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Prison campaigner Pauline Campbell is restrained by police officers outside Holloway |
Prison protesters clash with police outside jail
Women restrained by police after attempting to block vehicle
TEMPERS frayed as police and prisons campaigners grappled outside Holloway women’s prison on Monday.
The demonstration took place outside the jail, in Parkhurst Road, following the death of Marie Cox, 34, last month from self-inflicted injuries.
Passions boiled over as the crowd, led by veteran prisons campaigner Pauline Campbell, 59, tried to stop a security van going into the compound.
Photographer Guy Smallman, who captured the whole incident on film, said: “The demonstrators said that because someone had died in Holloway it wasn’t a safe place for a prisoner and they should be taken somewhere else.”
The van tried to go in another entrance but was once more blocked by the protesters, a number of who were middle-aged women.
Two police officers arrived and Mr Smallman claims “the larger one” grabbed Ms Campbell in a headlock and threw her to the ground.
It is further alleged that the other officer then picked up Gwen Calvert, whose son, Paul, died in Pentonville in 2004, “in a bear hug” and dragged her out of the way.
The officers left and came back again when they spoke briefly to the group before leaving the protesters to carry on. No one was charged over the demonstration.
Former lecturer Ms Campbell, who organised the demonstration, has lodged an official complaint.
She said: “There were no women police officers involved when there should have been – and the manner of the police action was completely unacceptable.”
Mrs Campbell’s own daughter Sarah died of self-inflicted wounds at Styal prison in Cheshire, aged 18, in 2003.
Since then she has campaigned tirelessly to highlight the plight of those who die while in custody.
Marie Cox died on June 30 from self-inflicted injuries, the sixth case in England and Wales this year.
An Islington Police spokeswoman said: “We do not doubt that the officers took the most appropriate course of action available at the time and initial inquiries suggest they did not use any unnecessary force.
“However we will fully investigate the circumstances surrounding this incident as with any complaint we receive.” |
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I write from the U.S. I highly commend Pauline Campbell in her efforts to protect female prisoners. I would stand alongside her to block the prison vans if I were not so far away. The recent violent force by the police against Ms. Campbell and others protesting with her is very disturbing. It exposes a culture of abuse, and explains the need for Ms. Campbell's ardent demonstrations.
The violent response of the police should be investigated. The tragic deaths of female prisoners should be investigated. The inhumane and negligent treatment of male and female prisoners * in the U.K. and the U.S. * should be exposed, investigated, and ended.
ROSALIND BURBANK JOSEPH
My daughter took her own life in Eastwood Park Prison on 5th Jan this year. Pauline Campbell ran a protest there too. She was arrested and charged with aggravated trespass. Pauline is now awaiting court proceedings. This brave woman has suffered this indiginity on more than one occasion. I have seen several photos taken of the police action at the protest and their behaviour is totally unaceptable. This was physical assualt - no question at al. Charges of assault should be in order. CPS take note.
ALAN POWELL |
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