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Strangeways
- A Prison Officer's Story
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 8 hrs and 41 mins
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Strangeways
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Summary
Neil ‘Sam’ Samworth spent 11 years working as a prison officer in HMP Manchester, aka Strangeways. A tough Yorkshireman with a soft heart, Sam had to deal with it all – gangsters and gangbangers, terrorists and psychopaths, addicts and the mentally ill. Men who should not be locked up and men who should never be let out.
Strangeways is a shocking and at times darkly funny account of life in a high security prison. Sam tackles cell fires and self-harmers, and goes head to head with some of the most dangerous men in the country. He averts a Christmas Day riot after turkey is taken off the menu and replaced by fish curry, and stands up to officers who abuse their position. He describes being attacked by prisoners, and reveals the problems caused by radicalization and the drugs flooding our prisons.
As staffing cuts saw Britain’s prison system descend into crisis, the stress of the job – the suicides, the inhumanity of the system, and one assault too many - left Sam suffering from PTSD. This raw, searingly honest memoir is a testament to the men and women of the prison service and the incredibly difficult job we ask them to do.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Mr. R. Warren
- 20-10-18
Good insight
An informative insight into prison culture. Whether you sympathise or empathise with the characters is up to you and your politics.
Are prisons tough enough on offenders or are they too soft and easy going on inmates. Is punishment properly dealt with from a crime victim's point of view. I learned a lot from this book. I'll say no more.
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9 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Ravi
- 13-03-19
amazing book wonderful in sight
very gruesome at times. reads very honestly. a must for those interested in prison and social justice.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mr. Jr Baker
- 24-04-19
Fascinating well told account- great narration
really good tales from the frontline of the prison service told with heart and humour
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Richard
- 01-11-19
interesting look at the prison service
interesting look at the prison system and like most public services, its collapsing due to underfunding of staff
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kindle Customer
- 29-03-19
Fantastic!
The complete gritty truth of life as a prison officer! The author hasn't held back here and it's so refreshing to read about the job without the made up claims you get from the tabloids. Excellent read!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Dondamon
- 31-03-19
Fascinating!
One of a few books I've never been able to put down......or in this case turn off! Alot of laugh out loud moments and some truly shocking moments. Well worth a listen and read
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- David Abbott
- 16-09-18
Brilliant Unmissable
This is on of the top 15 books I have read in my whole life. Written from the heart the book is highly descriptive and I can not describe the sheer quality book. Exceptional in all ways.can't commend this highly enough, it's gripping reading. A MUST READ. A real life story for a real world.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 04-04-19
amazing and truly depressing
an honest look at the change in the prison service. How many are mentally ill, inmates and guards. looks in to the unjust 68-year-old retirement rule. This is another government corruption against civil servants. and how prison rehabilitates nobody. He looks at the prison as a worse punishment than the death penalty. I think he's right, he explains the increase in inmates and reduction in officers is coming to a crunch. graphic and vile i truly feel for all of them. change is needed.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- jade-april
- 04-01-20
thoughts provoking
went though this really quick, if I had 5 mins I would put it on. really interesting and thought provoking.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Clayton
- 05-09-21
Wonderful but scary
Wonderful.
I could not stop listening to it thank you Neil for your story, thank you Jonathan for bringing it to life and your wonderful narration. I have recommended this book to my friends and everyone that's listened to it comes back with the same conclusion it's amazing.
It's got humor, it's got sadness and it's got a message.
I'm from Yorkshire so it were ace.
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