Report of the Inquiry into the circumstances of the Death of Bernard ...

Chapter 7:
LIFE AT MANCHESTER PRISON: TRANSFERS BETWEEN WINGS AND SONNY
LODGE’S CLAIMS OF VICTIMISATION
Summary
7.1 Sonny Lodge moved wings several times at Manchester. This chapter:
contains information about the environment and daily life at Manchester at
the time, drawing on evidence given directly to the inquiry, criticisms by the
prisons inspectorate of the regime on K wing and a disciplinary system which
permitted officers to punish prisoners without due process or proper
supervision
describes the facilities available to prisoners under the Prison Rules and the
circumstances in which they can be removed as a punishment
draws on prison records and evidence to the inquiry about Sonny Lodge’s
various moves between wings, and punishments he received as a result of
adjudication and through the wing-based disciplinary system
draws on Sonny Lodge’s personal letters in which he complained of bullying
by staff and expressed his feelings about day-to-day events. Although
outgoing letters had to be left unsealed for random inspection, there is no
evidence that the content of these letters was known to prison staff at the
time.
(There is a list of acronyms and references at Annex 4.)
Manchester Prison
7.2 Manchester prison is a Victorian prison of traditional design which was
temporarily closed after serious disturbances in 1990. The prison reopened in 1994. In
2003 it became part of the high security estate. It acts as a local prison serving the
courts in the north-west of England and also holds Category A prisoners (those for whom
the highest level of security is required).
7.3 Wings A to E of Manchester prison form the “Bottom Prison” which was fully
refurbished after the disturbances. The cells there were mainly designed for two
prisoners and had “full integral sanitation” (a toilet in a cubicle). The Bottom Prison was a
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