then the system has won. Don\’t let it. I know its hard and right now that light at the end of the tunnel seems miles away but every day is progress, every day is a day closer to the gate. Freedom will come, I promise. Stay strong lady\’s. x
That\’s excellent news, I hope all goes well
– Well Mrs B I e-mailed the secretary of state Chris Grayling yesterday & am still waiting for a reply. I am going to get in contact with one of the lords now that you have told me that.
My partner did the same to me when he got knocked back from his last parole, he dumped me but that lasted a week as I just wrote everyday as usual, acting as though nothing was wrong. He has also threatened to do it again if he gets a knock back, even though I have told him it doesn\’t matter how long he is in for I will wait forever if I have to. Yes they should release them especially when they are so far over tariff. Chris Grayling has the power to release all those IPPers over tariff, he could release them when ever he wants to, as parliament have given him the power to do so.
My partners file isn\’t that favorable either so I\’m not holding out much hope. Yes I feel like that sometimes when I am so down & need him to hold me, I think why don\’t they just tell us that he isn\’t getting out. Mrs B my e-mail address is attatched so if you want a natter or just some support you can always e-mail me.
– Well I am gutted for you mrs B, my partner has just phoned me & told me they have brought his parole forward to this month. I am now trying to find out how I can attend the oral hearing
Mrs Gregory, I have been reading up on the House of Lords debate on IPP, not sure if you\’ve read it, there\’s a article in this Octobers issue. The long and short of it is that the lords are against indeterminate sentences and they are debating to get all those prisoners on IPP released, which to me sounds hopeful. I was thinking of writing to a Lord to see if he/she can give me some advice or if possible give some assistance. Maybe you should consider doing the same. Having spoken to my solicitor I dont think my partner will get any progression. The fact that he is now in block and his parole hearing is days away I honestly believe the parole are rubbing their hands together with joy as he has just made it real easy for them to refuse his release. He is giving up hope which is why he is misbehaving, he\’s jumped through several hoops to prove he\’s changed but they don\’t acknowledge that. He\’s even told me that if he gets rejected this time round that I should go and live me life as he doesn\’t think it\’s fair that I continue waiting for him and miss the opportunity of have a family life. I don\’t have any children. He said he will refuse to go on any future paroles and will just see it as he will remain in prison for life. he is on the verge of a breakdown. It\’s really sad and to be honest I can\’t see myself going anywhere even if he did dump me. This is normal thinking for IPP prisoners but they don\’t dare show this to prison staff. Today I tried to book a visit as I have been for many years and they tell me I can\’t because one letter in my name differs to what they have on the system and that my partner must complete a new form so that the system can be updated! Until this is done I can\’t have a visit. My partner is in block, right conspiracy to get him angry whilst in block so that they can add more to his already unfavourable file. They are killing us all very slowly. I wish they just told us he was never coming out maybe then we can move on with our lives.
– My partner got sentenced to 6 n half yr ipp, he is coming up for 11 yrs incarcerated, his parole has been put back to July due to a back log with the parole board. He has asked me look up progressive regime, so I think he has had a letter saying he is not eligible for open conditions. He has changed solicitors twice as they have been no help to him in previous parole hearings. He is getting worn down & looking on the situation as he is never going to get out, I too am feeling down & have a lot of problems mental health wise, but I still keep trying to do what I can. Now after reading the above article am feeling as though he is right & he will never get out. He was no angel when he was first sentenced as with a sentence like that he felt he had nothing to lose. For the past 4 years he has been enhanced, has worked in the kitchen or as a cleaner, but the goal posts are constantly being moved. The parole board always use his behaviour from when he was first sentenced, they put him on new courses or refresher courses as he has done the courses but they have lapsed. When are they going to be fair to those IPP prisoners whom are so far over tarriff ??. Mrs B I have everything crossed for you as I know how you feel.
They were my thoughts exact, sabotage comes to mind. The sentencing judge said he would go down for a long time, and a long time is what he\’s getting. My partners \”victim\” was a man of status and rich, the rich always buy their way through life. Had his victim been a little joe bloggs from an estate, well he wld have been out ages ago. They should punish for the crime not on who it was committed on. Anyhow, your advice is appreciated, sounds like you know what your talking about, in fact u sound like a solicitor, but that\’s what tends to happen when you\’ve been through the prison system. I suppose you have to learn about your rights within prison law to survive. I will talk to him about the probation approved premises which you mentioned. Will try to keep you posted. Make sure you keep everything crossed for me.
