HMP Belmarsh: The 'Guantanamo Bay' of the UK

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Additional Sources:
General information and life in Belmarsh:
www.gov.uk/guidance/belmarsh-...
www.doingtime.co.uk/hmp-belma...
www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/u...
UK’s GUANTANAMO BAY:
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3...
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3652141...
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4100481...
www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKHL/2...
Escape attempt:
www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news...
Famous Convicts:
inews.co.uk/culture/televisio...
www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/19...
www.manchestereveningnews.co....
news.sky.com/story/stephen-po...
www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/wi...
www.bustle.com/entertainment/...
www.mi5.gov.uk/news/abu-hamza...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2...
Inspection reports:
howardleague.org/prisons/belm...
www.justiceinspectorates.gov....
www.justiceinspectorates.gov....
www.doingtime.co.uk/hmp-belma...
www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/17...
s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/im...
London Pathway Progression Unit:
assets.publishing.service.gov...
In Recent News:
www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/18...
www.maldonandburnhamstandard....
www.mylondon.news/news/south-...

[@geographicstravel]

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[@Thamian]

In terms of a interesting prison with a decent amount of history to it, I'd suggest Broadmoor - the oldest of the UK's secure psychiatric hospitals.

[@sugarandspikes6696]

Seconding Broadmoor!

[@michellemorningstar6610]

I live a 5 minute walk from Broadmoor. I remember the Last time the escape siren went off in the early 00s , it was a false alarm but we got to leave school early .

[@TheLoxxxton]

I agree

[@graeme0]

Broadmoor is a hospital, not a prison.

[@ArcticVXR1]

@@michellemorningstar6610 lol proper bailing from school XD

[@ignitionfrn2223]

1:15 - Chapter 1 - I had it coming 5:30 - Chapter 2 - Guantanamo on thames 10:00 - Mid roll ads 11:20 - Chapter 3 - A catalogue of convicted culprits 14:25 - Chapter 4 - An inspector calls - Chapter 5 - - Chapter 6 -

[@sugarandspikes6696]

Oxford Castle might be an interesting one! Earliest bits formed part of the Norman city wall, and in 12-something, Queen Matilda and her brother were locked up in there and escaped by dressing all in white and walking backwards through the snow- their footprints faced toward the keep so nobody suspected anything and she made it to France. It was a Cavalier hub in the English Civil War, and became a prison in the 1800s where it housed a lady murderer who was hung (I forget who, but she caused quite the scandal). It was shut down in the 1990s and my grampy had to keep some of the keys safe till it reopened as a museum in 2005!

[@junekatana78]

I live 10 mins from Oxford jail it's a very good idea to try the locked up tour.

[@blicknessraven]

Any prison is somewhere you don't want to visit. I used to work next door to Belmarsh, in HMP Isis, and still found this video quite nostalgic, despite never having been to Belmarsh proper... Some rough places

[@patricktate4782]

I was on H wing in ISIS in 2015 worst jail I’ve been in

[@blicknessraven]

@@patricktate4782 I concur. H is where they place most of the guys who state that they need some sort of mental health support within the Thames block more time these days. An alarm would go off at least four or five times a week because fights on fights on fights. Honestly, I don't think prison is a deterrent for crime, and as such is not the answer, especially not in the form it exists in, particularly with staff cultures.

[@patricktate4782]

@@blicknessraven H was a normal wing when I was there in 2015, I think C wing was a protection wing back then

[@blicknessraven]

@@patricktate4782 ah. I'm guessing Covid made them rearrange somewhat

[@johnmcdonald9295]

@@patricktate4782 u must have been on c wing,for the crimes u committed

[@Newt.--.Jaeden]

"There's no Coffee in Prison?" *- Simon Whistler*

[@JFDA5458]

HMP Frankland in Durham would be an interesting study. It has some notable alumni including, Harold Shipman, Peter Sutcliffe, Levi Belfield, Wayne Couzens, Hussain Osman and Michael Stone

[@richardjameskemp911]

Shipman and Sutcliffe are both dead.

[@JFDA5458]

@@richardjameskemp911 Thankfully.

[@archstanton6102]

My cousin was a warden there and at Durham which "houses" some of the worst women prisoners.

