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BASIC GUIDE FOR
VEGAN PRISONERS
Revised October
2002
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1.
POLICE STATIONS
1.1 The
provision of clothing, toiletries and food while being held in custody varies
from police station to police station.
Often
police stations will allow clothes, vegan toiletries, books and newspapers to
be brought in.
Often
some police stations will allow pre-packaged vegan food to be accepted. This
often is only agreed to after being contacted by the Vegan Prisoners Support
Group [VPSG] Helpline on 020 82 92 83 25.
Our
research June 2002 shows that the only microwavable food held at police
stations is Pilau Rice and Vegetable Chilli [Note White and Wild Rice is not
suitable for vegans as it possibly contains bone char].
Disposable
toothbrushes issued at police stations are unlikely to be suitable for vegans.
The same applies to the soap and shampoo.
2.0
ATTENDING COURT
2.1.
Going Prepared for Custodial Sentence or Possible Period of Remand
At this
stage the VPSG should have been contacted so they can ensure that a Case Worker
is available in the office to contact the prison in the eventuality of a
custodial sentence or period of remand being given, in order to give the
appropriate prison advice on the requirements of vegans regarding vegan
food/toiletries.
At each
court attendance you should go prepared to receive a custodial sentence as
court procedures involving different cases are constantly changing. For
example, you may be told that a case will be heard over a five day period, only
for it to conclude on day 1. For this reason you should take with you each day
items that will be of use to you in prison; provided of course you are on
bail. The following is a list of
some essential and non essential items.
2.2.
Essential Items
a) Money
[you will be allowed to spend £10 a week minimum of private cash on items
such as phonecards, toiletries, food, stamps, tobacco, etc].
b)
Writing material: paper, envelopes, clear see through biro and stamps.
c)
Clothing and footwear: many prisons now only allow you to keep the footwear you
arrive with. Additional footwear may need to be purchased by saving the
£10 a week private money allocation, together with any wages [about
£7 per week] until you can buy footwear and clothing by mail order. For
this reason you should consider taking any clothing and shoes you will need for
your use, for example in the gym as well as steel capped boots for work in
addition to a pair for general use. Clothing should include all items required
as normally you are only allowed one wash of clothes every two weeks.
d)
Reading material: you will probably have plenty of spare time the first week or
two so consider taking a few books to read. You will be introduced to library facilities
during your induction period, however you will need something to occupy
yourself with in the meantime.
2.3.
Non Essential Items
a)
Radio: the prison you may arrive at may not have mains power in the cell, so a
smaller radio cassette may be the best choice since you will have to purchase
batteries from the canteen.
b)
Tobacco: if you do smoke you should take a supply with you together with
papers, filters and a lighter.
c)
Toiletries: very few prisons allow toiletries to be taken in on reception; if
they do they would need to be new and sealed.
Note: July 2002
At the present time the toiletry
situation is being reviewed by the Prison Service and we are hopeful that
shortly all basic toiletries within the Prison System will be vegan and not
tested on animals.
If the prisoner so wishes, they can
order from Honesty through their canteen and pay for them. If difficulties are
experienced VPSG can assist in order to enforce the principle that strict
ethical vegan prisoners should be offered the equal opportunity to order
suitable ethical toiletries for their use.
However, initially this is processed
by completing a Governors Application.
Prison issue toiletries confirmed
suitable for vegans – Not tested on animals
The Collection - Hotel
Complimentaries – Liquid Soap
Pampered Blue Ice Roll on
-Chillwoods Deodorant
Freshmint Toothpast –
Jordans Personal Care
Note: No bar soap, or shaving stock
or brush at present are suitable for vegans although a source of bar soap
[which can be used to shave] is being researched.
2.4
Food in court.
Sometimes
– when arrested – you may be held overnight at the police station
and taken to Court the next day. Alternatively you may be in prison and taken
to the Court for a hearing. You will be held in a cell at the Court and the
question of food may arise.
Our
information is that Group 4 [one of the companies used for the transportation
of prisoners] do not have any vegan pre-packaged food available. However they
occasionally have a pot noodle to hand. The only flavours currently suitable
for vegans are ‘Sweet & Sour’ and ‘Chicken Curry’.
