Female prison officer who wrote love poems to prisoner is jailed

 A 44-year-old woman has been imprisoned after a court heard that she wrote love poems to a prisoner at HMP Channings Wood, where she worked.

The woman, a mother of three, pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office and was given a six-month sentence.

The court had heard she had developed a secret relationship with the man, who is serving an indefinite sentence for a sexual offence, while she was supervising him. Whilst the Judge accepted there had been no physical contact between them, she had written him to him on numerous occasions, gave him Valentine’s cards, and written him love poetry with sexual references.

The prison suspected that there was an improper link between them, and so he was transferred to another prison in January 2023. However the woman continued to keep in contact with him, including by using unregistered mobile phones and by listing a false name on the prison contact list, whilst claiming to be a relative of his. The prison then recorded conversations referring to their professed love for each other.

A search of her house by police found her hidden mobile phones, and she was arrested and charged. The judge told her that, despite there being no physical relationship, their affair was highly sexual and that, despite learning she is now remarried, six months’ incarceration was appropriate.

Fifth Five Wells woman officer sentenced over fling with an inmate

 A female former prison officer has been sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, having admitted to an affair with a prisoner at HMP Five Wells where she was working. 

The woman was 22 when she began working in the prison, and had been in the job for just three months when the relationship began.

Part of her job was to carry out welfare checks on the man, and in 2023 a mobile phone was found in his cell with over 660 messages between them, many very intimate. There was also evidence of 20 phone calls they shared, one of which lasted for over an hour.

The woman admitted sending him explicit photos and kissing him within the jail. She was dismissed in May 2023. In court, she pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office. 

The judge at Northampton Crown Court said that he took into account evidence that she had ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), but that a custodial sentence was appropriate. He said he was suspending it partly due to her illness and partly because she had waited three years for the sentence to be passed and had committed no other offences. She is also required to undertake 50 hours of unpaid work and has been referred for mental health support.

She is the fifth woman officer from Five Wells to have been convicted over illicit relationships with prisoners within less than two years. Three of the earlier cases had seen the women imprisoned, and another had a suspended punishment. In a headline reporting the latest conviction, the Northamptonshire Telegraph dubbed the prison ‘HMP Five Girls’. The 1,700-capacity men’s prison near Wellingborough opened in 2022 and is managed by G4S.

Female officer at HMP Belmarsh accused of inappropriate relationship with prisoner

 A 30-year-old woman appeared in court last week charged with having an “inappropriate relationship” with a male prisoner while working as an officer at high-security Belmarsh prison.

The woman appeared at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on 11 May, charged with misconduct in a public office between August 1 and September 5 last year. She spoke only to confirm her name, age and address. No details of the alleged relationship were heard in court, but the name of the prisoner involved was reported in media coverage of the case.

She was not asked to enter pleas and she was released on conditional bail.

The woman was reported to have held a senior role at Belmarsh, responsible for helping prisoners to find jobs after release. She was also reported to have been the director of two companies, one now dissolved.

Officer among 21 people charged with smuggling cannabis and phones into HMP Gartree

 A prison officer is among 21 people charged in connection with the alleged smuggling of cannabis and mobile phones into HMP Gartree in Leicestershire. The charges follow an investigation by the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU) Regional Prison Intelligence Unit. The offences are alleged to have occurred between 1 June 2022 and 6 October 2022.

Besides the 30-year-old officer, those charged include prisoners and their alleged associates outside. The officer has been charged with misconduct in a public office as well as smuggling narcotics into a jail, while each of the other 20 faces counts of conspiracy to supply a class B drug and conspiracy to convey a list B prohibited article into prison.

All suspects appeared on 29 June at Leicester Magistrates’ Court, where they did not enter pleas. They face a further hearing at Leicester Crown Courton 29 July.

Sixth officer at Five Wells charged over relationship with prisoner

 A sixth female officer at HMP Five Wells has been charged with criminal offences over claims she had an inappropriate relationship with a prisoner.

