HM Prison Belmarsh
| File:London, Belmarsh Prison, aerial view.jpg | |
| Location | Thamesmead, London, England |
|---|---|
| Security class | Adult Male/Category A |
| Population | 910 (as of July 2008) |
| Opened | 1991 |
| Managed by | HM Prison Services |
| Governor | Phil Wragg |
| Website | Belmarsh at justice.gov.uk |
HM Prison Belmarsh is a Category A men's prison in Thamesmead, south-east London, England. It is run by Her Majesty's Prison Service.
History
Belmarsh Prison was built on part of the East site of the former Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, and became operational on 2 April 1991. Belmarsh is adjacent and adjoined to Woolwich Crown Court, which means the prison can be used for high-profile cases (including those concerning national security).
Between 2001 and 2002, Belmarsh Prison was used to detain a number of people indefinitely without charge or trial under the provisions of the Part 4 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, leading it to be called the "British version of Guantanamo Bay".[1] The law lords later ruled that such imprisonment was discriminatory and against the Human Rights Act.[2]
It is often used for the detention of prisoners for terrorist related offences. In September 2006 the number of such prisoners was 51.[3]
In May 2007, there was a violent disturbance in the prison, Sky News reported. At least four prison officers were injured.[citation needed]
In November 2009, an inspection report from Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons criticised the "extremely high" amount of force used to control inmates at the prison.[4] The report also stated that an unusually high number of prisoners had reported being intimidated or victimised by staff at Belmarsh.[citation needed]
In 2010, HMP Isis Young Offenders Institution was opened within the perimeter wall of Belmarsh Prison.
The prison today
Belmarsh is a Category A Prison holding prisoners from all over the United Kingdom. In addition Belmarsh is a local prison, accepting different categories of prisoners from primarily the Central Criminal Court and Magistrates' Courts in South East London. In addition the establishment serves Crown and Magistrates' Courts in South West Essex. Accommodation at the prison is a mixture of approximately 60% multi-occupancy cells and 40% single cells, distributed mainly across 4 residential units.
Inmates at Belmarsh are offered access to education, workshops, two gyms, one focusing on Physical Education courses and one recreational, with use of a sports hall and a fitness room. The gym staff also have a partnership with Charlton Athletic F.C. to deliver F.A. accredited coaching courses for prisoners.
A listener scheme for prisoners at risk from suicide or self-harm is in operation at Belmarsh. There is also a support group for foreign national prisoners, providing advice on immigration law.
Notable inmates
- Anjem Choudary, 2015[5]
- Denis MacShane[6]
- Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale -Islamists convicted of the murder of British soldier Lee Rigby[7][8]
- Abu Hamza al-Masri[9]
- Manfo Kwaku Asiedu, 2005
- Jeffrey Archer, 2001 - Archer wrote about his stay in Belmarsh in the first volume of A Prison Diary and used the setting extensively in his novel A Prisoner of Birth.
- Ian Huntley - Psychopathic paedophile and child killer who was held there during his trial involving the Soham Murders, prior to being moved to HMP Wakefield.
- Dhiren Barot
- Ronnie Biggs
- Andy Coulson - Former editor of News of the World and press secretary to Prime Minister David Cameron, convicted in June 2014 of conspiracy to hack phones.
- Barry George
- Jonathan King
- Chudi Ajufo
- Jonathan Aitken
- Paul Magee
- Lotfi Raissi, 2001
- Richard Tomlinson
- Steven Gerald James Wright
- UK DrinkOrDie Members, 2005
- Charles Bronson
- John Gilligan Irish Criminal
- Curtis Warren - Removed from HM Prison La Moye in Jersey due to security risks. Will return to Jersey in December 2015 for sentencing.
- Stefan Williams-Dennis [10]
- Rachid Ramda
- Stuart Hazell
- Asil Nadir - Former CEO of Poly Peck PLC and billionaire businessman
- Gary Dobson and David Norris - Both convicted of the Murder of Stephen Lawrence
- Colin Gunn[11]
- Karl Bishop - A sociopathic murderer serving 20 years for murdering Harry Potter actor, Robert Knox, as well as wounding his friends outside a bar where the murder took place
- Jake Fahri - A sociopathic killer serving 14 years for murdering Jimmy Mizen
- John Worboys
- Ramzi Mohammed
- Muktar Said Ibrahim
- Yasin Hassan Omar
References
- ↑ Belmarsh - Britain's Guantanamo Bay?
- ↑ Terror suspects to be freed from Belmarsh
- ↑ Tony McNulty Written Answers, 8 September 2006 col. 1701W Home Department - Terrorism
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2714199/MacSHAMED-The-diary-jailed-MP-Sweeping-floors-Soho-Nail-Bomber-mocked-fiddling-expenses-fed-VERY-inferior-tuna-baguettes-brilliantly-observed-account-politicians-lot-bars.html
- ↑ BBC News - Michael Adebolajo 'attacked in jail'
- ↑ Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale plead not guilty to Woolwich murder of Lee Rigby - Crime - News - London Evening Standard
- ↑ "Abu Hamza: from Soho bouncer to hook-handed cleric of hate." The Daily Telegraph. 10 April 2012. Retrieved on 5 June 2013.
- ↑ http://www.blackkalendar.nl/content.php?key=23599
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
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