Prison life

New to Tattle Life? Click "Order Thread by Most Liked Posts" button below to get an idea of what the site is about:
What does the water melon signify? I'm not clued up on the jargon
I lurk on Jack Monroe threads so I think this is triangulation so a poster says something that might id themselves due to info they dropped. Another poster couldn't find the actual red triangle hazard sign and so the water melon came forth.

Loving all this insight to prison life!
 
Reactions: 11
My phobia is going to prison. I could not cope. I'm still scarred from "the marigolds/margarine scene" in Bad Girls . Not sure how true it was, but absolutely loved the TV show with Sean Bean and Stephen Graham in it - Time, I think it was called?
Time was amazing. I still think about it so often. Especially that scene with Bernard
 
Reactions: 5
Not caught up yet but on tiktok I’ve seen someone make an extension cord out of match sticks which is amazing. The kettle cooking is impressive too.
 
Reactions: 1
Not caught up yet but on tiktok I’ve seen someone make an extension cord out of match sticks which is amazing. The kettle cooking is impressive too.
They hate me when I’m in a mood and do AFC’s/LBB and they’ve got multiple kettles on their side. Only supposed to have one prison issue kettle and they can have one they’ve brought themselves. However, if I see loads of “smelly kettles” (with laundry conditioner in to mask the smell of weed) or “cooking kettles” (self explanatory) I swiftly remove them or give them a warning to get rid we all know they cook in kettles but it trips the electric and then next thing you know you’ve got multiple prisoners complaining they’ve got no power!! Pain in the ass lol
 
Reactions: 7
Bolts, bars and how much shite have you got in here
 
Reactions: 2
Bolts, bars and how much shite have you got in here
I swear some of them could open a bloody shop!!! It’s ridiculous… always the ones that don’t order things from canteen either, they just run the wing & everyone pays them in canteen
 
Reactions: 4
I swear some of them could open a bloody shop!!! It’s ridiculous… always the ones that don’t order things from canteen either, they just run the wing & everyone pays them in canteen
And it keeps the peace. And makes your job easier as they deal with the minor day to day issues.

Until someone doesnt pay
 
Reactions: 1
And it keeps the peace. And makes your job easier as they deal with the minor day to day issues.

Until someone doesnt pay
Then they get the lad who’s hooked on spice to give him a few digs in order for a free bit of spice paper
 
Reactions: 1
Do women's prisons onnly have female officers? and vice verse? And in your respective work places, eggfriedrice (you're making me hungry) and stunrw, do you have any trans prisoners and how is that managed?

(I'm not trans btw I'm just interested because it's quite current).
 
Reactions: 4
The Uk womens prison i was in I was escorted by someone called Darren

As @eggfriedrice has shared its only fair I do. I am a federal officer in a European country. I am Team Leader on a unit that deals with cross border stuff hence Im all over the place.

I know how we deal with trans in the custody environment in the office but in our prison system I have no idea. I shall ask and report back
 
Reactions: 14
@TikToc you are so lovely...you all are ...and thank you @eggfriedrice for such an informative reply . And you're all right, I should believe in myself more. What I'm about to say is related to prisons so I'm honestly not trying to drop a sob story!

Although I'm alot better than I was, I still lack confidence due to the people that have come through my life. 2 abusive relationships...the 1st was in 2003 and he went to prison for GBH with intent. the second relationship in 2019-2020 was more mental and emotional and I didn't have the courage to press charges and I dropped them (so angry with myself) . I found out after i finally left him for good in October 2020 and the Police used Clares Law to try and help me come to terms with none of it being my fault. I blamed myself for letting him do and say the things he did, and I found out through Clares Law that he'd been in and out of prison for violence, coercive control etc. I dropped the charges because I 100% beleieved (and still believe) he will come for me. Even for the police going to his door because of me. He hasn't found me yet and hopefully never will, although the anti-molestation order has now come to an end.

It's not the place for me to drop anchor any further on all of that, but they're my experiences with the law and prisons (and why I am the way I am).

It was the ex from 2003 I visited in prison (Sutton in Surrey, and then Winchester). However he was just a friend at that point and as far as anyone knew he went down for ABH on a night out when it was actually ABH on his ex. It's a very long story how he kept it covered up and the timeline it all happened so I'll spare you, but I went into the relationship with him after he was released....after I had visited him in Sutton and Winchester. He then went back to Winchester on the GBH with intent charge against me. I remember the prison in Sutton seemed much better and well run and cleaner where as Winchester was an absolute shit hole

Just wondering why two prisons, both in the South of England and not a million miles apart, can be so different ?
 
Last edited:
Reactions: 12
Wow Thank you for sharing that as I can imagine it was hard

Depends on a number of things:

The management structure for a start. There is ultimately whats called a Governing Governor (you’ll have maybe seen me say No1). They are in in overall charge of the jail. Then there are a number of governors below who manage different departments - so security, operations, equailty…all sorts of shite.ad made up job titles Below them there are what are (I think still) called Custodial Managers who are the most senior uniform grade who run the day to day stuff. SO’s (Senior Officers) then report to them and they are responsible for the teams of officers.

If the person at the top of the tree is crap then it filters down to everyone else. AND the Uk prison estate was built in the 19th century. So its falling to bits. Then the government forget to spend money, morale of the staff goes, outcomes for prisoners get worse. Vicious circle

The two jails you mentioned are very different. Full Sutton is a Cat A and Winchester is a Cat B. So even the oversight is different. Winchester will be in a group of Prisons in that area: Full Sutton will be under the director of high security and with Belmarsh, Monster Mansion, Long Lartin etc
 
Last edited:
Reactions: 5
Thankyou, unfortunately it HAS defined me and I have no one in my life now apart from my family as so called friends have been shitty as well. It sounds ridiculous but some of the people I have "met" on Tattle are some of the loveliest people who I'd love to have as real friends.

Thank you for the insight into your job as well, I have been DYING to ask you about your job, but there's a time and a place and the SB thread isn't it. I actually thought you were a solicitor/barrister at one point but then other bits you mentioned swayed me away from that. Your role sounds so interesting.

That's exactly what Winchester looked like...old and falling apart...this was back in 2003 though so no idea what it's like now. I also remember there being litter absolutely everywhere, and the waiting room floor was plastered in mud...weird the things we remember!...the visit itself doesn't really stand out in my mind, just the actual state of the place
 
Reactions: 5
Thank you for all your replies (not just to me). You sound like you are brilliant at your job and I would say the prisoners are lucky to have you (whether they realise that at the time or not lol).
 
Reactions: 4
Oh bless you. You shouldn't let anyone other than you define your life but i understand why as it sounds awful.

My job is what it is. Mostly its fun and I have a great team around me who I would do anything for. Unfortunately I have to know the law with what we do so I could probably moonlight as a lawyer, but its just to make sure nobody has wriggle room because we've cocked up somewhere. We have days where you wonder why you bother, then I come on here and there are some seriously good people here.

If I said Winchester was built in 1850………and theres probably still a load of stuff on the list to finish theyve never got round to

Edit: If I was a lawyer I’d earn much more than I do
 
Last edited:
Reactions: 7