International Journal on Criminology Volume 3, Number 2, Fall 2015 | Page 49

International Journal on Criminology murders. Anderson was moved to another prison after boasting that “more people work for me than the chief warden” at Shotts. 101 The same situation prevails around the country. Two main types of prison gangs responsible for violence have been identified. First are those who import ongoing street conflicts between gangs for control of territory into the prison. The other type is those who feed racial tensions, exacerbated by the emergence of white supremacists as in the United States. 102 Many murders are attributable to such racial conflicts. Other conflicts originate entirely in prison, the classic example being a “lack of respect” toward gang leaders. The situation has improved somewhat, with opportunities for education and work available to inmates. Nevertheless some forty percent of them prefer to remain idle. It is hoped that the measures taken will help in the fight against the proliferation of gangs and drug trafficking in prison 103 but questions remain while it is easier for an inmate to sell drugs than to work or learn. 104 Some prisons are more sensitive than others, depending on their specialty. As such, Full Sutton prison is where the most important drug lords, terrorists and gangsters with extensive resources on the outside are sent (a number have been transferred from Whitemoor since the discovery of a large stash of mobile phones in that prison). Here the exercise areas have been covered with mesh to prevent helicopter escapes, at least two of which were foiled in 2005. 105 Conversely, Wakefield is reserved for serious sex offenders with no significant financial means and whom nobody wants to help. Islamist Fundamentalism and Prison In 2006, Muslims in UK prisons numbered more than 8,000—6% of British nationality— representing 11% of the prison population; 25% were serving sentences for drug trafficking. Since then, the number of Muslim prisoners has skyrocketed, in part because of terrorism, but mostly because of the large number of criminal offenses committed by illegal immigrants and young British Muslims. Taking advantage of the facilities granted to religious groups in prison, some form their gangs in these places, avoiding the attention of prison management, and gradually taking control of the prison. Muslim inmates at the high security Whitemoor 101 Daily Record, November 30, 2009. 102 Thompson, Tony. Gangs Brings Terror And Death To Jails. Section on Kimmett Edgar, Director of Studies of the Prison Reform Trust. The Observer, January 23, 2005. 103 Travis, Allan, and Eric Allison. “Prison Overwhelmed by Gang Culture.” Section on Phil Wheatley, Director General of the Prison Service. The Guardian, January 18, 2005. 104 Travis, Allan, and Eric Allison. “Prison Overwhelmed by Gang Culture.” Section on Juliet Lyon, Prison Reform Trust. The Guardian, January 18, 2005. 105 O'Hara, Kate. Article on a report by Deputy Director of the Prison Service, Peter Atherton. The Yorkshire Post, April 13, 2005. 106 Including Saajid Badat, the accomplice of Richard Reid, the shoe bomber. 44