The 23-year-old woman has been charged with two counts of misconduct in public office and two counts of taking or sending a photograph or sound recording inside a prison without permission. The offences are said to have taken place between May and November 2024.

The woman is scheduled to appear at Northampton Magistrates’ Court on June 25.

Since G4S-run Five Wells opened in 2022, five other female staff have been convicted over illicit relationships with prisoners – leading a local newspaper to dub the jail ‘HMP Five Girls’. One was jailed for three years, two received 12-month sentences, and two got suspended sentences. The category C men’s prison is in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, and holds xxx men.

Prison officers deal drugs and ask inmates for sex, BBC told

 Next to a vandalised wire fence opposite HMP Bronzefield in Surrey, 28-year-old Beatrice Auty brushes away tears. The memories of her time inside the jail are too much to bear.

She served more than a year here for money laundering, and claims she was sexually harassed by a male prison officer.

“He made me feel very uncomfortable,” Auty says. “He commented on my appearance - a lot. He suggested he wanted to come to my cell - I feel if I had been up for it, he would have wanted sexual favours.”

Auty says she reported what happened, and told us she’s spoken to other women who have had similar experiences with the same guard, who made “comments about their breasts” and “how he would want [oral sex] from them”.

With prisons across the country running out of cells and the government releasing offenders early to ease pressure, the BBC has been reporting on the issues facing a system on the brink of collapse.

There are 23,613 prison officers in England and Wales, looking after a prison population of 85,867 inmates.

A record 165 prison staff were sacked for misconduct in the year to June 2024, according to His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). That’s an increase of 34% on the previous year.

Some of the reasons for these dismissals include sex acts and other inappropriate behaviour with inmates, as well as selling drugs and phones - a lucrative trade inside prisons.

In 2023, Auty was convicted of smuggling millions of pounds of criminal cash from London to Dubai, and sentenced to 42 months in prison.

She served 14 months in HMP Bronzefield - the largest prison in Europe for female offenders - before being released on licence, meaning even though she’s been freed she must stick to a set of rules for the remainder of her sentence.

With her hands thrust firmly in her pockets, Auty describes how it was “not uncommon at all” to see prison staff in Bronzefield dealing.

“The drugs would often be transported on the food trollies and then distributed at the other end on the house blocks,” Auty says.

“On one hand you have a prison service that’s meant to be rule-abiding and strict and uphold British values, and in reality you have corrupt officers.”

In response to Auty’s claims, Sodexo, the private company that runs the prison, told the BBC it cannot comment on individual cases, but “where complaints are received about any employee, we undertake all appropriate investigations and take necessary actions as needed”.

Lee Davis was a prison officer from 2006 until 2010, during which time he regularly supplied cannabis, steroids and phones to inmates, getting paid £400-500 for every package he delivered.

After agreeing to take the first package, he describes a “snowball effect”.

“It then became two, and three," he says, "then after package four it was purely about the money.”

Davis was eventually caught and served two years in prison. He’s since turned his life around and works as a bus driver in Lancaster now, but says much more could be done to stop other prison staff dealing inside.

“They’ve got to up the ante by searching officers going in,” Davis says. “I was searched twice in three years and that isn’t good - we need to stop it at the gates.”

A prison officer who doesn't want to be identified who works in a different, government-run English jail, told us it's unsurprising to hear about staff corruption.

She says everyone working in prisons knows drugs are being supplied by officers.

“They know how to fiddle the system - they know better than anyone how to get drugs and phones in - because they know the checks they’ve got to go through," the woman says.

“Some [prison officers] are so young and inexperienced they easily get caught up in organised crime, with gangs inside sometimes putting pressure on them to supply all sorts.

“There’s a power dynamic, and prison officers can feel like they can do what they want - like asking for sex. They can make life difficult for those inside, and they know that.”

There have been several high profile cases this year which convey the problem of prison officer corruption.

Last month, former prison officer Richard Goss was jailed for four years after admitting to smuggling drugs, needles, and mobile phones into HMP Buckley Hall in Rochdale.

