Food
Strike By Jail Protester
Source:
Evening Argus, Worthing, UK
Pub
Date: Monday 12th January 2004
Subj:
Food Strike By Jail Protester
Web: http://www.thisisworthing.co.uk/
Contact:
letters@theargus.co.uk
Ref: Legalise Cannabis Alliance
Cannabis Cafes and Chris Baldwin
http://www.ccguide.org/cannabiscafes.php
FOOD
STRIKE BY JAIL PROTESTER
A
jailed cannabis cafe owner has gone on hunger strike in protest at his prison
diet.
Chris
Baldwin, 53, a vegan, is refusing to eat the diet provided at HMP High Down, in
Sutton, Surrey, because he is not convinced that the food is free of animal
products.
He
has pledged to refuse food and water until the prison proves his meals are
vegan.
The
cannabis campaigner was jailed for six months on Friday after pleading guilty
to allowing people to smoke cannabis at a property on November 27, 2002, and
possessing cannabis with intent to supply on May 20, last year.
Baldwin
was arrested after police raided his notorious Dutch-style cafe. the Quantum
Leaf in Worthing.
The
prisoner, who suffers from spastic paraplegia phoned his friend and home carer
Trevor Scott, of Carnegie Close, Worthing, yesterday to say he would starve in
his cell until appropriate vegan cuisine was provided.
Mr
Scott, who has looked after Baldwin for more than ten years, said he was
worried the campaigner would damage his health.
Mr
Scott said: "He told me he could not eat the vegan food given and he's
refusing food and water until the prison authorities listen to him. I called the prison and they said inmates
get what they are given and put the phone down. It's really unfair. He's
a fussy eater. A lot of people
are. Even toast with vegan spread would
be fine but he would have to know that the spread didn't have animal produce in
it - that's his prerogative as a human being."
Sarah
Chalk, of the Legalise Cannabis Alliance, said: "We're feeling that he
should not be in prison in the first place for a cannabis crime. It's appalling that he was not provided for
when he arrived. Bearing in mind that
he is a disabled man and needs more caring than a normal prisoner, the prison
should have addressed his needs straight away."
High
Down Assistant Governor Charlotte Millar said: "A prisoner has complained
about the availability of vegan meals.
High Down currently holds 750 prisoners of which approximately five are
recorded as vegan. But there is a
wide-ranging menu selection for prisoners which caters for many forms of diet, including
vegetarian, vegan, halal and kosher amongst others. The meals conforming to these diet requirements are clearly
marked on the menu selection sheet provided to prisoners each week."
Ms
Millar said new prisoners are asked about their dietary requirements on arrival
and Baldwin was offered a cold vegan meal and fruit but refused to eat it.