Mark Barnsley Campaign update

From barnsleycampaign@hotmail.com Sat Jul 21

By the time you read this Mark Barnsley is very likely to be in the segregation block at Wakefield Prison again. This week Mark was told he has been allocated to the prison workshop at HMP Wakefield. Since he has declined the offer of prison work he will be charged for refusing to follow this order. The likely outcome is that he will spend time in Wakefield Prison's notorious segregation unit, under the worst conditions and may have extra time added to his sentence.

The victim of a gross miscarriage of justice, Mark has steadfastly refused to collaborate with the system since his wrongful imprisonment over 7 years ago. Instead of doing prison work he has spent his time constructively, working on the campaign to overturn his conviction and clear his name, supporting other prisoners and doing education classes when possible.

According to the prison service, the reason prisoners are given work is so that they can learn a trade as part of their rehabilitation. In theory, increasing their chances of getting a job upon release. At HMP Wakefield however, prisoners either make prison uniforms or do extremely tedious packing work for a private company based in South Yorkshire called Hepworth Building Products. In return for working 25 hours per week they are paid from nothing to £5 (yes that's per week). Even with bonuses, prisoners are paid a maximum wage which is less than 10% of the minimum wage paid to workers on the outside. No wonder private companies are eager to exploit this captive workforce.

Unlike other prisons where you can send a prisoner items such as stamps, clothing, stationary, radio's etc..., at HMP Wakefield prisoners have to buy almost everything from within the prison, usually at hugely inflated prices. Even the pay-phones used by prisoners to contact family and friends on the outside are more expensive. Prisoners are only allowed £10 per week from their personal funds to pay for these things. Therefore it's not surprising that many there are willing to work for such a pittance. Not Mark however.

Mark Barnsley was also recently denied an Open University course by HMP Wakefield. The Governor there told us that this was because Mark was appealling his conviction! Now, they expect Mark to waste his time either making prison uniforms for them (it'll be prison bars next!) or creating profits for a private company.

We ask Mark's supporters, Trade Unionists and all who struggle against injustice to let both Wakefield Prison and Hepworth Building Products know what you think about this blatant exploitation. Mark Barnsley should not be punished for refusing what amounts to slave labour.

You can contact the real criminals below:

The Governor
HMP Wakefield
5 Love Lane
Wakefield
WF2 9AG
Tel: 01924 378282.
Fax: 01924 299315.

Hepworth Building Products
Eddlington Lane
Eddlington
Doncaster
DN12 1BY
Tel: 01709 856300
Tel: 01226 763561

Justice for Mark Barnsley NOW!
http://www.freemarkbarnsley.com