CoRe in the News

"Why prison-building is criminal"

By George Lavender

Published in the Guardian 6 May 2010

All the main parties say that prisons will escape their axe. But to reduce crime we need to cut prisons, not welfare.

More people than ever before are behind bars in England and Wales. When Labour came into government in 1997 the prison population was 60,131; last week it reached a record 85,706. All three main parties intend to cut public services, but support investment in prisons. Although Britain has western Europe's highest rate of imprisonment, both Labour and the Conservatives are committed to the largest prison building programme in the region. According to the government's own estimates the new prison-building programme alone will cost £4.2 billion.

Building more prisons expands a failed system. According to the government's own statistics the prison population has more than doubled since 1990 even as crime levels have fallen. Offences such as car theft, burglaries and violent crime, as experienced by victims, have fallen by more than 40% since 1995. The number of people being found guilty in court has not changed significantly, but the number and length of prison sentences have. This trend will continue if more prisons are built.

CoRe News Digest - April 2010

A monthly update of CoRe events and activities, news related to the prison-industrial-complex, and updates and annconcements from communities and campaigns in struggle.

If you think there is something which should be in the next bulletin please contact CoRe at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we will try to include it.

1. CoRe Hosts Dinner Against Deportations
2. Parole Chief says Release More Prisoners
3. Judges Fear Prisons Will Burst Under New Rules
4. Prison Service 'Cannot Cope with Indefinite Sentences'
5. Punishing Costs - How Locking up Children is making Britain Less Safe
6. International Campaign in Support of Palestinian Political Prisoners
7. Campaign to Defend Gaza Protesters
8. No to Welfare Abolition
9. Counter Terror- Expose the Expo
10. Hungry for Housing!
11. Dale Farm Threatened With Eviction
12. Letter Writing to Prisoners

Read on for full details and links...

Stop Prison Expansion: Join the "Many Reasons" Campaign

Many Reasons for Social Justice, No Reasons for New Prisons

Communities of Resistance (CoRe) invites you to join our campaign against prison expansion.

The “Many Reasons for Social Justice, No Reasons for New Prisons” Campaign aims to gather a critical mass of community organizations, individuals and groups who oppose prison expansion in Britain.  The campaign aims to both resist current prison building plans in Britain and support practical alternatives that work towards building safe and just communities.

Read on to find out how to get involved....

Attachments:

File	Description	File size
Statement Against Prison Expansion	Download the Many Reasons Statment Here	82 Kb

Support the Yarls Wood Hunger Strikers

Demonstration outside HMP Holloway on Camden Road

18:30 Wednesday, 3 March 2010

Five people have been moved from immigration detention centres to prison as part of the authority's response to the hunger strikes and resistance in Yarls Wood.  There have been several solidarity demonstrations both outside Serco offices and at Yarls Wood.  Demonstrations have also taken place outside the prison where some of those involved in the hunger strike have been moved.

Background

[From Indymedia http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2010/02/446439.html ]

A mass hunger strike by migrant women detained at Yarl's Wood immigration prison in Bedfordshire has been ongoing since 5th February, 2010. The hunger strike, which involved some 84 women at the start, was sparked by detainees demanding that "the frustration and humiliation of all foreign nationals [in detention] ends now" (see demands below).

On 8th February, a violent attempt by Serco security guards to break up the protest saw 70 women being locked in a corridor for up to 8 hours without access to food, water, toilet or medical care. Many collapsed and about 20, who climbed out of a window, were beaten up and taken into isolation cells [detainee's account]. Four of the women, singled out as 'ringleaders', were taken to Bedford police station and subsequently transferred to HMP Holloway prison in London, without being charged with any offence or brought before a judge.

A number of protests in solidarity with the hunger strikers have taken place. On 10th February, students and campaigners held a two-day solidarity hunger strike at the London offices of Serco, the private security company that runs Yarl's Wood. Two days later, on 12th February, a noisy demo was held outside Serco's offices, with around 50 people present. 84 Northwest No Borders activists also took part in a 24-hour fast in solidarity with the 84 detainees on hunger strike. 66 people in Bradford also took part in a one-day solidarity hunger strike. On 17th February, a protest was held outside HMP Holloway in solidarity with the 'Yarl's Wood four'. On 21st February, a protester was held inside the perimeters of Yarl's Wood [press release | pics]. Another protest at the Serco offices in London has been called for Friday, 26th February.

A similar mass hunger strike in Yarl's Wood in June last year was met with violent assaults on detainees by Serco security guards. Again, a solidarity protest was held at the company's offices in London, where protesters sneaked a look at its 'protest response plan'.

The Yarl's Wood hunger strikers' demands: