Author: Richard Papworth
ISBN No: 9780-9538-6729-5
Review date: 23/04/2024
No of pages: 64
Publisher: Richard Papworth
Year of publication: 28/08/2015
Brief:
Richard Papworth, paperback, published by the author, ISBN 9780-9538-6729-5
price
£6.99
Tales of the Jails, by Richard Papworth, as the title suggests is a memoir of stories about the author’s years of HM Prison Service. While working after his retirement as an officer for the then Corps of Commissionaires, Richard featured in Professional Security; as a young man he worked in loss prevention and was for a time a Birmingham policeman. He’s also written several books illustrated for children under the ‘Dog Angel’ series title, proceeds going to The Rainbows Children’s Hospice, in the East Midlands.
You might think that these ‘tales’ might be rather outdated, as the author is retired, but what’s striking is how timeless they are; perhaps that’s because human nature doesn’t change, or because (despite the efforts of smugglers to bring mobile phones and the like into jails) prisons are quite old-fashioned places, in that – as part of the punishment – texting, social media and the like do not grip the inmates as they do regular society.
Security industry readers can learn from cautionary tales about complacent officers on duty, and the dangers of trusting any prisoner’s word, even orderlies. Besides, you can gain an insight into life behind bars – both for the warders and the prisoners. The book is up to date enough to take in the recent controversy over the official ban of books in prison – Richard Papworth offering the prison officer’s viewpoint, that things can be hidden inside hollowed-out books (a useful tip for securing valuables in your home against burglars, by the way): “Unless someone goes through the book meticulously, hidden items will not be discovered and in this way drugs and mobile phones can be smuggled into prison.”
Whether you are thinking of a job in the Prison Service, or just curious, this is a good place to look. As Richard writes: “Prison is a different world to the one enjoyed by law-abiding society. Remember inmates do not want to be there and for many, the more they can assert control the better they feel about the situation.”
Tales of the Jails, by Richard Papworth, paperback, published by the author, ISBN 9780-9538-6729-5. £6.99.