You are entitled to be fed and can insist that they provide you with suitable
food. Your solicitor and the VPSG may be able to help you with this.
The two
other companies used for transportation are Premier and Securicor. The same will apply to them as they are
also responsible for your welfare whilst you are in their care.
3.0
ARRIVING AT THE PRISON
3.1
Reception
Once you
have arrived at the prison you will be processed at reception. This will
inevitably involve a period of waiting around until you are seen.
You will
first be strip searched which will involve all items of clothing being removed
and each item searched. At no time should all clothing be removed at once [i.e.
the lower half of your clothing should be intact while they are searching the
top half and vice versa].
All your
property will be itemised. The items you are allowed will be handed back for
you to take with you into prison, while other items will be stored for you. You
will be allowed to hand stored or in possession items out on visits, providing
you make an application beforehand.
You will
usually be given a pack containing basic toiletries, hairbrush, flannel etc.
This often contains the vegan prison-issue toiletries mentioned above, memorise
them to ensure you have vegan toiletries right from the start!
Photograph
Your
photograph will be taken and you will then be issued with a prison number. This
number will remain with you throughout your sentence whether you are on remand
or convicted.
You will
be asked whether you have any medical problems or are on any medication –
this is the best opportunity to clearly state that you are a vegan.
3.2
The VPSG’s role if you are detained within prison
Once you
are sentenced, or remanded the VPSG will contact the prison informing them of
your arrival and advising them of your requirements. The Governor will be
contacted offering a free reception pack of toiletries which once accepted will
be despatched from Honesty. A fax will then be sent to the prison confirming
the conversation.
The
kitchens will then also be contacted and they will be offered their free
Catering Information pack. A further fax will be sent to the prison confirming
the conversation and the pack despatched.
Copies
of all correspondence done on your behalf will be forwarded to you.
The VPSG
will then offer the prison a free basic reception toiletry pack (shampoo, soap,
toothpaste). Due to postal delays at weekends this may take up to one week.
Let the
VPSG know as soon as it arrives. If it hasn’t come within a few days
contact the VPSG who can help ensure a speedy delivery.
4.0 PRISON
LIFE
4.1
Prison Kitchen
Comprehensive
recommendations regarding the storage and handling of vegan food have been
submitted by VPSG to HMPS Catering Department – Corby. These
recommendations are under trial at prisons at the moment and once any revisions
have been made will be included into the PSO500 proper when it is next printed
at the end of 2003.
We are
not at liberty to include these recommendations in this pack. However, we are
including some guidelines below for your guidance.
· Vegan
food should not be cross contaminated with any form of animal protein at any
stage of the storage/handling or serving.
· Assurances
need to be obtained to ensure that uncontaminated oil is used to cook the vegan
choice and items such as roast potatoes, and chips.
· It is
important that a fortified brand soya milk is provided to ensure adequate
supplies of calcium are received i.e. the average adult requires
700mg/day. Calcium is important in
the assimilation of B12 which should be provided in the form of a yeast
extract. However, Calcium requires Magnesium in order for the body to synthesis
this mineral. See Information
Sheet for sources of Magnesium.
A
Catering Information Pack is in the process of being compiled by the VPSG which
will include comprehensive nutritional information together with suggested
menus. It’s completion is planned for end November 2002.
4.2
Canteen
Canteen
sheets are issued on a weekly basis in order for prisoners to order food
items/toiletries. The amount you
are allowed to spend will vary from prison to prison as will the items that
will be allowed.
It is
useful if prisoners complete a Governors Application to enquire the
availability of vegan items through the canteen.
If
difficulty is experienced VPSG can assist prisoners in trying to obtain certain
vegan nutritional food items/toiletries through their canteen.
Prisoners’
shops/canteens should make every effort to stock food, toiletries and other
items for which there is a demand from ethnic minority prisoners. These might include oils and creams for
toiletry purposes, a variety of fruit produce and items such as non-Christian
greeting cards. Where prisoners
request items which are not stocked, prison shops can order them through a
supplier. Vegan products,
especially food items and toiletries, should also be available either as a
stock item or by arranging for goods to be ordered for prisoners.
