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End Lies And Corruption In Edinburgh Criminal Justice Services

Leeds Anarchist Black Cross | 21.05.2012 10:11 | Repression | World

Writing in support of prisoner John Bowden.




Long-term prison militant John Bowden is certainly no stranger to harassment and injustice within prison, nor is he unfamiliar with social workers making up lies. The latest episode in John’s 32 year-long battle for freedom however, certainly has something of the Kafkaesque about it. Basically an idiot social worker called Brendan Barnett prepared a report for the Parole Board containing the sort of lies which would put shame to a naughty three year-old – the full story is at  http://leedsabc.org/corrupt-social-workers-attempt-to-rid-themselves-of-prisoner-john-bowden/ All the indications are however that Barnett is not simply a silly little boy, he is rather a malicious liar abusing his position of power over a long-term prisoner. Unfortunately, when John Bowden made an official complaint, Barnett’s colleagues closed ranks, and are currently attempting to have John banished from Scotland, so letting Barnett (and themselves) off the hook. This corruption apparently goes right to the top, as John explains in his most recent article on the sordid affair:

“I have now complained to Peter Gabbitas, Director of Health and Social Care Department in Edinburgh, who has overall responsibility for Barnett and his colleagues, and he has yet to even acknowledge my letter, which suggests a disinclination on his part to recognise either my existence or that of my complaint. Incredibly, it would seem that a pathological liar like Barnett has the absolute freedom to describe someone in an official report as a “racist and homophobic” serial killer without a shred of evidence, and absolutely no one in his entire department has the integrity or moral courage to criticise or expose him, and that apparently includes even the department’s Director. The complete absence of any basic integrity among those at Edinburgh Criminal Justice Services is both scandalous and deeply worrying for those under its supervision.”

Since Mr Gabbitas seems to have overlooked John Bowden’s letter to him, we thought we’d send him a reminder in the form of an A2 postcard, which reads as follows:

Dear Mr Gabbitas,

We believe that you are aware of complaints made against social worker Brendan Barnett by John Bowden, complaints which so far have been ignored by Mr Barnett’s senior colleagues, something which we think indicates a certain amount of departmental corruption. Like Mr Bowden, we take the view that Mr Barnett is either a malicious liar or that he is totally incompetent. In either case we do not believe Mr Barnett is a suitable or fit person to be writing reports on prisoners.
To date, Mr Bowden has not received a response to his letter to you. We hope that you are taking his complaint seriously. WE certainly are.

Please investigate this matter without further delay.

Yours faithfully.

Leeds Anarchist Black Cross


You can also write in support of John Bowden to one or more of the following (as well as to Brendan Barnett at the same address – and phone number - as Michelle Miller):

Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, 4 Melville Street, Edinburgh, EH3 7NS.
Social Work Advice and Complaints Service, Waverley Court, Level 1/7, 4 East Market Street, Edinburgh, EH8 8BG.

Michelle Miller, Chief Social Worker, Grindlay Court Social Work Centre, Criminal Justice Services, 2-4 Grindlay Court, Edinburgh, EH3 9AR. (Telephone: 0131 469 3408)

Peter Gabbitas, Director, Health and Social Care Department, Waverly Court, Level 1/8, 4 East Market Street, Edinburgh, EH8 8DG.


Letters of support to John Bowden should be sent to:

John Bowden
6729
HMP Shotts
Cantrell Road
Shotts
Scotland
ML7 4LE.

You can also send e-mails to John (or any other prisoner) via:  http://www.emailaprisoner.com

Leeds Anarchist Black Cross
- e-mail: leedsabc@riseup.net
- Homepage: www.leedsabc.org

Comments

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freepost?

21.05.2012 11:59

tried calling the number listed for michelle, and was told that her "main office is in waverley court"

on the council website they list this number (0131 553 8395) for all complaints/ comments related to the social work dept. but it's got an answer machine on it.

excitingly, they also mention that you can complain in writing, and that there's a freepost address for doing this (which is on the leaflets you can pick up at any of their offices - is there anyone in edinburgh who can get this address for the rest of us to use?)

in solidarity


Freepost

21.05.2012 14:58

Great stuff 'In Solidarity'. Sounds like they're adopting siege tactics. A FREEPOST address would be lots of fun!

ABCer


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WTF

21.05.2012 16:34

Isn't this the guy that sawed his victim up into pieces in the bath, whilst he was still alive?

Hello? This is a monster straight out of a horror movie.

no solidarity


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No it isn't!

