by Stella Kaye

Created on: February 19, 2008   Last Updated: March 21, 2009

HARSH REALITY OF A LIFE IN A U.K. JAIL

The man I love was falsely accused and wrongly convicted and is serving an Indeterminate Sentence for Public Protection. He has been in three different prisons since and this is the reality he faces each day:

The first time I visited was when he was on remand. I'd never visited anyone in prison before and if you think airport security is stringent you will be shocked here. First the prisoner has to send a visiting order then you have to bring I.D. such as a passport or driving licence when you visit. You fill in a form and your photo is taken,then you sit in the waiting room until this is approved. Next you remain at the visitor centre where you put all personal possessions in a locker and are asked to remove your coat and shoes. Then there are the black Labrador "Sniffer" dogs and body searches. I suppose it's all necessary but it's a daunting process nonetheless, especially when you know the person you're visiting is absolutely no danger to the public and shouldn't have been locked up in the first place. It took me a good twenty minutes to get through the security which cut a sizeable chunk from the allocated visiting time.

I wasn't aware of it at this point but my late arrival meant he had to remain in the waiting room with ordinary prisoners. He,however is classified as far from ordinary, he is what is known as a VP... a vulnerable prisoner because of the nature of his conviction.

The other prisoners may act aggressively towards him and the officers turn a blind eye or even encourage brutal treatment."Bloody nonce!" they jeer at him - a word I've never even heard.He told me all this as soon as I saw him, so we were both tearful throughout the two hours or so we were together.

"Better get here on time in future..." he warned me.

I had to admit he looked good in the prison issue clothing but I couldn't imagine him looking bad in anything. He wore a blue and white pin-striped cotton shirt, denim jeans and blue lace-up trainers. There was an orange tabard to complete the outfit. He could have passed for one of those windscreen wash people who leap out at you when you are in your car, waiting for the lights to change.

He's a lovely guy, the man I love, so warm and friendly. I know he would never hurt a fly and I was horrified that he was now surrounded by hardened criminals such as serial rapists and murderers when he has never committed a crime in his life.

He didn't want me to go to the papers... he was quite adamant about that.

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