In these days of discussions on the Common Market, it is perhaps natural to have a look across the Channel. In France, a huge 4,000 cell complex has cost some 12 million pounds and one can well imagine some of the critics of our system advocating the building of a similar structure over here. They might let us have four of these monsters and put an end to overcrowding. Perhaps they would invite Earl Mountbatten to say whether he would favour using part of them as a super-secure segregation prison for top security prisoners. That might satisfy a lot of people except those who live in the vicinity of any site chosen. Prisons, like airports, are not too attractive as neighbours.
Nearer home, Robert Foren's article on the Prison Officer's Role as a Social Worker is a tremendously important contribution if only because of its re-emphasis on the point that although so many people say that prison staff should be involved in rehabilitative work with prisoners, no one ever seems to do anything about it. This is not by any means an exact account of the overall position but there is sufficient truth in it to warrant our taking a good look at it.
The essence of Prison, be it in Fleury Merogis or Long Lartin, should mean both containment and training but the two ingredients do not mix easily nor do they mix all the time and the prison officer's Job is one of contrasts and conflicts in demands and responses.
Just as size and security of new establishments (though desirable) will never solve all our problems, neither will talk about "social work" or even "job satisfaction", though both are desirable.
Actions are said to speak louder than words – but we cannot all be building new prisons, so perhaps, for some of us words are important. Let us not be afraid of speaking up about it-even among ourselves.