21.05.2012 17:08

Fuck off "No solidarity" you lying troll cop/screw piece of shit!

ABCer


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@ABCer

21.05.2012 17:21

no solidarity


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Attn Brendan Barneu

21.05.2012 17:53

Is that who you are, you lying fucking mug, the little wanker who does his research in the gutter? I've done years of time with John Bowden, have had contact with his family, know witnesses in his case, and have read the press reports FROM 30 YEARS AGO. Even in that lying rag you link to, does it refer to more than one murder, to any racism or homophobia? No it doesn't (despite all the other bullshit). Get down the Job Centre and start looking for another job.

ABCer


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More trolling

21.05.2012 18:16

Since when was the Daily Record an arbiter of truth any more than the scummy Sun?! And with a story quite clearly fed to them by screws. John Bowden isn't in jail for the murder he committed 32 years ago, for which his co-defendants were freed decades ago, but because he is a prison militant and an articulate writer.

Hands Off John Bowden


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now im confused

21.05.2012 19:41

So you are saying that the news article is a lie? That he didn't kill anyone with a saw and a machete? If thats the case let me know, because the public records seem to indicate that.

no solidarity


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Too right you're confused

21.05.2012 20:38

if you can't tell the difference between the 'public record' and 'The Daily Record'. As has already been said, John Bowden isn't in prison for the murder (dishonestly reported here) he committed 32 YEARS AGO, but because of lying social workers like Barnett and Matthew Stillman and vindictive screws. The Parole Board reccomended John Bowden be moved to an open nick 2 years ago.

ABCer


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I get that.

21.05.2012 20:47

But, you aint listening to me.

I'm not interested in why he is in prison. I'm interested in if it true that he did the murder.
Why? I cannot, for reasons of my own, show solidarity with someone who killed a man with a machete, a saw and an electric carving knife by dismemberment whilst they were still alive.

The above commenters said it is a lie what is written in the paper. I can find many sources that collaborate this information so I'm very dubious when people say he was put in prison for writing books rather than murder. But they also seem to avoid answering the question and go off on a tangent.

no solidarity


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No, YOU'RE not listening screw

21.05.2012 21:13

'Many sources'?! All as reliable as your precious Daily Record are they? John Bowden wouldn't get any solidarity from you whatever he was in for, you're just trolling this thread. John Bowden killed a bloke with a knife at a drunken party three decades ago, but that isn't why he's still in jail. Did any of these 'sources' of yours say anything about him being racist or anti-Gay or being a serial killer like this lying social-worker claims?

Solidarity


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Guess John Bowden will just have to manage without your "solidarity" troll

21.05.2012 21:31

But for the record John Bowden did not dismember anyone while they were still alive. Don't know why I'm even bothering to state that to a troll who is almost certainly a screw or Brendan Barnett himself.

ABCer


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thats rubbish

21.05.2012 21:31

Killed a guy with a knife? Thats a lie.
John Bowden killed a guy by hitting in the head with a machete, putting him in a bath of scolding water and then dismember him whilst he was still alive, by chopping off his arms first, then his legs, then his head.

No, none of my sources said the rest of that rambling nonsense about serial or homophobic/racist stuff. But they did say he was into stalking women or something

no solidarity


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labeling

21.05.2012 21:50

I'm not a screw or Barnet. Lets just say I'm a concerned citizen who who keeps tabs on subversives who target the weak and vulnerable members of society. People like Donald Ryan, people who deserve justice, who deserve their right to have a voice, that which was took away from them.

no solidarity


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A pack of lies

21.05.2012 21:52

What a pack of lies troll. You are quite obviously a screw. You can try and blacken John Bowden's name here, but his writings speaks for itself, he is respected by cons in every jail in the land, and he is worth ten of you turn-key.

ABCer


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The mask begins to slip

21.05.2012 22:17

I've been following this thread and I've seen this modus operandi before on other John Bowden threads. It's quite clear we have a state troll here intent on trying to undermine support for a prisoner. The mask has slipped though troll. Donald Ryan wasn't a "vulnerable member of society", he was a violent sex-offender who pulled a knife on the wrong bloke. Or maybe you think he went round to Shirley Brindle's flat for a cup of tea? Ask your 'sources' screw.