[@JFDA5458]

@@archstanton6102 Rose West is there?

[@archstanton6102]

@@JFDA5458 He told me she was and at one time in a "relationship" with Myra Hindley.

[@shellshell942]

I have visited 2 Aussie prisons for work and they are scary places. If young people were shown the inside of one before getting into too much trouble I'm sure it would have an impact. Some of the scariest people I met there were the guards.

[@MrPrussianjester]

American or Aussie I don't think politicians are the caring sort. Well except for crime numbers where down means a good public image and up means the same place or worse Twitter trending. But yeah main goal is out of sight out of mind especially the publics mind. I wish we had rehabilitation in mind but bars, poutine and routine, and powertripping guards won't do jack against people who were either shafted by society in the first place, shafted after if released because of a record, or don't have the capacity of mind to care when they already shafted someone with the pointy end of a knife.

[@shellshell942]

@@MrPrussianjester You bring up a good point actually. You reminded me, I visited the mental health wing where they kept all in mates needing more supportive care and those who were very young and vulnerable. Sadly the majority had serious mental health illnesses and disorders that weren't diagnosed or treated until they got to prison. All the in mates in that wing were very respectful and chatted with us and the guards happily. That group was participating in rehabilitation but the group seemed very small compared to the rest of the prison. If they were better supported as young men the majority wouldn't be there.

[@sneakyone9865]

Opposite happens in the Uk unfortunately. Teens will go to jail for minor-serious offences and have no choice but to turn into a savage to survive in jail. Gang members get worse every time they go to jail

[@micahbode5424]

Wouldnt make a difference. Most prisoners are from poor backgrounds with little hope of success in life

[@MrPrussianjester]

@@micahbode5424 yup, rich just bribe or pay. I've rarely seen a bigshot get life or the chair. One reason bail is idiotic.

[@chrissirvid5845]

As interesting, informative and entertaining as always 👍 team 👏

[@thenightwalker99]

Maze prison aka Long Kesh in Northern Ireland. Given its ties with the troubles, it would make for a good video

[@Pax_Veritas]

And a wee knee-cappin for Simon Whistler!

[@sherlockgnomes8971]

F**k the Pope and the IRA

[@timholder6825]

Education in prison is a battle to get. In Albany over 200 prisoners applied for the 3 Open University slots available. Pay for it yourself by correspondence, but you have to work that around your prison work schedule. There are classes, but they're a bit of a joke. They're there because they're required to be there. Some education nicks make an effort, but you've got to fight to get to them and then fight for the courses. They don't want to spend money, they'd rather make money out of your menial labour. Took me 2 1/2 years to get to The Verne. 3 years to get my degree in Electronic Engineering (which has actually, subsequently, turned out to be almost useless to me). Doesn't matter how qualified you are if you've got a record, at least in the UK. (I've lectured History and Sociology in Universities abroad). Every door closed here. They never forgive, they never forget and they make sure you don't either. 3 out of 4 jobs I had upon my return to the UK (Insurance agent, civil servant, retail manager) I lost when they found out about the record (and some really shitty behaviour I endured) I had to go back to motorcycle dispatch riding. In the UK. dead end is oft all you get if you have a record. And there's virtually no such thing as 'spent' offences anymore.

[@JaredLS10]

Simon finally admits to chaining people to typewriters (poor Danny), but he didn't break his rule, he didnt write it down.

[@sarahdecker2117]

I think recording you crimes is worse

[@lilrex2015]

Simon goes to prison, he isn't an inmate, he is currency.

[@sugarandspikes6696]

Nah, he gets a steady supply of illicit coffee for knowing All The Things and remembering precedents that the other guys can use ;)

[@promiscuous5761]

Thank you.

[@Iris_and_or_George]

Lovely shout out to Danny there💖

[@d.c.8828]

Do a Biographics on Julian Assange!

[@Hamzakhan-dt3gv]

Interesting video

[@kieransimpson6113]

How about a episode on Walton jail/HMP Liverpool britians oldest jail with a fascinating history

[@krisstarring]

"The Box" just gives me similar memories of "Cool Hand Luke." It was a prison feature in the movie that served a similar function.