– Mrs. B…
Oh dear, that\’s really bad news but, that said, it\’s very usual for inmates to receive nickings just before a Parole Hearing especially those serving a lengthy sentence. Call that what you will, I call it corrupt and an attempt by the screws to do whatever it is they can to make the prisoners life as difficult as possible. It\’s almost as if the Offender Supervisor has briefed the wing officers to set him up, its common, I\’ve seen it happen before and it really does give example just to what extent bent officers will go to.
You don\’t mention the circumstances of the nicking and I wouldn\’t suggest you do on here but, if you want, I have included my email address above, you are more than happy to contact me directly should you wish.
Your boy will have the opportunity to seek legal advice regarding the nicking, subject to legal aid, and, subject to the charge could also be represented by SM. He has to be found guilty of the charge however for it to have any real legal grounds for a decline by the panel per-say, however we both know that the nicking will be placed on his wing report which could, as you say have an affect on the decision of the board.
I would suggest that during the hearing with the panel your boy tells the truth as to the circumstances which led to the nicking (ONLY if asked), e.g. being over tariff, depression etc. but be aware that the hearing is about compliance in the community so, if he does say he\’s depressed etc. it could be a double edged sword as to how he would use his problem solving skills in the community…
He needs to convince the panel that he is safe to be released and will comply to ALL the conditions and supervision requirements.
Perhaps he could suggest that he wants to be housed in a Probation Approved Premises so, if he should experience difficulties he can use the staff there for assistance.
Don\’t give up hope just yet, the hearing is what it is and I wish you the result that both you and your boy want. Next time he calls home though please do rip shreds off him for being so silly, again I don\’t know the circumstances and it could be that he was set-up but even so, tell him to accept the decision and move forward. He needs to attend this panel hearing calm, his outside and inside OM will be there, as will the PPU MAPPA officers so he needs to demonstrate strong relationships and an attitude of compliance, even if he hates the [bast]s. Stay strong, tell your boy to keep his head down and not allow himself to be wound up by bent officers and idiots on the landings.
Don\’t give up! I have everything crossed, do let us know the result though.
Thanks for coming back to me Ex Government hostage, it\’s really good to hear your views about SM however since writing my last post there has been a decline in my partners situation which has put him on basic regime and his parole hearing is imminent. I am trying to stay optimistic but it\’s hard when I know the parole board will knock prisoners back for minor nickings. He will be attending a hearing regarding this issue this week and hopefully he will get the chance to prove his innocence. If he is found guilty, I don\’t think SM can do anything to get a good result from his parole hearing. If they do, then it will be a miracle or they are as good as you say they are. Cat D hasn\’t been mentioned and that\’s cause he and his solicitor consider his release plan to be better. Also I read that not all lifers are entitled to Cat D anymore and letters wild be sent to those affected, he hasn\’t rec\’d a letter so Cat D could be a possibility. We\’d both be happy with Cat D, it\’s one step closer to home. I\’m just dreading a knock back. It will be 11 years end of November and a knock back will set us back another year. All I can do is pray and hope for the best.
– http://www.affordacall.co.ukPrisoners are there as a punishment! That may be some people\’s opinion, but they are there to be rehabilitated. In either case, those in charge of their welfare should be trained, whether the training is health related, and/or age related.
Of course security is a risk when visiting prisoners. The process for exceptions should be swift and uniformed, with online applications for approaches like this.
Denise,
I am so sorry to hear the news about your daughter. This is a terrible situation for you and for her and I can\’t begin to imagine the stress all of you are going through right now.
Regarding your post, unfortunately, to the best of my knowledge, you will NOT be granted access to visit your daughter in hospital. Your daughter will be in a side room with Officers and they will NOT let you in to see her under any circumstances.
Whilst I appreciate the situation, any visits are seen as a security risk, escape (even that she is ill), etc and unless a full risk assessment is made no-one other than the doctors will get within a metre of her.
