‘The World’s Most Luxurious Prison’ TV Programme missed the point of what Norway has been brave…
Tags: Crime, Prison, Sociology, Society, Prison Reform

‘The World’s Most Luxurious Prison’ TV Programme missed the point of what Norway has been brave enough to even attempt ..

Credit: Channel 5

Ispoke to former UK MP Ann Widdecombe about the recent Channel 5 TV programme she fronted that provided an insight into a whole new, modern, (and some may say controversial, but I’d say more humane!) model of Rehabilitation trialed in Norway.

(the majority response across social media when the show aired seemed to get hooked into the tabloid-style, click-bait style as is much-loved for Channel 5 shock-doc production formats .. some in which I’ve myself even been a part of the production team!!)

This was a lockdown afternoon conversation with former UK politician Ann Widdecombe where we spoke about a few different areas of her experience and expertise whilst serving in the public spheres .. she also briefly talks about our current leadership (or lack of some may say!) as well as an almost pessimistic outlook on likely future changes .. and I particularly appreciated her acknowledging the flaws in the systemic aspects of politics in of itself being the avenues where solutions to society ills will and cannot solely come from .. (we all know they won’t!!!)

The main focus of our above conversation was on the recent tv programme about Halden Prison in Norway.

Halden Prison is referred to as ‘The World’s Most Luxurious Prison’ ..

The model adopted by this western european prison pilot is unique, alternative, i would say innovative and brave even.. the funding issue is something maybe seen as unsustainable which is maybe why they aren’t continuing the model.. but Norway does have one of the lowest rates of reoffending in the world .. whilst UK has the highest rates of incarcerations in western europe.

‘World’s Most Luxurious Prison’ on Channel 5

Ann feels it is a cultural difference that is the prime reason.. to which I’d then ask, what is wrong with UK culture in that case if we are not able to match what Norway can and has managed to achieve?

And why hasn’t significant reform and change occurred yet .. even Winston Churchill acknowledged that the prison system was:

“.. the most unfailing test of the civilization of any country.. “

Even taking into consideration the population difference factor, the UK prison crisis is still one of the major issues not being addressed adequately many would acknowledge.

I really didn’t want this very much off-the-cuff + freestyle conversation with Ann to be just another futile bashing of a politician. I also didn’t want it to be as if it was just an intellectual debate because these I feel are also a waste of energy and nearly always do nothing but aggravate someone or an audience, and then there is nowhere to outlet the feelings left with the persons involved or spectating.

My own personal stance on Crime is of course always logical and pragmatic. But I also believe that unless a convicted person is a clear and present danger to society .. prison, which in the same medieval state in which it has always been run worldwide.. is a mindless reaction led more by emotion rather than logical, evolved reasoning..it is an age-old response to complex ethical dilemmas and processes about the human condition and with sociological and psychological facets linking to wider, complex ripples of broken, outdated wider systems.

Locking people up is the easy response justified and rooted more in fear than any reasonable, definitive evidence showing it works at all to solve the underlying issues that causes it. It is an effect of where we are still at in terms of the wider escalating human condition. A set of man-made systems benefiting the few and almost allowing a growing number of our most vulnerable population to fall into so many traps, especially where and when lacking the cognitive skills or reflective ability to truly grasp the consequences of behavior before it is too late.

Credit: Centre for Family & Personal Growth, USA

And even deeper than that.. i’m reminded of the quote:

“Hurt people . Hurt People..” ..

Beyond each varying case of crime, and especially where there is any inflicted pain on others, and even the most seriously deranged and horrendous acts.. at the core of the problem I still believe .. are the layers and layers of trauma, anger, sadness, pain and often outwardly expressed angst that strays an individual away from recognising the inherent good that is also within them.. for many, that inherent goodness is buried so deep.. because a long series of man-made systems and life experiences through tinted lens .. all around them .. has brought unnecessary obstacles distracting them from the holy truths inherent in us all.

Ann, from her own credible experience in government and from having likely visited many prisons across the country, rightfully spoke about the issue of drugs and how it plays a significant contributing factor to a majority of crimes. To that I’d highlight the Netherlands model .. where de-criminalization in a controlled, structured and inteligent way is worth addressing more seriously. And if that’s also too ‘out there’ for us in the UK .. I’d certainly spend considerable time focusing on why so many individuals in our society feel the need to self-medicate on chemical substances .. just to get by each and every day of their lives!!