[@leonie8999]

It would be interesting to hear Simon’s take on “Vlakplaas” where the South African secret service plied their gruesome trade during the apartheid regime

[@gibsonwalker251]

Got to do one on HMP Manchester (strangeways)

[@kingjellybean9795]

Holy shit that clip of the guy banging on the window 16:14 killed me, he's like a foot away from it lol

[@gordonchard6243]

I think Dartmoor prison is definitely worth a video. Very scary and foreboding presence even if a relatively low rated prison these days.

[@jamesmacrae5748]

I spent about 1 year in HMP Dartmoor it was the last year of a 5 year sentence for GBH with intent( sec 18) i started off on remand in HMP cardiff then went to HMP parc in bridgend and the last year off my sentence in Dartmoor, once i got off c wing in Dartmoor( c wing was for new admissions and there was no toilet or sink in the cells on c wing) and everyone had to slop out there piss&shite first thing in the morning and the smell was f**King bad, quick shower then breakfast but once i got off c wing and on to the main wing it was a good HMP to be in good gym, good library and education classes if you wanted it and the food in Dartmoor was very very good all the screws were x military types but the discipline wasn't hard to deal with if you don't take the piss you were left to get on with your sentence in peace and quite. i got parole half way (june) 2000 there was talk that c wing was going to be updated with toilets and what not but i don't know if it did or not.

[@markhoffman6488]

If you haven't already, a video on the Guantanamo base would be fascinating! And speaking of far-off military bases with complex backgrounds...Diego Garcia? Eh?!?

[@JDW-wn9te]

Colditz castle might make an interesting Geographics video.

[@samuelfrank4787]

No caffeine?! That sounds cruel and inhumane. Especially with how cheap instant coffee can be. I need my fix man.

[@Sniperboy5551]

You should cover Cook County Jail, let us see what Jussie Smollett’s new home is like!

[@voxkoshka]

This aged in a poor and frustrating way

[@johnrussell3652]

Please do a video about Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary

[@dannyford2147]

I’ve grown up in WEST THAMESMEAD where the prison is my whole life an the surrounding area ain’t much better lol but I remember when it opened when I was 6. Great video my friend 👍🏽

[@kaeleighmurphy711]

I was belvedere 🙈 not much better !

[@greggschwabauer6241]

I’d like to see a deep dive into Lubyanka “prison”. Or even the “Gulag Archipelago”

[@arnaldoteodorani277]

There is a Geographics video on the Gulag system in Siberia, search ‘Geographics Kolyma’

[@t.ruckerdeuce4738]

I'd love to see a video on the Great lakes, or at least one of them

[@realdeal3554]

You should cover Norfolk Virginia

[@Sniperboy5551]

It sounds like the British prison system is a bit more rehabilitation-focused compared to the US. Someone correct me if I’m wrong.

[@MrBlueBurd0451]

Most prison systems in the Western World are. But the... Negative aspects of the US system pale in comparison to what you can expect in non-Western nations.

[@rikstaburd7481]

Having been a prisoner at hmp highdown, it's more like being in perpetual limbo for your sentance, in an inorganic society of other prisoners and guards with no way to progress except level 1 diplomas that are worth jack shit for jobs. It's probably better than the US but not much 🙃 Edit: thought I'd chuck this in: I was promised A LOT of help when I came in, and none of it came to fruition

[@treeherder42]

Depends, there is a lot available but it's not always provided to every person the system. There is however a lot of help for non prison sentences, quite often treatment programs are offered for minor offences before sentencing and a sentence may be reduced or removed depending on the results and engament with those services. As an example I got in a pretty violent fight at a party, knocked some guys front teeth out and got put on a problem alcohol type scheme that lasted 6 months - because I wasn't in any way an alcoholic I did very well in it and ended up with a short community service order rather than a large fine and prison time (was a repeat offender on a last chance at this point). On that same scheme I met an utter Karen who did nothing but insult everyone present because she was "innocent" - she was caught twice the drink drive limit on a school run still drunk from the night before - and she ended up getting her licence revoked and a huge fine. But I've had friends in jail who got no help and one who came out straight into rehab because he picked up a heroin addiction inside, so it's a mixed bag really.