Now, all is not lost. Due to the nature of the condition, I would recommend contacting the Governor of the establishment directly and asking about the process for application to be made to see her. I don\’t think there is a process but its certainly worth an ask.
I wish you all the very best but for now, legal assistance is the best bet. Give Kristen Bender of Scott Moncrieff a call for advice. Kristen is a Prison Law specialist and may be able to help certainly due to the compassionate circumstances surrounding this enquiry.
Take care.
Mrs B. Apologies for the delay…
The reps that your boy will have will be second to none. One of the best things about SM is that they take Customer Care very seriously and will honestly do all they can to ensure a fair hearing.
Given the time your boy has now spent in custody, his behaviour etc I\’m confident your boy will have a positive hearing. Has there been any mention of Cat-D if save he isn\’t successful for actual release?
In addition, you can attend on the day with prior permission. The most important thing is that prior to the hearing your boy sees the dossier, he spends lots of time reading the dossier and looks at the dossier from the view of the board making sure he\’s prepped for all questions put to him. He doesn\’t need to revise his answers but the board will want to know why he feels he\’s ready for release as well as some examples of his compliance to supervision should he be released. Short answeres such as I\’ve done my time won\’t be accepted by the board, he needs to expand on his answers making them relevant to his risk THEN and his risk NOW.
Do not be afraid to ask the Solicitor questions, this is your boys day. He needs to ensure that his case will be put over in the best way possible so, that said, if he has any niggles he needs to get them answered now.
Also, from personal experience I know that the board members will be fair and if they ask a question to which your boy doesn\’t fully understand then they like being asked to ask the question again if he says he didn\’t understand the question.
The most important thing also is accepting the situation. Parole Boards don\’t do denial, I\’m not saying this is your case, but they will want to hear acceptance, victim empathy and information as to the changes in thoughts, feelings and actions.
I wish you and your boy the very best of luck. Remember, no minimalising, just be himself.
Good luck.
– My daughters serving 27months but has only been inside for 2 months, but has just been diagnosed with thyroid cancer and another secondary cancer of throat.we dont know if we can visit her in hospital or when her op is.she said on my visit sunday..mum i want the last face i see before im put to sleep to be yours not some screw.we cant get any answers.its as thoughshe doesnt matter and neither do we.she might be terminal and the worry is making me ill.who do we turn to.
i heard a new term last week, \”paper hearing\” for an IPP individual. WIthout commenting on a particular case, has the absurdity of \”paper hearng\” ever caused eyebrows to raise before? i struggle to understand how you can hear paper.
Kev – you won\’t get a conviction because the system of a woman making an allegation without actual evidence and getting a conviction does not work for men. You could, however, do what a lot of women do and go to the on-line government site where you can claim up to
Steve. I spent 10 years in the High Security Estate, with ten moves. I was moved because I was a pain in the neck and wouldn\’t take nonsense or games from staff but I really do not recognise what you describe.
I, like most prisoners, got on with our lives and made things the best we could for ourselves. I agree that things like visiting was difficult but I retained my marriage, my sanity, and my self-respect.
Yes I was pe\’ed off by the system, more so the bent court system that convicts innocent people and when first imprisoned I was really (and I mean really) angry; but another prisoner told me that I must not let the system or staff get to me otherwise they have won. That was good advice and I survived the experience more or less unscathed but with a deep understanding of how it works.
Errol, I can just imagine you in Nazi Germany, defending concentration camps, believing the Nazi propaganda, they treat prisoners decently, just look at the wonderful art coming out of Auschwitz. HM Hate Factories use propaganda, pretending prisoners are treated decently, when behind the walls, the system destroys family ties, links to the community, dehumanizing human beings. Prisoners live in toilet cubicles, and just because they are allowed to leave the toilet cubicle to attend an art class, you have decided things must be ok. Do not believe the propaganda. HM Hate Factories destroys, creates recidivist, ruins lives, wrecks families. And just because there are art classes, it makes everything acceptable. I live 100 yards from the sea, can sit at my lounge window and look out to sea. My every thought is on the abuse I experienced in HM Hate Factories.
Technically Kev, it was rape, seeing as you didn\’t give your explicit consent. However, unless you still know the girl and have evidence, there is probably very little the police can do to help you. Sadly, this is the case for thousands of people around the world- the lines between rape and non-rape are not clearly defined by so society even though they are quite clear in reality, and the victims are left confused and unsure about whether they are indeed a victim. This is why we need more education on rape and consent, so that people know what is legally okay, and what is not.