Credit: The Fearless Kind Treatment Centre

I also acknowledge that as unique as we all are, each of our responses to all of the rights and wrongs we see daily all around us and our loved ones.. gets processed differently. Some of us go out and protest, and get caught up in partisan group-think mentality.. others vent out on their loved ones and nearests and dearests. Whilst many get caught up in two levels of apathy that are equally damaging and dangerous.. those who release outwardly .. towards others, at wider society even.. and there are those who inwardly implode .. slowly or in the moments of most despair. Both of these responses requires some level of intervention, help, compassion and empathy to truly understand I feel.

The recent Hollywood adaptation of ‘The Joker’ I think was effective in highlighting and helping us all maybe even sympathise with some of the makings of a criminal. I’d also recommend the film ‘Ill Manors’ made by musician Plan B which is a harrowing, but very accurate depiction of real inner city life in London and across the UK that will provide more insight than most to where things go wrong for so many .. (Ann wouldn’t like this one because the soundtrack features Rap music, which she outwardly expressed a personal-hate towards during the channel 5 doc!)

Credit: Vin Sharma

I’m also reminded of a recent video edit I was involved with for a news feature outputted on one of the big global news networks.. the filming took place in the line of government control in Kashmir where a community of people were caught up in the crossfire of fighting between the two nations of India and Pakistan. A man who had just lost his wife from yet another day of firing and bombing above their heads .. young children speaking about losing their mother or father or family members due to the lack of government intervention to keep them safe. I wondered how this chain of hate, anger, pain and despair just cannot come to an end, when after each life lost as a result of what is in effect a battle over land between government leaders rather than innocent civilians on the ground .. a new hate-filled individual is born and quite likely requiring an outlet for their pain as a result.. if this trauma isn’t addressed especially whilst the war continues.. there is absolutely no end or resolve to the side effects that will always remain.

Credit: NY Times

I must also say .. Healthcare in our mainstream systems is also addressed in the same way.. by focussing on the symptoms and fixated on labeling a diagnosis and then dishing out chemical medicines to cover it up, over looking at the required holistic approach that caused the symptoms.

(This is my chat with Dr Jeffrey Thompson who speaks about this healthcare side too!)

Criminologist Dr David Scott is quoted to have said:

“The truth is prisons systematically generate suffering and death.. and they bring intense levels of harm.. “ ..

I wonder how much more deep trauma, anger, resentment and pain the process of prison leaves in a person when they are back out in the same man-made systems they were surrounded with and maybe had angst with before they committed a crime.

If we could .. even for a moment, look past our conditioned emotional bias, and our own fear-based response to why prison and locking someone up for upto 20+ hours a day is a necessary requirement (this is happening right now due to Lockdown + the Covid climate!!) .. in what should be a more civilized world in which we live in 2020.

But civilized doesn’t seem to be where we are reaching anytime soon.. I’d go as far to say that there are worrying levels of barbarism still inherent in our society systems .. and even in this area, maybe there are also long-held traumas from history that also need to be readdressed and healed.. food for reflective thought!!

Credit: BLM UK

And yes.. every individual case and anecdote is always going to be as individual and unique as we each are.. so there really is no definitive solution that may fit all.

But.. the focus of our attention, and the attention of the powers that be must surely evolve if all else has failed so far. Surely it is time to stop treating the effects.. and take a detailed, more humane and civilized look at the long list of causes.

And as I kept harking on about during my conversation with Ann in the above video .. UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME .. the advocates paying attention to much credible evidence-based studies show .. that the ripple effects of solving the economic inequality side of things will certainly not eliminate crime and disorder.. but it will 150% sure to reduce it more than any other intervention so far will!!!

WORTH NOTING .. that when technology catches up with each industry and takes away most of the jobs previously completed by humans, UBI may be the only option available .. definitely worth noting that!!

AND HERE IS MY CHAT WITH ONE OF UBI’s MOST KNOWLEDGABLE ADVOCATE: Scott Santens in USA :

A great service Ann mentioned in our video conversation was ‘The Longford Trust’ .. any support for them can be found via:

https://www.longfordtrust.org

Worth exploring the topics around prison reform via groups such as:

https://prisonreformtrust.org.uk

More on the Channel 5 TV Programme ‘The World’s Most Luxurious Prison’ via:

https://www.entertainmentdaily.co.uk/...

Check out the other ‘off-the-cuff’ Conversations so far via ‘The Seekers’ playlist on youtube via:

https://tinyurl.com/TheSeekingSeekers

e: vin@guavo.media