[@rikstaburd7481]

@@treeherder42 agreed, one of the problems is that it depends which prison you go to, it's another postcode lottery

[@annalieff-saxby568]

That's the idea but (never trust a Tory) it's grossly underfunded, and prisoners are too often left to shift for themselves on release, leading them to relapse into old associations and patterns of offending.

[@timholder6825]

LOL. In Albany C wing, general population, was separated from D wing, rule 43, sex offenders and grasses by a tall fence. My friend, on my spur, but facing the nonce wing, got some elastic from the tailoring shop (most of the stuff used in prisons for use by prisoners are made by the prisoners themselves, in prison workshops, including clothing) tied it in a thick multi layer strand, to his bars and used it to catapult stones over the fence to smash their windows.

[@paulmanvell4615]

Colditz please. Oh and Belmarsh ain't tough enough. Where were Lee Rigby's human rights when those bastards cut his head off in the middle of our capital?! Tax payers paid over £32k per year, per prisoner, to keep his killers safe and comfortable in there! Bet if a marine got killed in the streets of Washington like that, that the US would dole out appropriate punishment! They'd probably mobilise for war for such an act. But hey, I gotta be careful. I can get into trouble for waving my own countries flag, whilst in my own country!!

[@quicksilver2k97]

Please do a geographical on Action park, it would be so good

[@timgagliano621]

OMG, I’d love to hear some Brit go on about how crazy these Americans are.

[@PopeyeBjj86]

More of a side project video that

[@Puddlef1sh]

I recall him doing something, maybe 2 years back on one of his 400 channels.

[@aryanparekh8119]

Not interested it this covered too much

[@chopsticksandchappedlips9734]

Could you please make an episode about nahani (headless) valley.

[@theslappywappy8064]

Simom In the basement making more channels. It’s like a KZbin sweatshop😂👌

[@davidjean2170]

Ash street prison in New Bedford MA is the oldest prison still in use in the United States, I imagine it has some stories

[@keithnorris6348]

I don`t know what it`s like inside but out side but out at the car park I can`t help getting the impression that the staff are on our side. Vis a vis their most famous guest Joo joo.

[@bratanemanoil]

We need a video on Bronson

[@deanosbiggestfan6278]

Whitemoor. Would be an interesting one

[@JotBeAusD]

'No time to die' got me here

[@leastonleaston1336]

Paul Ferris said it was like a hotel compared to pentonville

[@whosyourmate8292]

I'd live to see a film about a 'Cat D' or open prison in the UK please.

[@ThePlayerOfGames]

Ah! The one the politicians go to!

[@XxMUFCxXREDxXDEVILxX]

Do Wakefield prison aswell

[@briansymmes7917]

You quote the self-harm figures for April 2019 to March 2020 in relation to effects of the Covid lockdown on prisoners mental health, but that period is from before Covid lockdown in the uk.

[@irishtommy5430]

Broadmoor would be very interesting.

[@karenstein8261]

The line between mental illness and criminal behavior can be a fine one. Let’s not forget that the first priority of prison is to protect us from them.

[@estieglandwr]

Lookin bushy Si!! 😆😆😆👍

[@billsheehy1]

What a wonderful world we live in.

[@randisallah]

Good video, as always. But just a bit of random information/coincidence, I never knew about the 2 deaths in 2020. But the first one was on 18th of February, also my Dad's birthday. The other 2nd of November, my Mum's birthday. Very weird and strange coincidence.

[@maddazza9557]

Every single 16 year old who is at school in the U.K should be taken here on an educational trip just so they can see what prison life is like.

[@patricktate4782]

Belmarsh is not even that bad compared to others. Take the kids to Whitemoor, long Lartin, Frankland or Wakefield, they only take Cat As doing life. Most of Belmarsh are junkies on remand, nothing bad about the place at all

[@connorharris1023]

Bedlam would be an interesting one

[@TheBlackcredo]

If anyone wants to know more about Charles Bronson/Salvador I highly recommend the film Bronson staring Tom Hardy.

[@j.a.weishaupt1748]

Please do one about the Pyramid of Austerlitz. It’s a pyramid in… The Netherlands… built by Napoleon… Yes really.

[@highbrass7563]

I haven't heard if it. So thank you for sharing. I want to do some research on it.