Hi, I am a 23 yr old male, about 2 years ago I was out with my mates on an all day drinking session, by the time 11 pm came I was off my face drunk, from that point on I can not remember a single thing.
The next thing I remember was waking up in some strangers house next to some girl, when I asked her what happened she said we had sexual intercourse but I cant remember anything after leaving the pub, would most of you class that as rape, should I phone the police as I was too drunk to give consent or is it different for a male, and trust me she was not the type I would go for if I knew what I was doing at the time.
Ex government hostage, my partner Ihas a solicitor from Scott moncrieff, he has a hearing in a few weeks. Ihe has 4 previous parole hearing but this is his first hearing with Scott Moncrieff. So far his solicitor has done more for him then any other of his previous solicitors. What can you say about them in terms of parole board hearings? Are they any good? Do they put up a good fight? The past solicitors didn\’t and weren\’t very clued up about the law. He has done 10 years. Tariff was 4 yrs couple of months. He has been on his best behaviour for couple of years now so we\’re optimistic.
Steve. You need counselling – I beg you, get some help. Art is a great healer and is used to treat all kinds of mental problems. Maybe you should take up water colours and sit by a river bank listening to the rippling water and painting the cascade of autumn colours. It could only help.
Errol, it\’s propaganda, pretending HM Hate Factories are humane, much of the art is created in stinking toilet cubicles, prisoners crammed into cockroach infested toilet cubicles, eating, sleeping, living in many cases with a toilet in full view. HM Prison\’s are vile institutions, and Koestler, should ban prisons from exhibiting. Would you say the same in Nazi Germany, that the exhibitions the Nazis held of concentration camp prisoners were showing talented prisoners? Prisoners live in filth, eat badly prepared food, have to watch helplessly as the system breaks up their family ties, destroys links to the community. Let\’s get it straight, HM Prisons, create dehumanized recidivists, and Koestler should ban HM Hate Factories. Don\’t miss the point. Don\’t be fooled. HM Hate Factories are the modern day Nazi concentration camp, suicides rising, whole families destroyed, human beings turned into dehumanized animals, whilst they create art to pass the time. How wonderful, and diverts the abuses in HM Hate Factories.
Steve B – What the Koestler does is to counter tabloid vile with a demonstration of the immense talent of people imprisoned in Britain.
– It is disgusting that Her Majesty\’s Hate Factories are allowed to exhibit art etc, HM Prisons are vile institutions, deliberately designed to smash family ties to bits and erode links with the community. This type of exhibition reminds me of the propaganda of the Nazi regime, having showcase exhibitions and showcase concentration camps, pretending to the world these vile institutions were respecting human rights. The only right a prisoner has in HM Prisons, is to breathe and defecate, everything else is at the whim of demagogic, self-serving, parasitic politicians. Until prison policy is independent of these parasites, prison will only ever be a political plaything.
Curious George
No – she has not made any money. She has not sold her story. There is no book deal. And importantly – *she has not sought any of those*.
She has been just a little bit more concerned with her safety after family and supporters of Evans denied her the right she had to anonymity outed her on line and hounded her.
She\’s had to go into a witness protection programme. Change her identity. Leave her family and friends.
And the only thing people here care about is Evans resuming his glittering and *highly paid* football career.
A lot has been said about the woman\’s character and her gold digging ways. Can anyone tell me how much money she\’s made out of this? Has she sold her side of the story to the papers? Or does she have a book coming out?
– Ched does have the right to work. He can be a builder, or work in an office, or do almost anything.
What he doesn\’t have the right to do, is to take a job where he\’s a role model for children, and where he\’ll be surrounded by even more drunk women, and booze.
No DNA of cheds on her,saids it ALL
If we lived in a world where men respected women so that they would not only seek but desire a woman\’s consent, and prioritised her safety by making sure that she had clearly given consent, then we would have a lot fewer rapists and fewer men trying to justify rape. (And no, the victim had not consented, and no amount of people re-trying her, and re-abusing her, with claims to the contrary is going to change that).
