geoffreyericsmith

Silence – John McAteer

saddened by the world and the workings of men wounded and weary and fragile seething with rebellion pretty things he noticed though only in the abstract like special silences shouting indecipherable not unintelligent just struggling with the anguish of abandonment and the nights began to tumble as he stumbled through the cries in his headContinue reading “Silence – John McAteer”

BEST At Wandsworth

From The Bulletin, HMP Wandsworth, 16 August 2019 BEST at Wandsworth… As BEST may be unfamiliar to a lot of readers, I’ll use some FAQ’s to explain our role in the prison and illustrate how we try to fulfil that role. Apart from shedding a bit more light on BEST, I hope this will encourage colleaguesContinue reading “BEST At Wandsworth”

2662 ghosts and angry gods – John McAteer

rebelling in an austere fourth floor flat on Westbourne Grove with an English Aphrodite who carved reluctant patterns into limbs over memories remembered or constructed designer clothes and liquor bottles scattered bloodstains on the walls the splintered door small hours spiked with quarrels and ad-libbed conversation downloaded tunes and abstract youtube clips beyond the curtainContinue reading “2662 ghosts and angry gods – John McAteer”

Ahmed

On suicide watch while awaiting extradition to the USA and swearing to kill himself if the extradition went ahead: BEST visited him regularly to discuss things: he was extremely anxious about the impoverishment and likely eviction of his wife and children in the North of England: BEST applied emergency funding to his family and connectedContinue reading “Ahmed”

Mohamed

served with a Deportation Order without the prior Stage 1 papers notifying potential deportees and giving them a reasonable time in which to appeal if they so wish: the papers wrongly claimed he has “no family connections with the UK” whereas in fact he has a wife and children here: BEST helped him appeal theContinue reading “Mohamed”

Miroslav

Arrested for the first time in his life in transit at Heathrow airport and imprisoned aged 70: speaks no English: BEST helped him to connect with his family and arranged a visit for a family member to see him on a Social Visit: we saw him regularly and worked closely with Healthcare to ensure heContinue reading “Miroslav”

Damian

Having applied for asylum Damian was told he would be tested for Covid and extradited the following day: when we learnt of this BEST immediately saw the Head of OMU and instructions were given to OMU, the NCA, and all involved in the extradition process halting the extradition pending due process on his asylum claim:Continue reading “Damian”

Andrzej

Andrzej was referred to BEST by the Hospital Wing. Andrzej spoke no English. BEST visited him, helped him understand why he was in prison and started the process of recovering his ID papers (loss of which left him feeling, literally, a nobody). He became so ill he was transferred to a psychiatric hospital. Unable toContinue reading “Andrzej”

Pawel

Pawel was arrested on a European Arrest Warrant in 2020 relating to offences in Poland from the 1990s: on suicide watch for several weeks when first came to HMPW: BEST regularly visited Pawel and [with the help of a Polish lawyer] we wrote to the Polish President appealing for a pardon. The appeal was rejected,Continue reading “Pawel”

Joseph

On the day of his release, Joseph was served papers saying the Home Office planned to deport him to a country where he does not speak the language, knows no one, and has never set foot: BEST applied for immigration bail and helped him prepare a Statement to the Home Office explaining his lifelong connectionsContinue reading “Joseph”