VIII. Points for discussion.

1. Is burglary wide-spread in Britain? How do British burglars pick their victims? How are most burglaries carried out?

2. What did you learn about a burglar described in the article? Why does he seriously regard his criminal activity as a job? How dies he feel about burglaring other people? Does he think himself to be a bad person?

3. Is burglary a grave offence? What penalty must be imposed on burglars? How would you feel if your house had been broken into?

4. How can one make their home safe from burglary? What other recommendations (apart from the ones mentioned in the article) can you give?

 

 

A LIFE INSIDE

Sid saves an officer’s life and Peanut escapes a screw’s wrath – proof that in prison both sides are unpredictable

Last week, at the reception hatch, I found myself standing behind a fellow prisoner who usually professed to be bitterly hostile to “the system.” I’d often heard him ranting on the landings about one grievance or another. As I approached and saw the man, I expected there to be some kind of argument in progress. Instead, I discovered pleasantries were being exchanged.

A parcel had arrived for the man and he was pleading for it to be issued to him early (instead of waiting until the official time on Saturday morning and queuing up with every one else). “Please, Guv, please – just this once.” Eventually, the officer relented. “Go on then you scroat,” he said, by now smiling broadly, “but don’t broadcast it, or they’ll all be down here.”

The man gushed his thanks, picked up his parcel and scuttled away victoriously. “Next,” said the officer, before turning in response to a remark from his colleague in the back. “I know,” he replied. “They’re only nice to your face when they want something.”

As I walked back to my wing, I reflected on this comment. What he said was true, up to a point. Despite being under almost constant observation, people in prison rarely get the chance to show their true colours. Prisoners who appear angry and bitter can be difficult to deal with sometimes – but how much does that really say about their characters? Others may appear to be polite and cooperative, but is that genuine? In jail, ulterior motives abound. Honesty is an elusive quality. But just occasionally something happens which reveals the unambiguous truth about a man’s character.

Take Sid for example, an old acquaintance of mine in the high security prison system. Sid was as good as any advert for the anti-authority con. His bitterness was compounded as he had just finished a nine-year sentence and planned to give up a life of crime when he was offered “one last job” by former cronies.

This turned out to be a set-up and Sid received an 11-year sentence. Consequently, his frustrations were acute and prison officers took the brunt. “I wouldn’t piss on them if they were on fire,” he told me on more than one occasion. This turned out to be deeply ironic.

A fire in the prison hospital where Sid worked as a cleaner caused panic. The smoke was so thick that evacuation had been unruly and frantic. Stranded and alone, Sid stumbled blindly down a stairwell where he came across an unconscious prison officer. Without hesitation, Sid grabbed hold of him and dragged him to safety. This single act demonstrated that Sid’s humanity was intact.

By contrast, a few days ago, a prison officer followed a prisoner he suspected of drug dealing back to his cell from the visits hall. As soon as the man closed his cell door, the officer took a discreet peep through the spy hole. Sure enough the man was retrieving a concealed package. The officer unlocked the door, rushed in and grabbed the package. “I’ll have that!” he yelled triumphantly.

But the dealer was quick too. He jumped on the officer and snatched the package back. They feel out onto the landing just as Peanut was walking by. The dealer had the officer in his armlock. “Press the alarm bell,” the officer told Peanut. Peanut – “Yes Guv, no Guv, I’ve changed Guv, help me get parole Guv” – hesitated. “That’s a direct order!” shouted the struggling officer. But Peanut’s allegiance to the “criminal code” was greater than his concern for the officer. Instead of pressing the bell, he just turned and walked away. “You’ll get that!” the officer called after him. Moments later, reinforcements arrived anyway and nobody came to serious harm – no thanks to Peanut. Afterwards, everybody expected the officer to make Peanut’s life a misery. In fact, he chose not to hold a grudge. The next day he called Peanut to the office. “There will be no recriminations,” he said. “I understand the dilemma you faced, and the fear of being seen by your peers to be siding with the screws.” Just to show there really were no hard feelings, the officer even offered Peanut his hand and the nervous prisoner shook it.

It was a magnanimous gesture – and it just goes to show that, when it comes to revealing true colours in prison, neither side is predictable.

Erwin James

/ The Guardian, 12.07.01/

*Erwin James is serving life sentence.

Set Work