This tortured logic of \’just because she can\’t remember it doesn\’t mean she couldn\’t consent\’ is such a disgusting attitude that I will not be engaging in any further conversation with you.
– Ali – can you please tell me where you got your law degree from? Have you known any females who have been so drunk that if they were to consent to sex, they could be deemed to have been too drunk to do so?
I recall my sister many years ago getting absolutely wrecked on Southern Comfort. She ended up being barred from one pub after throwing up their toilet. On the way home, she was barely able to talk and I had to put her head towards the passenger window to prevent her decorating a friend\’s car. THAT is too drunk to consent.
15 years ago I went out with a female friend who would later make false allegations against me (she now works at one of the largest law firms in the country). Eventually she got so drunk that she had to be helped back to our flat by her mother and her boyfriend. I returned half an hour later to find that she\’d had a change of clothing and had her head in a bucket. Despite this, she was alert and able to apologise to me (she was staying in my room that night and it was MY bucket). She WOULD NOT have been too drunk to consent as she was fully aware of what had happened and what she was doing. She was generally in control of herself. She couldn\’t remember things the next morning. So it shows that the mere act of not being able to remember events does not automatically mean that someone had been too drunk to consent the previous evening.
– Jude, he didn\’t just turn up and take over. McDonald asked the woman if it was okay if Evans joined in. She agreed to it. That was widely reported at the time.
So yes, you are missing something. This is a clear case of a woman having sex then regretting it the next day. In the eyes of the law, even if the consent is given whilst in a drunken state, it is still consent.
Or do you propose that men either insist on videoing their activities with women (how many women would agree to that, knowing it could turn up on a porn site?) or give women blood tests before sex? That\’s the way things are heading in this backward little country.
Not only was the woman able to walk unaided back and forth into the hotel, she was able to do so with platform shoes. The most striking thing for me watching the video on his support site was how she was able to walk outside on her own, bend down and easily pick up a pizza box off the floor. Given the way that the case was reported, I expected her to be virtually comatose.
A blood alcohol limit of 2.5 times the legal limit for driving is not excessive and certainly not enough to show that a person would be too drunk to consent.
It\’s clear that no offence was committed. It\’s at times like this that I\’d like the foreman of the jury to be able to come out and say how the decision was made or perhaps we should start thinking about video recording EVERYTHING … from jury sessions to pre-sentencing sessions. After all, justice has to be seen to be done so it\’s a bit of a fudge that some parts of the trial process is hidden from public gaze and not available to the defence when things go wrong.
I\’ve been in a similar situation and have been fighting my case for 14 years. The CCRC are useless so I wouldn\’t hold my breath if I was Ched and his family. Remember that they initially dismissed Barry George\’s application – even when most of the work was done for them and they could no longer find an excuse to prevent justice from being done, it still took them 2 more years.
A few things that perhaps you should consider: the \’contentious\’ aspects of the case are only so to those who continue to fail to understand why Evans committed a crime and raped the young woman involved.
Evans has no \’right\’ to play football, and in any event, if any issue of his \’rehabilitation\’ is only focussed on any potential return to football then that is a failure to grasp what effective rehabilitation looks like. His victim had a right to continue to live in the country of her birth, but she was abused all over again when she had to emigrate to escape the public lynching she was subjected to at the hands of those who support Evans, including his family.
Unfortunately you chosen to express your opinion on something (rape) about which you clearly know little or nothing, and in the process you have both re-tried and condemned the victim, who has surely been through enough. I find it quite amusing that you advise that comments which \’include personal opinions expressed as fact\’ and \’include unsubstantiated claims or hearsay presented as fact\’ will not be published.
Perhaps you should follow your own advise.
– The lady travelled in the taxi to the hotel with the first gent and this implies more likelihood of consent than with the second gent who just let himself into the room and joined in. If you are getting passionate with a chap you don\’t expect a second bloke to just turn up and take over do you? In my opinion there is a difference between the two cases or am I missing something?
Agreed with Steve.
If ANYONE thinks the MOJ give a toss about Prisoners, think again.
In HMP Hewell on the VP wing, where most if not all OAP inmates are housed, there are NO ground floor shower facilities. There are NO disabled facilities. This means that for those OAP\’s that have been on remand and/or recently sentenced and have been there for in excess of 18 months, which some have, at NO point have they been offered a SHOWER!