In
general, all items for prisoners should be purchased through the prison
shop. An exception to this is made
when shopping for ethnic minority good where these would not otherwise be
available [see IG 72/1994].
Advice
on minority diets and wholesale outlets for the purchase of ethnic minority
goods may be obtained from Supply and Transport Services, who should also be
able to offer advice on the supply of vegan products.
Result
of Research done by the VPSG June 2002
As the
majority of Inmate’s Shop are run by Aramark a department was established
approx. two years ago at Prison HQ to oversee them. VPSG are currently in
discussion with them with their concerns that vegans are not being given equal
opportunities in any shop under contract to Aramark.
As no
decision has so far been reached, should your inmate’s shop be run by
this company, it is recommended that you seek the assistance of the VPSG.
Update
October 2002
A draft
report is under consideration regarding prison shops relating equal opportunity
to minority groups and when complete help/advice from outside organisations
will be sought the VPSG amongst them.
4.3
Heathcare
You will
then be taken to Healthcare and seen by a doctor. At this point make sure that
it has been put on your files that you are vegan. Also remember to inform them
if you need to arrange any herbal remedies. [If you are having problems in this
area the VPSG may be able to help]
4.4
Clothing
Remand
Prisoners:
Are allowed to keep their own clothes.
Convicted:
Sometimes you will be allowed to keep your own clothes. Other times your own
clothes will be taken from you at reception and put into your own property box
[often you will be allowed to take one pair of your own shoes].
You will
then be provided with prison clothes. You can however, apply via application to
be given your own clothes back, but certain items may be refused for security
reasons. A limited number of each item of clothing will be permitted [this
varies from prison to prison].
You can
have clothes and footwear brought in though you will normally have to put in an
application before the visit they are brought in on.
Future
Purchase of Clothes: New clothes/footwear can be purchased
through the current catalogue used at the prison [this varies from prison to
prison]. If however, the catalogue used does not contain suitable vegan items
if you can source another catalogue the prison should allow you to purchase
from this alternative source.
4.5
Vitamins/Basic Nutrition
Diet
Sheet Records are provided by VPSG to aid with assessing the nutritional value
of prison food. It is helpful to us if prisoners complete these and return them
for the full 3 / 4 week menu cycle. The Diet Sheet Records may be copied by us
and used in order to ensure a nutritional diet is provided. Therefore, the
Grumble sheets provided should be used to contain any specific
comments/problems of a more personal nature that need to be outlined in detail.
If
individual prisoners feel they require extra vitamin requirements these should
be requested through Healthcare. If this avenue is not feasible these should be
ordered through the Canteen for your purchase. [See note in Prison Service
Guidelines].
Basic
Nutritional Information Relating to the Vegan Diet: See Attachment 2.
4.6 VISIT
Remand
Visits
can be booked over the phone without a visiting order, and you will usually be
allowed more visits than if convicted – around 3-6 a week.
Convicted
Prisoners
When
convicted, the prisoner is usually allowed a Reception Visit in the first
couple of days after they arrive at the prison (this will depend on the
individual prison). For this visit a Visiting Order (V.O.) is not required, the
visitor can just book the visit over the phone.
After
this your visitors will be required to be in possession of a V.O., which they
use to book a visit.
Normally
you should be issued with a batch of V.O.’s within a couple of days of
arriving at prison. They are
normally issued on a monthly basis; you may well be restricted to one hour
visits as a standard prisoner.
This will increase with enhanced status which is normally a two hour
visit. You will get around 2-4 visits a month as a convicted prisoner.
Normally
there is a restriction to three adult visitors per V.O.
Standard
Prisoner:
Your status on arriving at prison.
Enhanced
Prisoner:
This is attained by attending work or education and by general good behaviour.
Basic
Prisoner. This
is attained as a result of bad behaviour and will result in a loss of
privileges.
The
higher your status the more privileges you get, for example more visits.
