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Currying favour with Muslim prisoners

By John Hirst

Currying favour with Muslim prisoners

Back in the 1970s, when I was at HM Prison Albany (before it became a prison for sex offenders), I remember the odd occasion when prisoners would be treated to a fish and chips supper. Prison Officers would pop down to the local chippy. Part of the deal was that they would also benefit in the treat. Therefore, this story from HM Prison Whitemoor holds no surprises for me in this respect. However, I cannot support the treat, in this instance, which favoured Muslim prisoners over all other prisoners. It is blatant reverse discrimination. I have tasted prison food for 35 years. I am not a curry lover, just a plain old fashioned sausage, egg and chips man. However, those who do like curry did inform me that the prison curries were alright. It would appear that the Muslim prisoners are playing the old soldier and the prison governor fell for it. I have known Muslim prisoners work in the prison kitchens preparing food for their fellow Muslim prisoners. If this did not happen at HM Prison Whitemoor, why not? If it did, then their complaint should be taken up with their own kind. All this case has done is play into the hands of the hang 'em and flog 'em brigade. I would be interested to learn who tipped off the media and what was their agenda?

Full post as published by prisonlawinsideout on November 25, 2008 (boomark / email).