Leeds protest at prison privatisation rally


Matt Booth, Leeds North West Socialist Party

Socialist Party members recently took part in a protest outside a conference at Leeds University entitled ‘Private Sector Involvement in Criminal Justice’.

The conference programme included talks from academics and researchers, representatives from probation trusts and police forces, and managing directors from private security firms G4S and Serco.

There was a supportive response for the protest from both passers by – including a policeman – and conference attendees.

One of the conference speakers, Richard Morris of G4S, surprisingly came out to chat. He was questioned about: increasing complaints over racial abuse and physical assault in immigration removal centres; the provision of services and facilities to Israeli occupying forces in Palestine; and the charge of corporate manslaughter following the death of Angolan deportee Jimmy Mubenga in 2010. Morris had little in the way of a convincing response!

Two ‘No To G4S’ supporters, as Leeds University law students, were entitled to attend the conference free of charge. But, after talking to campaigners about the conference they were consequently refused entry!

The Socialist Party calls for a fully nationalised and democratically controlled prison, immigration and prisoner transport services, so profits aren’t put before the treatment of people.