…Researched and contributed by Solomon Thomas.
On April 12th, a male prisoner at the Category A lock-up in Manchester, officially known as HMP Manchester, climbed onto the roof of the prison.
The Greater Manchester Police were informed of the situation at around 4:30 pm, and after nearly 12 hours, the prisoner chose to come down from the roof around 4:15 am on April 13th.
A spokesperson for the Prison Service reported that the situation had been safely resolved and that the prisoner would face punishment as disorder in prisons is not tolerated.
The Manchester Evening News stated that the prison was placed on lockdown during the incident, but police cordons have since been removed, and ambulances were seen leaving the prison in the early hours.
The prisoner wrote ‘FREE IPPZ’ on the roof during his protest, which refers to Imprisonment for Public Protection sentences (IPP), a type of sentence that was abolished in 2012 and widely regarded as unjust.
These sentences were indeterminate and designed to keep offenders who posed a significant risk to the public detained until they no longer posed such a risk.
Commentary
It is alarming that the prisoner chose to climb onto the roof of a Category A lock-up.
This type of prison is reserved for those who are considered the most dangerous, and the fact that the prisoner was able to climb onto the roof for nearly 12 hours raises concerns about prison security.
While the situation was resolved without any apparent harm to the prisoner or others, it is still worrying that such an incident could occur.
The message that the prisoner wrote on the roof, ‘FREE IPPZ’, sheds light on the issue of indeterminate sentencing and the ongoing debate over the justice system’s approach to rehabilitation.
It is important to acknowledge that such sentences were abolished for being unjust and ineffective in rehabilitating offenders.
The incident at Strangeways highlights the need for reform in the justice system, particularly regarding the treatment of those in custody and the need to focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment alone.
Read More On The Topic On TDPel Media