The Abolitionist No. 5 (1980)

Introduction /Commentary by John Moore

The second of three 1980 editions was published in September. Since the previous edition Radical Alternative to Prison (RAP) had lost its co-ordinator, Jerry Westall – they had been unable to pay his wages! The office - which was ‘looking much nicer now, thanks largely to the efforts of the Anarcha-Feminists who share it with us’ - was now staffed by volunteers although plans were underway to recruit a part-time worker to organise campaigning.

The first article ‘Racist Police, Courts, Prisons: Black people and the Agents of Control in Britain’ by Marcia Whittingham is an important contribution clearly placing the racism experienced by Black people in the context of the wider ‘ethnic penalty’.  The 1978 Ball & Chain award is reported. Won by Dorset’s magistrates who imprisoned 12.98% of convicted men (the national average was 8.07%). Gwent magistrates were again the least punitive (3.56%). The centrefold provides a comprehensive guide to drugs used in prisons.

Also in this edition are Steve Uglow’s review of The May Report; the final part of Ian Cameron’s review of The Acceptable Pressure Group (see editions 1 & 2/3) and Mick Ryan’s responses to Ian and others. There are a number of book reviews, most importantly Tony Ward’s of Outside Chance: The Story of the Newham Alternatives Project. Ros Kane writes movingly about Raymond, an article which really illustrates the way our society fails its most vulnerable members. The issue includes a report of a conference organised by RAP, London Anarcha-Feminists and East London Women Against Prison (ELWAP). RAP’s first campaign, in 1971 had been the “The Holloway Campaign” in opposition to the prison’s rebuilding and later (in 1983) RAP would be involved in the establishment of Women in Prison (WIP), who continue to operate today. The early days of WIP are reported in detail in later issues of The Abolitionist.