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UK: Racism in prisons

01 November 2005

A report by the Chief Inspector of Prisons into race relations in the prison system found that 52% of Asian inmates feel unsafe, compared with 32% of whites and 18% of blacks. Black prisoners felt they were least likely to be treated with respect by staff. One Palestinian inmate noted that officers repeatedly accused him of being a terrorist and called him "jihad." An officer was reported as describing a wing in his jail as "becoming the planet of the apes." Anne Owers said that overt racism was relatively rare and the real problem was a "subtle racism" with a lack of understanding of cultural differences, little choice over food, especially Halal meat, and a general lack of respect for religious beliefs.

The brutalisation of a black prisoner Shaun Higgins has recently been exposed. Shaun was assaulted and subjected to a mock lynching by officers at Swaleside in 1999, and beaten so badly that police called to the jail refused to accept custody of him and insisted he be transferred to hospital. He was beaten again in the notorious segregation unit at Full Sutton then charged with assault on staff. Shaun was acquitted of these charges at Hull Crown Court when the jury accepted his defence of lawful self-defence. In September 2005 he was beaten again at HMP Frankland.

Letters of support: Shaun Higgins VA 3977, HMP Wakefield (seg unit), Love Lane, Wakefield WF2 9AG. Report of Chief Inspector of Prisons 20 December 2005; Fight Racism Fight Imperialism; Schnews