GUEST BLOG: Arthur Taylor – Just another fight in prison

I’m sad to say, that the five month (must be a world record in a maximum security prison) hiatus from a violent incident on this landing ended yesterday morning.

It was a hell of a racket going on, when I arrived, JUST as’Rameka’ was about to cave ‘Paki’s’ head in with a weapon. Paki is just over 6 foot tall, and a bit like a down-sized version of Joseph Parker. Rameka is a bit smaller. So,obviously thinking he was about to get the shit kicked out of him, (no doubt why he grabbed the weapon) I managed physically to keep them apart, (and I do mean physically) for a good 5 minutes, which seemed like a lifetime(!)

There were only 2 other prisoners on the landing, one was in the shower the other hiding in his cell, so they were no use: I had a wrist lock on the guy, then, seeing him disarmed, Paki charged. I had to separate them both, to drag them apart until the riot squad arrived. The screws, who were watching through the grille at the end of the landing appeared shocked awaiting back up, and here am I coming up 60, (although many here say I look many years younger.(ha!ha!) I can just hear my Li’l Princess Siobahn (she’s a tiger on the rugby field- only girl on the team, 9 next month) saying “I would sort them out for you,Daddy!”

Arthur Taylor is a prisoner rights activist and is TDBs blogger inside prison.