Prison officers used ‘hood’ on inmate

STAFF put a pillowcase over an inmate’s head to stop him spitting, a surprise inspection of Bullingdon Prison revealed.

And although the report by the HM Inspectorate of Prisons said the Bicester prison was improving, it highlighted concerns about the use of a body belt and improvised hood to stop the prisoner spitting at staff.

According to inspectors, the incident in July was among some issues that caused “serious concern”.

The report added that the governor had launched an investigation after being told of the incident.

Staff at the prison used force 74 times between January and June 2012, compared with 102 times in the same period last year, the report said.

The jail held 1,087 men at the time of the inspection – almost 25 per cent above its usual capacity.

Last night Andrew Neilson, director of campaigns at the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: “We would hope this incident was an aberration. The use of force by staff should always be carefully managed and used only in exceptional circumstances.”

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Comments(14)

wiltz says...
11:23am Sat 1 Dec 12

So the Staff who are doing their job just have to put up with this vile person spitting at them. Oh how awful the inmate had a piece of soft material put over his head.
And before the PC crowd jump on this maybe they could consider their reaction to someone spitting in their faces

sparro says...
11:24am Sat 1 Dec 12

So what? spitting is a filthy habit & in my view they did right. This is no different to the police, pulling a persons t shirt over there head to prevent spitting. They do a difficult job & need to protect themselves from danger. The very best to them & good luck, hope they carry on, with the pillow case treatment.

lfcaware says...
1:05pm Sat 1 Dec 12

sparro wrote:
So what? spitting is a filthy habit & in my view they did right. This is no different to the police, pulling a persons t shirt over there head to prevent spitting. They do a difficult job & need to protect themselves from danger. The very best to them & good luck, hope they carry on, with the pillow case treatment.
"Pillow case treatment" you said it. Sounds like we are just short of waterboading. After all they are convicts so who cares ?. A retired nurse told me she worked there for several months and had to patch people up after prison officers had to "defend" themselves (six on one). Some of these prisoners are still on remand and are innocent. One fine day that could be you or me, it happens everday.
P.S
Spitting at anyone is a vile act and our officers must be protected. Maybe trying a mask that covers the mouth only ?.

Pavinder Msvarensy says...
2:40am Sun 2 Dec 12

ICF, why don't we just go the whole hog and let them out, our prisons have become so much like hotels, that it would be more of a punishment trying survive out here at the moment.

xjohnx says...
8:19am Sun 2 Dec 12

He is lucky he didn't spit at me.

Lord Palmerstone says...
9:15am Sun 2 Dec 12

"Maybe trying a mask that covers the mouth only ?"
Deprived of the opportunity to spit, this creature would not then head butt if it could see its target? .

Andrew:Oxford says...
2:11pm Sun 2 Dec 12

On the scale of "institutional evil" - inhibiting someone from spitting (which could easily contain hiv risk blood or unpleasant thick mucus), by placing a pillowcase over their head - I'd say it is pretty low.

jack smart says...
3:30pm Sun 2 Dec 12

once the flash lawyer from london reads about the pillow case its the human rights act , compensation time and lots of lovely christmas prsents

mooster10 says...
9:06pm Fri 7 Dec 12

Perhaps The Officers bosses would rather they were spat at and caught HIV, save some money on wages ! Its about time we stood up to the PC Crowd as we are going in the wrong direction. How can it be right to be spat at but wrong to stop someone spitting ? What is the worse that could happen having a pillow case over your face ? We all know the worse case being spat at DEATH ! Im writing to the Governor at Bullingdon to offer my support for The Officers, you should all do the same, they have done nothing wrong !

lfcaware says...
2:43am Sat 8 Dec 12

mooster10 wrote:
Perhaps The Officers bosses would rather they were spat at and caught HIV, save some money on wages ! Its about time we stood up to the PC Crowd as we are going in the wrong direction. How can it be right to be spat at but wrong to stop someone spitting ? What is the worse that could happen having a pillow case over your face ? We all know the worse case being spat at DEATH ! Im writing to the Governor at Bullingdon to offer my support for The Officers, you should all do the same, they have done nothing wrong !
How many Prison officers got HIV last year because they were spat at?. In fact how many were spat at full stop?. Why would you want to write to the bosses and not the POA. Maybe write to the officer's with full blown Aids. Dream on.

lfcaware says...
2:47am Sat 8 Dec 12

mooster10 wrote:
Perhaps The Officers bosses would rather they were spat at and caught HIV, save some money on wages ! Its about time we stood up to the PC Crowd as we are going in the wrong direction. How can it be right to be spat at but wrong to stop someone spitting ? What is the worse that could happen having a pillow case over your face ? We all know the worse case being spat at DEATH ! Im writing to the Governor at Bullingdon to offer my support for The Officers, you should all do the same, they have done nothing wrong !
How many Prison officers got HIV last year because they were spat at?. In fact how many were spat at full stop?. Why would you want to write to the bosses and not the POA. Maybe write to the officer's with full blown Aids. Dream on.

lfcaware says...
2:53am Sat 8 Dec 12

lfcaware wrote:
mooster10 wrote:
Perhaps The Officers bosses would rather they were spat at and caught HIV, save some money on wages ! Its about time we stood up to the PC Crowd as we are going in the wrong direction. How can it be right to be spat at but wrong to stop someone spitting ? What is the worse that could happen having a pillow case over your face ? We all know the worse case being spat at DEATH ! Im writing to the Governor at Bullingdon to offer my support for The Officers, you should all do the same, they have done nothing wrong !
How many Prison officers got HIV last year because they were spat at?. In fact how many were spat at full stop?. Why would you want to write to the bosses and not the POA. Maybe write to the officer's with full blown Aids. Dream on.
Spitting at someone is assault, not attempted murder.
As disgusting as it is.

mooster10 says...
6:21pm Mon 10 Dec 12

Spit at a police man and see what happens ?

lfcaware says...
6:40pm Mon 10 Dec 12

mooster10 wrote:
Spit at a police man and see what happens ?
You would get a good kicking, same as prison officers. You would deserve it .
I think that is a given.
C'mon Pavinder i think i would win that argument in the ECHR and they get last say over the Crown. Shame on EU.

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