Stuart Howarth - 'Please Daddy No'

Stuart Howarth-V-Prison Service/Home Office

Statement 17th February 2004

After a horrific childhood I went through life not really understanding who I was. I had lost the ability to communicate and trust. We are all aware of the sad events of 20th August 2000, a man lost his life and I was incarcerated. When I entered prison I was left alone and bewildered. I was expected to know all about a regime I had never experienced before. I was not a man but a frightened boy and was subjected to further abuse, the very abuse I was trying to escape from.

The treatment by some prison staff, not all, was barbaric and inhumane. At a time when I continually asked for help and understanding I was met with gross indecency and bullying. I was stripped and searched 176 times in two months and when I complained about the manner in which it was being carried out, i.e. incorrect procedures, squat searching and verbal abuse about my childhood, the intensity of the maltreatment increased.

I was warned about complaining and was told that nobody cared. Other inmates told me to keep quiet for fear of reprisals but I had to speak out.

For three years I have been asking the prison service for answers to my complaints and for three years it fell on deaf ears. Even to this day I still do not have answers and issues have not been investigated. In the words of the then prison governor Mr John Smith “it was unacceptable”.

Considering the very large number of males within the prison system who have been abused and are too afraid to speak out, I took on this challenge and spoke for every one of them. I kept a prison diary which recorded my feelings and it very much played apart in these proceedings.

This was never a finger pointing exercise. There have been no winners or losers here today but rather it should be seen that progress can be made and there is room for improvement and growth. If the very people responsible for reform are themselves committing acts of bullying and abuse, then what chance is there for prisoners on their release?

Finally I would like to say thank you to the courageous officers who told the truth and supported the need for change. I also thank Judge Moses for his understanding of the case, Neil Fox my prison voluntary counsellor, Colm O’Gorman of ‘one in four’, my legal team and my partner Tracey who has remained loyal and stood by me throughout.

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