Another former officer, Linda De Sousa Abreu, was filmed having sex with an inmate in HMP Wandsworth in London. In July she was convicted of misconduct in a public office after the video went viral on social media.

Corruption inside prisons is now "a greater problem than it has ever been," according to John Podmore, a former governor of several large prisons, including HMP Belmarsh and HMP Brixton, both in London. He oversaw the prison service’s Corruption Prevention Unit and the London Prison’s Anti-corruption Team.

“There is a perfect storm of young inexperienced staff with poor vetting and inadequate training being thrown into a dystopian environment," Mr Podmore says, "where violence and organised crime dominate a failing prison system.”

He estimates the value of drugs traded across the prison estate each year is in excess of £1bn.

No specific qualifications are needed to become a prison officer in England and Wales.

On its website, HMPPS states new recruits will be given a 10-day induction, which includes finding out about prison life and being shown basic security processes.

This is followed by a seven-week training programme, during which trainees are taught how to look after people in custody and de-escalate challenging situations.

Mr Podmore describes this training as “totally inadequate”, and “the worst and shortest of any jurisdiction I have observed over five continents”.

“The vast majority of officers are corrupted as a result of conditioning, manipulation, coercion and blackmail, while being badly trained, poorly led and inadequately supervised,” he adds.

Steven Gillan from the Prison Officer Association told the BBC that, while he defends the vast majority of "hard working and professional" prison officers, he is "not going to sugar coat the issue of corruption” - one he describes as "very real".

“Prisons are complex places and there can be no place or excuse for corrupt staff,” he says.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) says it is “catching more of the small minority who break the rules. This includes by bolstering our Counter Corruption Unit and strengthening our vetting processes.

“Where officers do fall below our high standards, we will always take robust action.”

Why Am I Still Being Punished After the Charge Was Not Pursued?

 It came as quite a surprise that, shortly after I published a prison voice recording and a song about the person I have described as my stalker, my cell was searched on 16 July 2026. I was told that the search was based on “intelligence.” Soon afterwards, I was also informed that I had been assigned a new probation officer.

On 16 July 2026, my cell at HMP Berwyn was “spun,” meaning that it was searched.

During the search, staff found a Sony MiniDisc Walkman that I purchased approximately 19 years ago. I have had this device in several different prisons, including Category A prisons.

When I arrived at HMP Berwyn around 12 months ago, the MiniDisc player was recorded on my property card and issued to me by the prison. It was therefore not something I had secretly brought into the prison or deliberately concealed.

While I was living on my previous wing, my cell was also searched by the Dedicated Search Team, reportedly while they were looking for mobile phones following alleged “intelligence” connected to the person I have described as my stalker.

Following the search on 16 July, my incentive level was reduced from Enhanced to Basic.

For readers who may not understand the prison incentives system, Enhanced is the highest level, while Basic is the minimum level. I was reduced directly from the highest level to the lowest level because I possessed a MiniDisc player that HMP Berwyn had recorded on my property card and issued to me.

I believe this was disproportionate and represents a misuse of authority.

I was also placed on report over the incident. However, the adjudication was later marked as “not proceeded with.” I have not been given a clear explanation for why it was not pursued.

The relevant national policy states:

“An immediate incentive level review should be undertaken for serious single incidents of bad behaviour, for example such incidents that were serious enough to lead to an adjudication for an offence involving violence to staff or prisoners, drugs, possession of a mobile phone, abscond or possession of a weapon.”

It continues:

“The review should consider outcomes which follow from adjudications in relation to the same incident to ensure that the overall response to bad behaviour is not disproportionate.”

Most importantly, the policy states:

“If any adjudication is subsequently quashed on appeal, dismissed or not ‘proceeded with’, a further review should take place to determine the prisoner’s appropriate incentives level.”

The policy also states:

“Appeals must be considered by a more senior member of staff than the person who took the decision that is being challenged.”

This leaves several important questions that HMP Berwyn and the relevant authorities should answer.

Why am I still being kept on Basic when the adjudication was not proceeded with?