Note: Any
behaviour in breach of prison rules will mean the reversal to standard status.
[For
your information all behaviour in breach of prison rules is documented in your
personal file during the whole sentence.]
4.7 Courses
Once you
have seen Sentence Planning you may be required to undertake certain courses if
you are on a parole sentence and these can often help towards an early release,
or if on a non parole sentence they can help with the availability of tagging.
If you wish to progress through the prison system in a constructive manner it
is suggested that you should start to apply and enquire about completing your
courses as soon as possible.
4.8 Education
Prison
education could present you with a chance to enhance your academic abilities.
It is also important as a way to keep your mind active.
There
should be the opportunity to learn computer skills which can be an advantage on
your release and also A Level Courses.
Access
to Open University Courses are also a possibility with the added bonus of
payment being available from one or more of the Prison Education Trust. If a
second OU is undertaken the Home Office will pay.
5.0 DEALING
WITH PROBLEMS
5.1
Personal Officer
Your
Personal Officer should be your first port of call if problems arise. They are
in effect the first step in any process of complaint or request you may wish to
make. Your Personal Officer will also be the one to monitor your progress
through your sentence and complete paperwork concerning such things as Home
Detention Curfew [HDC] or Parole.
5.2
Request/Complaints Forms
These forms
are to be completed when other channels of complaint have failed. These [if not
readily available] should be issued to you within 7 days of applying and a
reply should be received within 28 days of completion.
Once
your reply is received if you are not happy with the response the next step is
to apply to see the Governor. Normally at this stage it will be settled
amicably. If not the next step is the Ombudsman this, however, must be done
within one month of receiving your final response. You can also request the
Prison Ombudsman investigate your complaint if the Prison Service does not
reply to you within the 6 week maximum deadline.
[Note:
You can also make an application during the above process to see the Board of
Visitors who may be able to assist].
5.3
OMBUDSMAN
The
Prison Ombudsman is an independent official responsible for considering
complaints from prisoners about almost any aspect of their treatment in prison.
The
Ombudsman cannot consider complaints made about outside bodies such as the police
or the courts.
You must
contact The Ombudsman yourself – he/she cannot consider complaints made
by prisoners, families or friends.
[For
further information see Prisoners Information Book]
6.0 USING THE
VPSG
6.1
Guidelines
Although
vegan prisoners are free to contact the VPSG they should be aware that time
taken up with minor matters means that the VPSG runs less efficiently. It is
suggested that each prisoner should use the establishments’ channels of
complaint before calling on outside help.
Initially
your personal officer should be given the opportunity to sort out any vegan
related problems you may be experiencing. It is recommended that you keep an
accurate note of any applications, discussions and commitments in a diary so
that if VPSG need to become involved so that they have the history of the
situation.
It is
recommended that you consider trying to build a working relationship with your
Personal Officer, the S.O [Senior Officer], P.O [Principle Officer] and Governors
to try to ensure that results are achieved as quickly as possible.
If you
have a genuine problem you are unable to sort out through the normal channels
within prison then contact:
Vegan
Prisoners Support Group
P.O.Box
194
Enfield,
Middx EN1 4YL
Tel
020 82 92 83 25
Also
supplying them with the above mentioned diary of events.
6.2
The Vegan Society
Membership
of the undermentioned society is no longer necessary in order to obtain a vegan
diet so is optional.
The
Vegan Society
Donald
Watson House
7,
Battle Road
St.
Leonard-on-Sea,
East
Sussex
TN37 7AA Tel:
01424 427393
Attachments: Prison Service Guidelines
Nutritional
Information
Personal
Experiences From ex-prisoners
Handy Addresses
- Ethical Wares, Caegwyn,
Temple Bar, Felinfach, Ceredigion, Wales SA8 7SA
Tel:
01570 471155
- Honesty Cosmetics, Lumford Mill,
Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1GS
Tel:
01629 814888
- Vegetarian Shoes, 12 Gardner
Street, Brighton BN1 1UP
Tel:
01273 691913
- Vegan Stores, 15,
Chichester Drive, East Saltdean, Brighton BN2 8LD
Tel: 01273 302979