Silenced for Speaking Out
Recently, I have been placed on phone restrictions by the prison service following comments I made about the probation service. The justification given was that by mentioning certain individuals by name, I had allegedly put their lives at risk.
What makes this situation even more concerning is that the comment in question was made over six months ago. For half a year, nothing was said. No warning was issued. No immediate action was taken. Yet only now am I being punished for it. That delay raises serious questions about whether this is truly about safety — or about something else entirely.
The names I referred to are already publicly available information. They were not confidential, nor were they exposed unlawfully. Despite this, I am facing restrictions as though I have committed a serious and immediate breach.
Under these new limitations, I am allowed either nine phone calls per day or a total of two hours on the phone — whichever comes first. Once I reach that limit, I am cut off from further communication. To someone on the outside, that might sound reasonable. But in prison, the phone is not a luxury — it is a lifeline. It is how we maintain family relationships, protect our mental health, manage legal matters, and remain connected to the world beyond these walls.
These restrictions feel disproportionate and unjust. The timing alone makes it difficult to ignore the possibility that this is less about safety and more about silencing criticism. Speaking about my experiences — even when they are uncomfortable for the authorities — should not result in punitive measures months later.
This is not just about phone access. It is about fairness. It is about the right to raise concerns without fear of delayed retaliation. And it is about being treated not just as a prisoner, but as a human being with fundamental rights.
When punishment comes six months after the fact, it doesn’t feel like protection. It feels like suppression. And that is something worth challenging.