Has the required further review of my incentive level taken place?

Who made the original decision to reduce me to Basic, and who reviewed my appeal?

Why am I being punished for possessing an item that HMP Berwyn itself recorded, authorised and issued to me?

I am asking for a clear explanation, a proper review of the decision and confirmation that the national policy has been followed.

Until those questions are answered, I believe I am continuing to be punished for an incident that was not pursued and that arose because the prison issued me the property in the first place.

A Request for Independent Scrutiny

I am asking anyone in a position of authority—including legal professionals, representatives from the Ministry of Justice, prison oversight bodies and Members of Parliament—to examine this case.

I believe the way this matter has been handled raises serious concerns about possible misconduct, misuse of authority and abuse of power by public officials. I am asking for an independent investigation into the decisions made, whether the relevant national policies were followed and why I remain on Basic despite the adjudication being marked as “not proceeded with.”

Anyone who is able to offer legal assistance, investigate this matter or raise it with the appropriate authorities can contact me at: voiceforcons@gmail.com

Police officer who killed himself was violent rapist who tried to murder women

 A Police Scotland officer killed himself after being revealed as a violent rapist who tried to murder women.

The force is investigating complaints of serious sexual offending and attempted murder by PC Alan Greer, who died in May this year.

A significant investigation was launched at the end of 2025 after a complaint was received relating to a non-recent serious sexual assault being carried out by an unidentified officer.

Police Scotland said extensive enquiries were carried out by detectives from the Anti-Corruption Unit to identify the officer and Greer was arrested.

Further investigations identified a number of victims of serious sexual offending by Greer, who are now being supported by specialist officers and partner agencies.

The 47-year-old was arrested on Friday, April 24, after officers from the Anti-Corruption Unit searched a property in the Wishaw area.

He was released without charge pending further investigation and was suspended from duty at that time with full welfare support in place, Police Scotland said.

A number of electronic devices were seized during the search and enquiries into the contents of those are continuing.

On Wednesday, May 6, 2026, officers were called to the same property where Greer was found deceased.

There were said to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death. STV News understands that he killed himself.

The circumstances of the death following police contact are the subject of a Crown Office-directed investigation by the police watchdog PIRC (Police Investigations and Review Commissioner).

’14-year campaign of sexual assault and attempted murder’

Greer’s campaign of sexual assault and attempted murder spanned a period of more than 14 years, according to a BBC Disclosure investigation.

His first known victim was a woman he raped in her home in Glasgow in 2012 after she called the police to report a crime.

According to the report, he returned to the woman’s home alone hours after attending the call and raped her.

She reported the attack by Greer late last year, sparking the investigation.

Detectives, during the course of enquiries, have identified eight more victims, five of whom were sex workers who were attacked while Greer was off duty.

He used hundreds of prostitutes throughout his police career and officers are urging for victims to come forward.

Assistant Chief Constable Lynn Ratcliff, professionalism and assurance, said: “My thoughts, firstly, are with the victims in this case who have spoken up and reported these allegations, as well as with Alan Greer’s family, friends and colleagues who have been deeply affected by these reports and his death.

“The investigation into this matter is one of the largest and most complex enquiries ever undertaken by the Anti-Corruption Unit and significant work is ongoing to fully ascertain the extent of offending and identify and support as many victims as possible.

“Clearly, Alan Greer cannot stand trial for these allegations of serious violent sexual offending, including attempted murder, but this investigation is about identifying and supporting potential victims, giving them a voice, and establishing the full circumstances.

“It is essential that members of the public, victims, and witnesses feel confident speaking with the police and know the overwhelming majority of our officers serve with professionalism and integrity to protect people, investigate matters, and bring offenders to justice.

“I would encourage anyone with any information or who may be a victim in this case to please come forward and speak to us. You will be listened to and given the support you need.

“In recent years, and advanced by Lady Elish Angiolini’s review of Complaints Handling, Investigations and Misconduct Issues published in 2020, there has been a Scotland-wide focus on police ethics, conduct and scrutiny.

