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.
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