[@sethleel2754]

I think either the HMP Manchester or HMP peterhead riot would be a good video

[@grahamhamilton9313]

Simon will you be doing a video about Operation Carthage

[@tracesprite6078]

"Don't forget us here: Lost and Found at Guantanamo" by Mansoor Adayfi ... a very readable and revealing book. I hope that Britain never sank to the depths that the USA did at Guantanamo.

[@ThePlayerOfGames]

The UK does it by kidnapping and interrogating people in third party nations rather than kidnapping people to it's own territories The keyword is "rendition"

[@tracesprite6078]

@@ThePlayerOfGames How terrible! Torture and mistreatment is absolutely disgusting. It also degrades the people who do it to others. They then have to move around the community with all that ugliness on their consciences.

[@TheKalaxis]

If you haven't covered it already, then HMP Frankland in Durham.

[@bushmanPMRR]

How about a video on the Rosslyn Chapel?

[@OperationFoxley19441]

You forgot to mention Tommy Ten Names Robinson. He was there for a bit.

[@6IXMILLY]

You should do the life of sudesh ammaar he was in belmarsh too

[@prazcuray1388]

The Maze in Northern Ireland

[@jamesmacconachie8152]

Hi Simon what about Durham prison

[@MajesticalHonky]

I think Simon is going for a ZZ Top style beard.

[@halldorherm]

0:53 The thing's I've done behind bars!... Oh, sorry, a slight misunderstanding there. Carry on

[@simonoxley2019]

Cool Beard and name Simon

[@ant292uk]

Dartmoor is a good prison. Old Victorian and a good visitor centre/museum

[@giantred]

Dude's beard is on point with this one

[@cigarettesmokingman9471]

Good god this place sounds like a resort compared to the prisons here in America.

[@genoelch]

No one really really knows Simon but we know a side of him that most don’t.

[@AyrtonGraves]

Check out Pentridge. Australia’s most infamous prison.

[@SotonSam]

Hello mate!

[@Floppy1993]

Long Kesh prison would be in interesting one HMP Maze

[@futloads2089]

Brilliant video but few point wrong there not called blocks there house blocks and the escape suit is green and yellow it’s called a e man suit

[@metalhigh0043]

YAAAAAASSS! ( In Nick Manning's voice)

[@morbosmeatshack]

Simon did you just admit to chaining Callum and the crew up in the basement? Broken the casual criminalists number one rule!

[@themrs410]

Subbed

[@warlock403]

You should cover HMP St. Johns in Canada, and its satellite institutions. Lots of controversy at the moment about HMP! I can also assist gathering information (member of staff)

[@k.stewart007]

Strange ways and Feltham are interesting ones.

[@danielthompson9830]

He does my head in

[@JDWanko]

How about the infamous Attica prison in the states?

[@kinglouis6974]

The box I’n the U.K. it’s called the block !

[@roobscoob47]

a 'Whistle-Out' to Whistler!

[@michaelcampin1464]

HOPE Chelmsford is pretty rough too

[@davidnewman5807]

I'm not sure what's more dangerous, being in a prison in Thamesmead or being outside of a prison in Thamesmead.

[@Sierraomega1991]

Barlinne in Glasgow

[@derekgardiner3583]

I jus follow Simon on the internet 🖖😁

[@cynicalahole7131]

Do a biographics on Julian Assange

[@theslappywappy8064]

Bronson is one hell of a guy 👌

[@benwherlock9869]

'And an ice cream!' 😂

[@BillWoodillustrator]

I can almost see Julian waving….

[@theredjediknight]

Charles Bronson is in HMP Woodhill, I know this cos I know one of the pastoral team

[@RyanPaynedotcom]

I don't think I heard a word you said, Simon. Dat beard...🥰

[@crashinflames]

How about the Tower of London

[@mikemhz]

There's a bus route near my house that says 'Belmarsh'. I always think about Julian Assange when I see it now.

[@jonathanhill6064]

a little lower key, but Anamosa State Prison, where John Wayne Gacy among others was held

[@SpokeNipples]

Love the names of the prisoners

[@PhoenyxAshe]

" - Or, occasionally, animals - " Sooo... Warographics plans to cover the Emu War?

[@boldandthebeautifulgimbal2881]

Simon, I feel flat.