So, when there's a 'gripping, exclusive' documentary about Aylesbury, all the people that live there, unsurprisingly tune in to get that little buzz from hearing and seeing your home town on the TV. However, Inside Her Majesty's Prison: Aylesbury, was more warped curiosity as to what exactly is sitting on our doorstop, what lies behind those cold, steel doors we drive past on a daily basis and try not to think about.
For those who didn't see it this evening, Her Majesty's Prison, in Aylesbury, is a young offenders institute, not so far from the centre of town. The oldest inmate is just 21-years-old and yet it was revealed that some by this time, are on their fifth sentence. It is home to some of the nastiest criminals: drug dealers, murderers, rapists; you name it, we apparently have it ...
The documentary focused on some of the most difficult inmates. This alone was shocking; the fact that most of them were younger than me, the fact that they all have children, the fact that these absolute nut cases will eventually be released back into society. What was more shocking however, was the kind of lifestyle they lead whilst in prison. Now this 'prisons are too soft' debate, is nothing new, but to see it with your own eyes, I have to say, a number of things struck me.
Firstly, the way authorities casually hand out weapons in a volatile environment to some of the most violent prisoners in the country. It's no secret that prisoners get leisure time, but out of all the items that they could have given them, was a pool table really the brightest idea? You could kill someone with a pool ball. You snap the cue in half and you potentially have a knife ... personally I'd advise maybe dominoes? Something like that ...
Secondly, the way inmates dictate and bargain with authorities. They can appeal to transfer because they 'don't like the prison' . They can negotiate benefits by threatening the safety of other inmates. Good behaviour reduces their sentences. They know their rights and play the system at their own game. However, human rights are for humans, no?
Finally, the sheer amount of luxuries they get. One guy refused to go back to his cell because they'd taken away his TV. Another dragged out what looked like a sentence supply of cigarettes from under his bed, whilst an armed robber was smoking what looked an awful lot like a spliff on camera ...
There was one situation where three inmates took another inmate hostage after being there just a matter of hours; they tied him up and threatened to rape him. On the one hand, even if prisons are 'too soft', I think we can safely say being surrounded by the likes of these people, ensures that it's certainly no joy ride. On the contrary however, the way the hostage was beside himself with fear and too 'scared' and 'distressed' to prosecute disgusted me. I'd say what he experienced was a mere half of what he put his victims through to end up in prison in the first place. Man up and face the reality you've created for yourself ...
The programme wasn't all negative though. One inmate seemed genuinely remorseful. He was in there for GBH and when you think about it, one single, stupid drunken night and a pub brawl later, and you're in prison, surrounded by cretins and you miss your little boy's first words, his first steps, his first day at school ... Fair play to the odd one, out of four hundred and twenty, who was trying to turn his life around. This contrasted with the rest of them, who were very clearly playing up to the camera, getting their five minutes of fame.
Equally, it evoked a lot of admiration for the prison officers who keep them in check. It's a real test of character to put your personal morals aside when faced with a rapist or a murderer. It takes both physical and emotional control to stand up to such brutes. If I was wearing a hat, I'd take it off to them, because I certainly couldn't do it.
So, after living in Aylesbury most of my life, I never knew what was going on just minutes away. It was eye opening to say the least, and as much as I don't want to give the 'contestants' in this messed up, Big Brother situation, the satisfaction of viewers, I'm sure curiosity will get the better of me once again, along with the rest of my town, and I'll tune in for the second instalment next week.