This not only is against the law, equality and disability act, but an example that the MOJ, once incarcerated don\’t give a {} about anyone. Prisons are nothing more than a money making hot house. Not for the con, but for the Government. Over inflated canteen prices, specific contractual agreed catalogues etc to name but a few.
Those of a certain age get NO help or support, the Screws will be the first to tell you that their not carers, they don\’t even get the meals of cons unable to get them themselves, there is no room service just other cons acting as the carer for nothing.
The place is a joke.
As an ex-offender I know how hard it is to find a job, I have been out since April 2013 and not one employer has yet given me a chance. So I entirely sympathise with the Evans situation.
The lynch mob mentality in this country, whipped up by the likes of the Scum and the Daily Mail lunatics, actually makes me feel physically nauseous.
That does not even take into account that the jury in this case were obviously made up of readers of those rags, anyone with a modicum of intelligence could see that this \”victim\” was totally capable of making decisions that night, however tawdry and base the things that these three adults decided to get up to together.
Rape is an horrendous crime, women like this make it even more difficult for the true victims of rape to get the justice they deserve.
Good article I thought, pity some of the commentators on here cannot go look at the evidence and make up their won minds.
Carole, I really feel for you as I know of other IPP prisoners all going through the exact same turmoil.
The facts are that Steve is right. The Parole Board, just like the Probation Service are an unnecessary link in an already broken and unrepairable chain.
Its a sad state for you boy and my heart goes out to you both, however, that said, with the way things are right now there isn\’t any light at the end of his tunnel just yet.
May I suggest you contact Kristen Bender of Scott Moncrieff Solicitors for advice and recommendation as to having your boys case rushed in front of the Board with professional representation.
You\’ve got to do all you can, and your boy if released has to go above and beyond with compliance especially as he\’ll be on a life licence.
For now though you and your boy must stay strong. Being IPP means all his movements, associations will be logged, he mustn\’t do anything which undermines the purpose of his rehabilitation, this includes nickings, IEP warnings etc. Just one of those examples will slow him down another two years at least.
I wish you and your boy the very best of luck and hope he will be home soon so you can all be a family again. God bless.
@iScottybotty
– – nonMy name is
– – nonMy experience is that the staff is so short they can,t sort our problems out in times and each time when we go to the office for asking something there are a long que.The manager also is not available when ever a detainee needs to talk with them and if we need clothes they said no available.A lack of solution here.
I asked for special diet as I have medical problem and yet staff of doctor did not solve it out for me.
Check out cheds website, That is all.
– Sorry Bob but in my opinion he deserves everything he gets.Rape is a heinous crime end of.
– boards.footymad.net/forum.php?tno=463&fid=221&sty=2Are those responsible in signing Jean Hatchet\’s petition saying that Ched Evans shouldn\’t be signed by Sheffield United or are they demanding by signature he shouldn\’t be allowed back at any football club?
– I think this is a disgrace im now thinking is this another way to keep all ipps in prison til the day they die, my son has done 8 yrs in December on a 5 yr tariff an he still sits on cat B since day one an to lower his chances r now becoming very slim for release if they stick to their word by saying they r taking away open prison for ppl like him xx
– Locked in an airless concrete box, prepares dying prisoners for the coffin. The Ministry of Justice understands the needs of the dying prisoner, and they are to treat the dying, suffering prisoner, with as little sympathy as possible. When I was hanging from my cell, attempting to commit suicide, the screw would come to my cell and say, \’you didn\’t do a good job, if you\’re looking for sympathy in prison, you will find in between **** and syphilis in the dictionary. A dying prisoner, will get the same amount of sympathy as the suicidal prisoner, none. The Ministry of Justice stance, in my opinion, is to die quietly, in your airless, stinking, concrete box.
Great article…how I wish that the half wits who sign petitions took the trouble to find out the facts about this case which are well known in North Wales. This was a total miscarriage of justice.The gold digger left her town because local people were disgusted with her lies and morality.(or lack of)
I wish somebody would start a petition saying \”let Ched Evans get on with his life\” or \”Force a retrial\” and then we might see some justice
– I think a retrial is in order, having seen the video evidence of a girl who claimed she was so drunk she couldn\’t remember anything , walking twice unaided , in high heels , into the hotel lobby . In the meantime , give ched his job back .