“Police Scotland has fully engaged with a range of developments and our commitment to safeguarding policing’s integrity has never been stronger.”

On Wednesday, May 6, 2026, officers were called to the same property where Greer was found deceased.

There were said to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death. STV News understands that he killed himself.

The circumstances of the death following police contact are the subject of a Crown Office-directed investigation by the police watchdog PIRC (Police Investigations and Review Commissioner).

’14-year campaign of sexual assault and attempted murder’

Greer’s campaign of sexual assault and attempted murder spanned a period of more than 14 years, according to a BBC Disclosure investigation.

His first known victim was a woman he raped in her home in Glasgow in 2012 after she called the police to report a crime.

According to the report, he returned to the woman’s home alone hours after attending the call and raped her.

She reported the attack by Greer late last year, sparking the investigation.

Detectives, during the course of enquiries, have identified eight more victims, five of whom were sex workers who were attacked while Greer was off duty.

He used hundreds of prostitutes throughout his police career and officers are urging for victims to come forward.

Assistant Chief Constable Lynn Ratcliff, professionalism and assurance, said: “My thoughts, firstly, are with the victims in this case who have spoken up and reported these allegations, as well as with Alan Greer’s family, friends and colleagues who have been deeply affected by these reports and his death.

“The investigation into this matter is one of the largest and most complex enquiries ever undertaken by the Anti-Corruption Unit and significant work is ongoing to fully ascertain the extent of offending and identify and support as many victims as possible.

“Clearly, Alan Greer cannot stand trial for these allegations of serious violent sexual offending, including attempted murder, but this investigation is about identifying and supporting potential victims, giving them a voice, and establishing the full circumstances.

“It is essential that members of the public, victims, and witnesses feel confident speaking with the police and know the overwhelming majority of our officers serve with professionalism and integrity to protect people, investigate matters, and bring offenders to justice.

“I would encourage anyone with any information or who may be a victim in this case to please come forward and speak to us. You will be listened to and given the support you need.

“In recent years, and advanced by Lady Elish Angiolini’s review of Complaints Handling, Investigations and Misconduct Issues published in 2020, there has been a Scotland-wide focus on police ethics, conduct and scrutiny.

“Police Scotland has fully engaged with a range of developments and our commitment to safeguarding policing’s integrity has never been stronger.”

Southport killer Axel Rudakubana appears to be manipulating the system, families' lawyer says

 A lawyer for the families of the children murdered by Southport killer Axel Rudakubana has said his transfer from prison to a psychiatric hospital may be an attempt to "manipulate the system".

Rudakubana, 19, was given a life sentence for the murder of three children - Alice da Silva Aguiar, 9, Bebe King, 6, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7 - and attempted murder of eight other children and two adults.

On Thursday, he was moved from HMP Belmarsh to Broadmoor psychiatric hospital in Berkshire.

Prisoners who are considered to present a risk to staff, inmates or themselves because of mental disorders can be moved to hospital under the Mental Health Act.

Next Wednesday marks two years since Rudakubana carried out the attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on 29 July 2024.

Lawyer Chris Walker, who represents the three bereaved families, said they "don't believe the merits" of the transfer on the basis of a mental health issue and is calling for more information from ministers.

"In my mind this is a new event, this is something which occurred whilst he was at prison, and we at this stage don't believe the merits of it in terms of him because I've seen no evidence at all until today which suggests he has a significant mental health disorder," Walker told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

He added: "We do have an evil person but being evil does not mean that you're suffering with psychosis of some sort.

"We need to know is this a single event, is this a recurring event, is this him playing the system and we need those answers."

The Prison Officers' Association told the BBC that Rudakubana was transferred due to a deterioration in his mental health.

Walker added in a separate statement that the news would "devastate" the families at any time but "the fact that this has occurred as we approach the second anniversary in our view is another move by AR who would appear to be attempting, once again, to manipulate the system".

He continued: "We have been given the barest of details and whilst we are supporting the families through this we are urgently seeking a meeting with the appropriate authorities to understand the situation before commenting further."

