Scumbag wins 'right' to be 'treated with respect' by prison staff

[-:Undertaker:-]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1335828/Gangland-boss-Colin-Gunn-wins-right-treated-respect-prison-staff.html

Gangland boss Colin Gunn wins right to be 'treated with respect' by prison staff


http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/12/05/article-1335828-0C5AF5A6000005DC-122_233x391.jpg
Scumbag Colin Gunn





A notorious gangster has won the right to force prison officers to call him ‘Mr’.

Colin Gunn, who is serving a 35-year sentence for ordering the killing of two grandparents, made an official complaint that he was not being treated with sufficient respect. The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman upheld his claim and officers have now been told to address him as he wishes, it was revealed last night. It is understood that Gunn, who remains the leader of one of the country’s most feared and violent gangs behind bars, felt that ‘Mr Gunn’ was more in keeping with his status. From his cell, he issued a statement saying the decision was a victory over ‘rude, ignorant prison staff’.

The decision was condemned by prison staff. Colin Moses, national chairman of the POA, the union for prison officers, said: ‘It is political correctness gone mad. You have to earn respect, not demand it. ‘The inmates certainly don’t treat the prison officers with respect. Everything is geared to the prisoner. ‘We agree that people have to be treated with decency, but what is decency? Where is the decency to the staff? We have the highest rates of assaults on staff ever, yet we spend time, energy and money on cases such as Gunn’s.’ Gunn, who ran a violent drug-dealing criminal empire in Nottingham with his brother David, was jailed in 2006 for conspiracy to murder John and Joan Stirland. They had been shot by his hitmen two years earlier because they were related to someone who crossed him. The case was revealed in a letter Gunn wrote to the Inside Time prison newspaper from Belmarsh prison in South-East London, where he is held in the special secure unit.


He wrote: ‘Staff address me as “Mr Gunn”, although they were very reluctant to do so at first. None of the prison staff like it, but that’s tough because they do not have a choice.’ Prison service guidelines issued as part of a ‘decency agenda’ instruct officers to call prisoners as they wish. Gunn raised his complaint with the Ombudsman when he was at Whitemoor Prison in Cambridgeshire. A ruling in his favour was handed down last December. He was later moved to Long Lartin in Worcestershire and then on to Belmarsh, where in both establishments it is believed that officers complied with his requests. Gunn is moved frequently to reduce the amount of influence he can exert over other prisoners.

In his letter, Gunn gave detailed instructions to other prisoners to be called by their ‘preferred names’. A Prison Service spokesman said: ‘Previous directors-general have made clear that as part of the process of treating prisoners decently, staff should be encouraged to address prisoners in an appropriate manner. ‘This will generally mean addressing the prisoner by his or her forename or by the use of Mr. It is implicit in this requirement that prisoners also address staff appropriately.’ It had previously been revealed that Gunn was running a Facebook page from his cell. He had 565 ‘friends’ and was using it to email threats against his enemies. On it he wrote: ‘I will be home one day and I can’t wait to look into certain people’s eyes and see the fear of me being there.’

I don't know what makes me more angry, the fact that the likes of him are now incharge of the prisons and prison officers or the fact that he hasn't been hung, because I would gladly do the honours for filth like Gunn and Huntley.

But hey he's out on the streets again in 35 years, British justice for you.

Thoughts?

[Conservative,]

He should be dead. Bring back capital punishment.

But that is disgusting. People like him do not deserve to be treated with respect so how on earth a judge and jury saw fit to let him have it I have no clue.

[Eoin247]

And they wonder how he remains the leader even behind bars... This discusts me whoever approved it should be strung up by their balls.

[dbgtz]

I swear people in prison get alot more then we do... free food, free accomodation. Won't be long until they get £10k when they leave prison so they can start a new life -.- I say all of that as they deserve nothing but confinement and our scraps of food.

[Dean]

Pathetic, pathetic, pathetic. Our justice system sucks. It makes my blood boil.

[Neversoft]

He'll probably be out in no more than 15 years knowing our justice system. He should be referred to as a number and nothing more, or better yet hang him.