– The Parole Board, should be renamed, Parole from a Concrete Box Board. Prisoners live in small, airless concrete boxes, eating, sleeping and defecating all in the small confined, stinking place. Prison regimes teach ignorance and inconsideration, how to abuse and degrade others. Regimes erode family ties and links to the community. Parole from a Concrete Box Board, sounds right to me.
Blefuscu you really need to learn more and look up rape and how one can and cannot be convicted of it.
If defence can show a man has a reasonable belief that a woman consents then it is not enough to convict him of rape. Not all women physically say \’yes please have sex with me\’. consent can be and mostly is implied so if a man has a reasonable belief that the woman is consenting then you can\’t convict him for rape. In this case the woman got in the taxi of her own free will, entered the hotel room of her own free will and was heard making sex noises by a security guard outside the room… unless she actually said \’no\’ at some point I believe the men had a reasonable belief that she wanted to have sex with them.
– Re: Ched Evans. 5 Asian taxi drivers have been locked up for abducting/raping and abandoning a 13 year old girl,3 of them bet a lighter sentence than Ched Evans having been caught in a man trap with a young lady who hung around a pizza shop till she got picked up and who was enjoying her self according to the night porter who was listening to the door. Some people are objecting to him on the grounds of him not been a good role model. Neither were the taxi drivers who carry our children to places, when they are released they will go back to taxi driving again picking up our children with out any body caring, how can this be right. Ched should at least be given the benefit of doubt until his appeal. After all if his case is over turned the people who have signed the screw Ched\’s petition will feel stupid but will the care.
– These clowns, or self-serving parasites, as I feel they should be known, are a waste of space, prison policy should be independent of demagogic, self-serving parasites, making policy to gain favour amongst their cronies at Westminster. Until prison policy is independent of these parasites, and a symposium of experts empowered mandated to make prisons work for the benefit of society, all that will keep happening, is evil, demagogic, self-serving parasites the likes of Michael Howard, will use talking tough on crime to advance his own personal ambitions. The likes of Howard, knows zilch on crime, zero, nothing, but do these parasites know about self-advancement. Imprisonment is dealing with fellow human beings, real people, locked in concrete boxes and dehumanized to varying degrees, prison teaches nothing of any worth, and is ultimately a danger to society, each and every prisoner will leave prison worse than when he/she entered – that is a fact.
– Hasnt he done his time?If so how as anybody got a problem with him resuming a life that he chooses as long as its lawful.Anybody has a right to make a living once they have been released why his he different?Even if he was guilty (which I admit I find very dodgy )he has the same right as everybody else to work.Some remarks I have read which have been written by some obvious people who have a problem with a man and a woman having sex.They seem to think all sex is rape.Sad persons
obviously a lot of replies to this article are not keeping up with the news. A war is on between the crown sol/bar/judges against defence sides where they have been throwing away the cases to the Crown.Many sol/bar are leaving the profession because of the misconduct going on in our courts and the courts are in a mess.Soon it will be exposed by Bob and others.
– http://www.faithspear.wordpress.comI was present at the Justice Select Committee and was concerned by the lack of interaction from the majority of MP\’s there. Also there was surprise when the HMIP report differed from IMB report at the same prison. I felt that there were too many questions aimed at Angela Levin concerning Wormwood Scrubs and the session appeared to be cut short!
An excellent article. Let Ched Evans get on with his life and when his name is cleared I am sure people will be queing up to apologise LOL. as an EX OFFENDER I am aware of Cheds position the only difference being that I was actually guilty.I came out on a wednesday and working by Saturday. Maybe I was one of the lucky ones but we all make mistakes.
So then would you rather him be on benefits. If someone is good at a job, then why shouldnt they be allowed to do it? Evans talents in life are in playing football, and no one has the right to deny him a living thats just a basic human right.
Yes he would no doubt be living a comfortable life but thats a more of a moral issue. Do I have a problem that someone convicted of a crime is likely to earn more than I will ever do? No not really because like it or not we live in a capitalist society and money does make the world go around. I would prefer him to be in full time employment than rather on the benefit system.
