Support the Lewes 5

About: Five defendants are due to stand trial at Hove crown court on charges of prison mutiny, criminal damage (£239,259.91) and violent disorder in relation to an incident at HMP Lewes on 29th October 2016.

The trial is due to last 4-5 weeks, and will hopefully highlight the unsafe, unhygienic and unlawful conditions that prisoners are being held In.

On the 9th December 2015, the Guardian published an article about a prison officer Kim Lennon who raised concern over the levels of violence and overcrowding at HMP Lewes she said “everything was dangerous in the prison”. Unfortunately, instead of taking on board and addressing the issues, HM Prison Service ‘sacked’ Kim Lennon and completely ignored the issues effecting HMP Lewes, allowing them to manifest into one big cocktail of disaster.

There were a number of incidents in 2016 in prisons across England not only HMP Lewes but at HMP’s Erlestoke, Bedford, Birmingham and Swaleside. All arose out of the~same issues including overcrowding, 23+ hour lock up, unhygienic and unsafe conditions. Two prisoners recently died within 48 hours at the prison.

Call to Action: IWOC are calling for support for these prisoners facing punishment and further imprisonment for fighting back against the conditions at the prison.

The prisoners are asking for solidarity and for a presence at court throughout the trial.

There will be a picket on day one of the trial.

When: Monday 2nd July 2018, 8.30am – 12.30pm

Where: Hove Crown Court, Lansdowne Road, Hove, BN3 3BN

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/2114564542113802/

If you would like to attend this demonstration or do court support but are unable to for financial reasons, please contact IWOC as we may be able to help.

More information: Please find the original call-out from one of the prisoners below.

HMP Lewes Mutiny Trial

On the 2nd July 2018 myself & my 4 co-defendants Steve Goodwin, Dave Carlln, Shane Simpson, & John Udy are due to stand trial at Hove crown court on charges of prison mutiny, criminal damage (£239,259.91) & violent disorder in relation to an incident at HMP Lewes on 29th October 2016.

The trial is due to last 4-5 weeks, and will hopefully highlight the unsafe, unhygienic and unlawful conditions that prisoners are being held In.

On the 9th December 2015 the Guardian published an article about a prison officer Kim Lennon who raised concern over the levels of violence & overcrowding at HMP Lewes she said “everything was dangerous in the prison”, unfortunately instead of taking on board & addressing the issues, HM Prison Service ‘sacked’ Kim Lennon & completely Ignored the issues effecting HMP LEWES, allowing them to manifest into one big cocktail of disaster.

There were a number of incidents in 2016 not only HMP Lewes but at HMP’s Erlestoke, Bedford,Birmingham & Swaleside all arising out of the~same issues Inc. Overcrowding, 23 + hour lock up, unhygienic, unsafe & unlawful conditions.

Which is little wonder when you consider that In his report titled Life in prison: Living conditions (published October 2017) HMCIP Peter Clarke stated “I would urge readers not to assume this paper Is simply another account of some dilapidated prisons, but to look at the details of what we describe, and ask themselves whether it is acceptable for prisoners to be held In these conditions in the united kingdom in 2017.”

For anyone who watched ITV’s Prisons Uncovered: Out Of Control? (Shown on Monday 11th June 2018) the reality of what Peter Clarke describes In his report is all too real. However without Incidents of the calibre at Birmingham etc. none of these issues would ever be exposed to the extent they have been.

Unfortunately HM Prison Service, The Police & the CPS are now going all out to secure unnecessary and vindictive Mutiny Charges which carry lengthy prison sentences.

In solidarity,

Ross A Macpherson
A6791AD
HMP Belmarsh
Western Way
Thamesmead
SE28 0EB

Indictment In the Crown Court At Hove: The Queen – V – David Carlin, Shane Simpson, John Roy Mark Udy, Steven Jake Goodwin And Ross Alexander Macpherson

David Carlin, Shane Simpson, John Roy Mark Udy, Steven Jake Goodwin And Ross Alexander Macpherson Are Charged As Follows:

Count 1 Statement of Offence Taking part in a prison mutiny, contrary to section 1(1) and 1(2) of the Prison Security Act 1992.
Particulars of Offence Ross Alexander Macpherson being a person detained in legal custody, on the 29th day of October 2016, while on the premises of HMP Lewes, together with one or more other persons detained in legal custody, engaged in conduct intended to further a common purpose of overthrowing lawful authority in the aforesaid prison.

Count 2 Statement of Offence Taking part in a prison mutiny, contrary to section 1(1) and 1(2) of the Prison Security Act 1992. Particulars of Offence Steven Jake Goodwin, being a person detained in legal custody, on the 29th day of October 2016, while on the premises of HMP Lewes, together with one or more other persons detained in legal custody, engaged in conduct intended to further a common purpose of overthrowing lawful authority in the aforesaid prison.

Count 3  Statement of Offence  Taking part in a prison mutiny, contrary to section 1(1) and 1(4) of the Prison Security Act 1992. Particulars of Offence David Carlin, Shane Simpson And John Roy Mark Udy, being persons detained in legal custody, on the 29th day of October 2016, while on the premises of HMP Lewes, at which a prison mutiny was taking place, failed without reasonable excuse to submit to lawful authority when he had or was given a reasonable opportunity to do so.

Count 4 Statement of Offence Violent Disorder, contrary to section 2(1) of the Public Order Act 1986. Particulars of Offence David Carlin, Shane Simpson, John Roy Mark Udy, Steven Jake Goodwin And Ross Alexander Macpherson on the 29th day of October 2016 used or threatened unlawful violence when present together being 3 or more persons in total who used or threatened unlawful violence and the conduct of them all, taken together, was such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for his personal safety.

Count 5 Statement of Offence Damaging Property, contrary to section 1(1) of the Criminal Damage Act 1971.  Particulars of Offence David Carlin, Shane Simpson, John Roy Mark Udy, Steven.Jake Goodwin And Ross Alexander Macpherson on the 29th day of October 2016 without lawful excuse damaged a cell wing and property at Her Majesty’s prison at Lewes to the value of £239,259.91 belonging to Her Majesty’s Prison intending to destroy or damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be destroyed or damaged.