[GommeInc]

I'm somewhat sceptical of this article. I sense it's an over-exaggeration, like he demanded one individual to call him "Mr." and that individual did, when he didn't need to.

[Conservative,]

I agree with Dean. The amount prisoners get is ridiculous. If they're "good" they even get T.V. & PS3? :S It's ridiculous. Personally I think we should treat them like what they are: Scum.

Can't believe this is happening. ;l

[Jessicrawrr]

I agree with Dean. The amount prisoners get is ridiculous. If they're "good" they even get T.V. & PS3? :S It's ridiculous. Personally I think we should treat them like what they are: Scum.

Can't believe this is happening. ;l

at last you speak sense!!!;)
but yeah, robbie and dean are completley right, they get too much considering some do disgusting things like murder, they don't deserve to live themselfs, nevermind live better than none prisoners tbh.

[Conservative,]

at last you speak sense!!!;)
but yeah, robbie and dean are completley right, they get too much considering some do disgusting things like murder, they don't deserve to live themselfs, nevermind live better than none prisoners tbh.

They shouldn't be allowed to live full stop. However our rigged and flawed legal system means that they live in more comfort than some poorer, honest people?

Personally I believe they should be eating bread & water, allowed out of the cell 1 hour a day so their muscles don't wear out and given basic medical help if needed. It shouldn't be a hotel. It should be a place to reflect your crime.

[Suspective]

Absolutely disgraceful, quite frankly.

I feel sorry for the prison officers having to put up with these idiots. Why should he be treated with respect? What has he ever done in life which gives him the right to be respected? Why don't they just lock the door and throw away the key... let him die.

[Chippiewill]

I see no problem, everyone deserves to be respected a little. And all this talk about hanging etc. is just sickening. Most people murder because they have something wrong in the brain; they cannot be liable for their actions.

[Suspective]

I disagree, he is a bully and a vandal. Just look at him.

He does get treated decently, this is the United Kingdom not Afghanistan. He should try living in prisons in other countries, which are no where near as nice as the ones in this country. Hence, why they probably don't have as many criminals. Its time we start toughening up and stop being all respectful to our criminals and shameless morons.

I wouldn't even call him Colin, I would call him Moron. LOOL.

[Conservative,]

I see no problem, everyone deserves to be respected a little. And all this talk about hanging etc. is just sickening. Most people murder because they have something wrong in the brain; they cannot be liable for their actions.

All the more reason to get them off this planet...they're a danger to everyone.

And no of course he does not deserve respect. Why should he be be called "Mr. Gunn"? It's no different from "Mr." or "Colin". No one else makes a fuss about what people call them. He's doing it to show that the prison has no power over him. Ie; he can do what he wants and they will bow down...as this has clearly proved. He should not be treated with the same respect everyone else has because you have to earn respect, it doesn't come freely. Respect is not a right like food or water...it is something earned. He does not deserve respect from anyone, and if I were the prison officer I'd call him "Colin" just to annoy him. Why should a hardened drug dealer behind bars be able to dictate what a law-abiding prison officer calls him? He shouldn't.

[alexxxxx]

this guy is from nottingham and ran a large gang which was responsible for much of the gun crime in nottingham, they had informants in the police and had support from some people in the community as they'd sort out the petty problems in the neighbourhood. he's just the kind of guy who would do this. i however don't see the problem with the prison staff having to call him by his second name really..

[Eoin247]

this guy is from nottingham and ran a large gang which was responsible for much of the gun crime in nottingham, they had informants in the police and had support from some people in the community as they'd sort out the petty problems in the neighbourhood. he's just the kind of guy who would do this. i however don't see the problem with the prison staff having to call him by his second name really..

It's physcological. If he can make people in charge of him 'bow down'', then he gets a stronger and more deadly reputation. By the way some people think that all prisoners get treated the same. This is untrue, a guy like him would be treated like a king by others, he gets what he wants, destroys whoever he doesn't like.