He maintains his innocence, again a right he has. And you know what our legal system doesnt get it right every single time either. Whether he is guilty or not is another matter altogether.
at last someone willing to tell it as it is. I see the same maggots that have harassed cheds family on twitter are here being just as stupid. to them rape is the worst crime anyone can commit cos they are daft feminists when the truth is its not even close to the worst and theres plenty as bad and worse.they will quote law at you and say \”convicted in a court of law\” but ignore the same law entitling a former prisoner to work. they are slime, especially the dictators trying to say which job they think should be acceptable and which aren\’t. scum
– Blefescu, you are a feminist and hate all men. I have a 4 year old daughter who is brought up perfectly. So although I am a Sheffield United supporter I have a vested interest in the law in these sort of cases being upheld and properly used. This is an horrific case of miscarriage of justice. Read the facts. Dont just think man, must hate, destroy life. There have been many ladies (ex rape victims) to come forth and say how disappointed they are that this evil gold digga was the same sex as them. Why not show solidarity to them or come out of the woodwork when hundreds of ladies were raped in Rotherham. When men got away with the raping because of the colour of their skin rather than being victimised because of being a successful footballer.
Blefuscu, read your first paragraph again and then tell me why Clayton McDonald wasn\’t also convicted.
And Anna. When you listen to commentries… do you hear. Well Mr. Evans is on the ball or Micheal passes to Clayton. No they say Evans is on the ball.. and Doyle passes to Mcdonald.
You will also note in the services you were addressed by your surname (no courtesy title)
Maybe it would also be correct to spell their name correctly (unlike what you have done in your second post calling him Woffindon (his name ends in EN…
I would also say that regardless of others actions you should maintain one\’s own etiquette beliefs. so now you have fallen foul of not only misnaming him and referring him by just his surname (would be like me telling my kids off for swearing whilst launching into a foul mouth tirade) just makes you look silly
Blefuscu. Its quite simple if the person was incapable of consent then both should have been found guilty. Even more so when you consider the fact that mcdonald was seen to have said she was in a state (thus acknowledging she was in no fit state.) That in itself is contentious.
If you read this and the actual facts of the case you might be able to make a more reasoned comment
Where exactly on the football field does Evans have access to vulnerable people? Its not like he is going round some little old dears house to fix her plumbing
And when will people understand this point.
Should the birmingham 6 or the guildford 4 have apologised for their crimes or forever more be tarnished with the \”well he isn\’t rehabilitated\” etc… there are so many miscarriages of justice in the world.
Had both Evans and Mcdonald not admitted sleeping with her when the police were questioning them about her being possibly spiked. There wouldnt have been a case…. and they say telling the truth helps…
incapable of consenting???… have a look at the video of her arriving at the hotel, she is quite capable, that is unless she downed 15 pints walking between the lobby and the hotel room.
Fender get a grip. Footballers are addressed by their surnames all the time, besides woffinden addressed Evans as ched in the opening paragraphs, therefore able to shorten thereafter.. Peace
– Maybe he wont except responsibility because he didn\’t rape her.
what exactly is contentious about the conviction? Having sex with someone who is incapable of consenting is rape. End of story there!
Let Ched get a job cleaning toilets. Why should a convicted rapist be allowed to be in a position where he can have access to vulnerable people? It\’s a well known fact that many ex-offenders find it hard to gain employment after being in jail. Just because Evans can kick a bag of air about doesn\’t mean he should be employed as a footballer.
His friends and family have harassed his victim to a point where she had to leave the country and change her name. Actions should have consequences. He raped a young woman, why should his life just continue merrily on. He clearly hasn\’t been rehabilitated if he cannot even accept his responsibility in the rape.
What you on about fender you tool. Just read the article. As if you\’re that offended. Get a life fender. I won\’t be back on here to read you\’re lame ass response so peace.
– Woffinden, all people MUST be addressed by 1st name or courtesy title in all verbal and written communications. If you give respect, you get it back. Politeness costs nothing, neither does manners. I suggest you go on a communication skills or social etiquette course Woffindon. It is the lowest of the low and not acceptable addressing people by surname only.
– Woffinden, get some manners, people have got a 1st name and a courtesy title, use them, and show a bit of respect. If you went to the doctors, dentist, chemist etc etc, how would you expect to be addressed Woffinden ?