A lawyer for the families of the attack's survivors said they did not want to give "notoriety" to Rudakubana and that attention should be focused on supporting the children around the anniversary.

Nicola Ryan-Donnelly of Fletchers Solicitors said: "The focus of public outrage should not be on moves that this perpetrator has made, it should be examining how we are two years on from this attack and some of these girls are still not receiving the proper psychological care and support that they should be to recover from this."

Prior to Rudakubana's sentencing last year, his defence lawyer told the court no psychiatric evidence could suggest a mental disorder contributed to his actions.

The court also heard how Rudakubana presented as having high functioning autism and did not have any associated learning disabilities.

Stan Reiz KC added that his client had appeared to have been a "normal child" until he reached 13, adding: "However, he did make a transition from a normal, well-disciplined child to someone who was capable of committing acts of such shocking and senseless violence."

Rudakubana was deemed mentally fit to be detained, interviewed and stand trial. His late guilty plea meant his mental health was not discussed in detail in court during a trial.

He was given a 52-year prison sentence in January 2025 but the judge was unable to impose a whole life order due to Rudakubana being 17 when he carried out the attack. He will likely never be released.

A lawyer for the families of the children murdered by Southport killer Axel Rudakubana has said his transfer from prison to a psychiatric hospital may be an attempt to "manipulate the system".

Rudakubana, 19, was given a life sentence for the murder of three children - Alice da Silva Aguiar, 9, Bebe King, 6, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7 - and attempted murder of eight other children and two adults.

On Thursday, he was moved from HMP Belmarsh to Broadmoor psychiatric hospital in Berkshire.

Prisoners who are considered to present a risk to staff, inmates or themselves because of mental disorders can be moved to hospital under the Mental Health Act.

Next Wednesday marks two years since Rudakubana carried out the attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on 29 July 2024.

Lawyer Chris Walker, who represents the three bereaved families, said they "don't believe the merits" of the transfer on the basis of a mental health issue and is calling for more information from ministers.

"In my mind this is a new event, this is something which occurred whilst he was at prison, and we at this stage don't believe the merits of it in terms of him because I've seen no evidence at all until today which suggests he has a significant mental health disorder," Walker told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

He added: "We do have an evil person but being evil does not mean that you're suffering with psychosis of some sort.

"We need to know is this a single event, is this a recurring event, is this him playing the system and we need those answers."

The Prison Officers' Association told the BBC that Rudakubana was transferred due to a deterioration in his mental health.

Walker added in a separate statement that the news would "devastate" the families at any time but "the fact that this has occurred as we approach the second anniversary in our view is another move by AR who would appear to be attempting, once again, to manipulate the system".

He continued: "We have been given the barest of details and whilst we are supporting the families through this we are urgently seeking a meeting with the appropriate authorities to understand the situation before commenting further."

A lawyer for the families of the attack's survivors said they did not want to give "notoriety" to Rudakubana and that attention should be focused on supporting the children around the anniversary.

Nicola Ryan-Donnelly of Fletchers Solicitors said: "The focus of public outrage should not be on moves that this perpetrator has made, it should be examining how we are two years on from this attack and some of these girls are still not receiving the proper psychological care and support that they should be to recover from this."

Prior to Rudakubana's sentencing last year, his defence lawyer told the court no psychiatric evidence could suggest a mental disorder contributed to his actions.

The court also heard how Rudakubana presented as having high functioning autism and did not have any associated learning disabilities.

Stan Reiz KC added that his client had appeared to have been a "normal child" until he reached 13, adding: "However, he did make a transition from a normal, well-disciplined child to someone who was capable of committing acts of such shocking and senseless violence."

Rudakubana was deemed mentally fit to be detained, interviewed and stand trial. His late guilty plea meant his mental health was not discussed in detail in court during a trial.

He was given a 52-year prison sentence in January 2025 but the judge was unable to impose a whole life order due to Rudakubana being 17 when he carried out the attack. He will likely never be released.