People in there with no rep/ first time perhaps small offenders have it like hell. No joke, for these other guys prison is quite literaly a ''pain in the ass''.

[Starburst..x]

Firstly with comments like "they get ps3's and everything!!" please remember that there are indeed different categories of prisons and therefore its the lower categories such as grade C and D which will have prisoners for petty crimes or are being ready to be released that will get ACCESS (not given) these sorts of things. There not handed out like sweets so stop believing everything the media churn out at you.

I love how people describe what prisons are like and what goes on when more than half the time they've never stepped a foot inside one and are going by what our ever-so-reliable newspapers are telling us.
If our criminal justice system is so bad then why is it so highly regarded world wide?

How much of this is true we will never know, but lets hope they set a few of the other prisoners on him.

[-:Undertaker:-]

I see no problem, everyone deserves to be respected a little. And all this talk about hanging etc. is just sickening. Most people murder because they have something wrong in the brain; they cannot be liable for their actions.

That is absolute and utter nonsense, more to the point - it was the people with the same logical take on this subject as yourself who closed the asylums down so that now we do actually have people with mental illnesses in prison. But I must say, crime is not a disease and the vast majority of crime is committed by people who know what they are doing is wrong and they go to prison for their due punishment. But as usual its the case of 'unintended consquences' which people with your viewpoint have taken on this issue since the end of the war - and it has destroyed one of the best justice systems in the world and replaced it with an ineffective mess that can only be described as a joke.

..and as for 'sickening' views on the death penalty, I take it you are against abortion and euthanasia aswell are you?


Firstly with comments like "they get ps3's and everything!!" please remember that there are indeed different categories of prisons and therefore its the lower categories such as grade C and D which will have prisoners for petty crimes or are being ready to be released that will get ACCESS (not given) these sorts of things. There not handed out like sweets so stop believing everything the media churn out at you.

I love how people describe what prisons are like and what goes on when more than half the time they've never stepped a foot inside one and are going by what our ever-so-reliable newspapers are telling us.
If our criminal justice system is so bad then why is it so highly regarded world wide?

How much of this is true we will never know, but lets hope they set a few of the other prisoners on him.

I would recommend you watch the latest NewsNight programme for prisoners views on how 'harsh' our prisons are, the same prisons where drugs are freely circulating along with the prison system actually paying for drugs so that the addicts don't go 'cold turkey' - making it little different to the outside. Infact if you watch the programme (which i'd advise you do) you'll also find single prison cells with good meals, prisoners can wear their own clothes - and all of this is free of charge. A lot of prisoners do not even have that on the outside, and as you'll find if you watch the programme many commit crimes to get back inside prison.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vl9l-mQJHV0


I have no idea where you get the idea that British prisons and the British 'justice system' are highly regarded.

[Jake]

Lool i find it more funny that hes got facebook in prison tbh

[Starburst..x]

The reason for the recidivism rate is because that the life some of these prisoners have on the outside is just not worth thinking about, prison gives them a sense of routine and in some strange way belonging. It's not because prison is a doss but its provides something that their so called families have never been able to do. I can't remember who said it now but an MP stated that prison is society's last resort of social services, as in the final place when their familes, education system and social services have failed them. The average reading age within a prison is around twelves years old. Does this not reflect on our society slightly?
Now don't get me wrong im not saying that their backgrounds give them an excuse to behave like that, but lets not tar all prisoners with the same brush here. Yes your muderers/paedophiles/rapists are indeed all scumbags and deserve what is coming to them, but what about those people that happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time? What use is prison if absolutely everything such as the right to education is taken away from those who could use it and benefit from it. People complain that they get to sit around in their cells all day and yet when there's the chance for them to do something useful they complain that they are given too much freedom.

I study criminology myself and I have had the opportunity to go within a category B prison a few times as well as speak to prisoners, and trust me the relief you feel when your able to walk out of there at the end of the day is immense. I would like to see anyone try and remain in there and say it was cushty.

[Niall!]

This country sucks ass.

Seriously, any government we elect has helped prisoners in some way.

**** this ****, the people should take the power back. None of this politician ****.