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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Prisoner subjected to brutal and sadistic treatment
Don Barnard Press Release
Thursday 05 Feb 2004 Cannabis Alliance, News Bulletin 14/04 - No Embargo. Please forward to any assignment editor or journalist who you believe may be interested in this. ---------------------------- Prisoner subjected to brutal and sadistic treatment The Cannabis Alliance is ANGRY at the inhumane treatment of severely disabled "Political Prisoner" JC952 Christopher James Baldwin. One of UK's leading pro-cannabis campaigners. And, a member of the Legalise Cannabis Alliance [LCA] is currently serving a 6 months sentence for running cannabis cafes in Worthing UK. Case history at < http://www.ccguide.org.uk/chrisbaldwin.html > Writing from his prison cell Chris said: "My day has been a complete nightmare. I wouldn't have believed it possible but it happened" .... "...I started shaking and cried my eyes out.A man and woman came in and tried to calm me down, but I was in such a state that it became obvious that placating me was impossible." SEE: Letter from "Prisoner JC952" [1]. "This is not about whether Chris should be in prison" Said, Don Barnard of the LCA "it is about his human rights and dignity. "The Prison Services seem to have failed to live up to their claim they treats all prisoners with humanity". The LCA has emailed the Home Office asking for an inquiry into the despicable way Mr. Baldwin was treated on Friday 30 January 2004 . "By no stretch of the imagination can this be described as 'best value' or 'best practice'!" See full letter [2] The LCA has also emailed Mr Baldwin's MP Tim Loughton to ask him to raise this matter with the Home Secretary. "I think you will agree this is disgusting! A few moments planning and a little communication could easily have prevented it?" See full letter [3] We can only hope, you find it of sufficient import to follow/chase up? Press Office Legalise Cannabis Alliance PO Box 198, Norwich, NR3 3WB http://www.lca-uk.org donbarnard@lca-uk.org Notes: 1] Letter by, Prisoner, JC952, My day has been a complete nightmare. I wouldn't have believed it possible but it happened.... A Day Out for Chris Baldwin. Prison Number JC9521 Friday 30/01/04 Got up at 5.30am - finished packing my stuff and tidied up the cell. Had a small bowl of cereal and Soya milk for breakfast then waited to be called. About am I was taken to the reception area. My stuff was searched and x-rayed and I was strip-searched. Taken to a holding room with a few other prisoners and waited. Led out and put into a "sweat box" van. Here you are put into a small locked box type area about the size of a cupboard (no room to move about). We set off but had to pick up 2 more prisoners. I was offered a non-vegan sandwich that I could not eat, then given a bag of crisps. The journey took over 2 hours and by the time we arrived I was so stiff that I could hardly move. Taken into Ford prison reception area and waited with lots of other prisoners. The process was slow and it was ages before I was finally booked in. My stuff was searched again. I had separated my clean clothes from my dirty clothes in 2 plastic bags to keep them separate. They tipped the whole lot out and threw them back into one bag (all mixed up). Strip searched again and put into prison clothes that were so thin that I was freezing cold. Also told that I couldn't have my radio/CD player back until next Wednesday. The trip to our rooms was quite a long walk and the recent bad weather meant that the ground was slippery, so I refused to walk it and asked for a wheelchair. Eventually one was found and I was taken to the health check-in centre. Next I was told that they didn't have a disabled cell for me and that I would have to double up with another prisoner. There was no toilet in the cell. I would have to walk about 20 yards to use the loo. At this point I started shouting at them and told them it wasn't right that they were treating me this way. I finally refused to comply with their request. (In a normal prison you have no choice, but in an open prison they had to take me in)> They put me in a waiting room and said someone would come and see me. At this point, I simply broke down. I started shaking and cried my eyes out. A man and woman came in and tried to calm me down, but I was in such a state that it became obvious that placating me was impossible. They went off to see what could be done. A very nice orderly (prisoner) brought me some toast and a cup of herbal tea. Eventually I was told that I would have to return to High Down. To this I complained that another journey in a sweatbox was out of the question, so they agreed to take me by taxi. I travelled back to High Down in a taxi accompanied by a guard. Both of them were very nice to me. I arrived back at High Down at about 7pm. Again my stuff was searched and so was I (although not strip searched this time). I was informed that my cell was now occupied by another prisoner and they had nothing else available, so I was put back on the Healthcare wing. I got my stereo back but no socket to plug it in, and no TV. The cell is freezing cold and I only have two blankets on my bed, so I will have to sleep in my clothes. It's now 11pm and I feel totally alone and demoralised. Tomorrow I will be moved to another cell (hopefully), but I don't know where I will be put and the prospect is frightening. I am chain-smoking cigarettes (roll-ups) as it is the only comfort I can find. The only word I can think of to describe the way I feel is wretched. I feel as though I am being punished because I am disabled. To sum up - Before I was moved I had a single cell with a TV and my radio/CD player. I also had a good selection of books from the library. I had made many friends and was being looked after by them. The unit was compact and I didn't have to travel far for the things I needed. Ford Open Prison is a large area that requires a lot of walking, much of which is outside which makes conditions treacherous on elbow crutches in this weather. In just over 3 weeks, I will probably be eligible for release on a tag. So why did they bother to move me? I was told that my only punishment would be incarceration yet I have been subjected to brutal and sadistic treatment all in the name of Justice. Signed Chris Baldwin Prisoner, JC952, Friday 30/01/04 2] ATTENTION: FIRST MINISTER. Dear Minister Reference: Prisoner, JC952, and Christopher James Baldwin. We request you take the following matter up with the HMP Service. And, any other department, who has "direct" or "indirect" responsibility for the care and welfare of prisoners. It has been drawn to our attention, HMP Service, despite claiming to treat all prisoners with humanity, have failed to live up to this claim in the treatment and care of severely disabled prisoner Christopher James Baldwin. . SEE: A open letter from Prisoner Baldwin, Friday 30/01/04 which I believe is self explanatory! [1] By no stretch of the imagination can this be described as "best value" or "best practice"! A few moments planning and a little communication could easily have prevented it. We formally request, that in your capacity as First Minister that you set up a full investigation into this sad affair. For your information see the history of Mr Baldwin's case is at: http://www.ccguide.org.uk/chrisbaldwin.html Yours Sincerely Don Barnard Dear Mr Laughton MP Reference: Treatment of Prisoner JC9521 Christopher James Baldwin On behalf of your constituent Christopher James Baldwin (member of the LCA) currently residing at, HMP High Down Downview Road Sutton SM2 5PJ. I invite you as a matter of extreme urgency to take the following matter up with the Home Secretary, HMP Service. And, any other department, who has "direct" or "indirect" responsibility for the care and welfare of prisoners. Mr Baldwin's family and friends are concerned that HMP Service, despite claiming to treat all prisoners with humanity, have failed to live up to this claim in the treatment and care of Mr Baldwin. SEE [1] A letter recently received from Mr Baldwin, which I believe is self explanatory! I think you will agree this is disgusting! A few moments planning and a little communication could easily have prevented it ? You may also like to raise the issue in the house of commons on behalf of all disabled prisoners - I am sure this cannot be an isolated case! Yours Sincerely Don Barnard Legalise Cannabis Alliance PO Box 198, Norwich, NR3 3WB http://www.lca-uk.org donbarnard@lca-uk.org Tel: 07984 255015 Notes: 1] Letter from Chris: "My day has been a complete nightmare. I wouldn't have believed it possible but it happened...." A Day Out for Chris Baldwin. Prison Number JC9521 SNIP
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