Spartacus


Real solidarity

22.05.2012 07:04

John Bowden was instrumental in getting the Birmingham 6 and Guildford 4 publicity at a time when nobody wanted to know about their cases and they were villified in much the same way as John Bowden has been. John has never claimed to be innocent himself, but has always fought for justice for others. He is being punished today for speaking out against injustice and for exposing malpractice and brutality in prison, something he has done tirelessly and effectively for thirty years.

ex-con
mail e-mail: X
- Homepage: X


Read more about John Bowden

22.05.2012 07:25

John Bowden's book Tear Down The Walls! is free to download here -  http://leedsabc.org/pdfs/

ex-con
mail e-mail: X
- Homepage: X


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not buying it

22.05.2012 16:56

Sorry but it just sounds like someone moaning about their punishment in prison.
I think 99.999999% of prisoners probably moan about being locked up etc.

He started off stealing, breaking/entering etc and went downhill from there.
Bad choices got himself into prison. Can't blame anyone else, yet he seems to discard all responsbility for his own actions.

no solidarity


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John Bowden vs Charlie Bronson

22.05.2012 20:59

Who's the most famous?
The most expensive?
Who would win in a fight 1 on 1 bare chested?

the people


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The People?

22.05.2012 21:28

More like the News of The Screws. Just come off shift have you?

Anarchist


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cereal killer

22.05.2012 21:36


Donald Ryan was lured to Bowden's apartment by Bowden and two other men. When he arrived he was hit over the head with a machete. Ryan then was pushed into a bath tub filled wiht scalding hot water, it was then when Ryan fainted. At this point Bowden carried Ryan into his bedroom. Bowden then used a machete, a saw, and an electric carving knife. First, Ryan's arms were severed, then his legs. Finally, he was decapitated.

The body was discarded the body in the streets of South London, except for the head. Bowden kept the head in his refrigerator. He later dumped the head in a dustbin, where it was found by dustmen. Bowden doesnt deny any of this

Now he is the eternal victim

Sounds like a classic psychopath

cornflake


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In Support of John

22.05.2012 21:57

I have read some of the comments that are clearly the work of off duty screws and others - for me John Bowden is a man of courage, strength and integrity who is well past his tariff and only remains inside because the system is as bent and corrupt as it is. I have been active only today in suppor tof John and will continue in this way

George Coombs
mail e-mail: georgecoombs3@virginmedia.com


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innocent

22.05.2012 23:11

Without knowing anything about the situation or the details in question, I support John in his innocence and demand his immediate release

supporter


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Fruitcake

22.05.2012 23:45

Cornflake is quite clearly the same individual whose trolled this thread throughout. A screw possibly, but I suspect it's that little twerp social worker, bitter that his career is going down the pan. I know John Bowden and I know at least one other who was involved in the case and 'Cornflake's post is just malicious fiction.

Old Lag


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PS

22.05.2012 23:56

The murder didn't even happen at John Bowden's flat - you couldn't even get that Cornflake - it happened at a drinking party at the flat of Shirley Brindle of the Brindle crime family. They were all pissed, there was a row over a game of cards, Don pulled a knife out, and the rest is history - Except for John Bowden, whose been banged up for the past 30 years.

Old Lag


Barnett

23.05.2012 00:21

Barnett is a total nobody more used to doing reports on smackheads and small-time thiefs. He is a nasty peice of work but is way out of his depth here. That lot stick together like shit to a blancket but if there is enough publicity they wont be able to sweep his lies under the rug. Lets support John Bowden as best we can

Tam


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ACAB

23.05.2012 06:34

You've obviously got a screw or cop spreading poison on here. They are just the sort of vicious cunts with nothing better to do. Or maybe trolling Indymedia is their job. They clearly hate this guy otherwise they wouldn't go to all the trouble.

ACAB


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i can see both viewpoints

23.05.2012 09:21

You campaign for his release; but it is also possible that people don't want john released because they believe he would be a danger to society, that it would be irresponsible to release him. They may not be 'screws' or 'cops'. I think it is arrogant to steamroll your viewpoints through.

He may be a nice guy, he may campaign for prisoners rights, he may do the washing up after a round of brews, but that is irrelevant when you consider: is he going to be safe in society?
I'm not so sure. Theres that hostage taking situation with a knife at parkhurst. That worries me. Is this a guy who deals with disputes by using extreme violence? Is it responsible to release that type of person into society. What if they do and then john grabs a hostage over some dispute? Whos job is on the line then? the press would have a field day.

please dont rant


Keep up the pressure

23.05.2012 09:42

The thing is with these bastards - screws and prison social workers - they're used to just doing whatever they want, well away from the public gaze, and without any challenge. So they get nasty when they don't get their own way. We have to keep up the pressure and continue to expose their lies and corruption.

ABC supporter


a broad spectrum

23.05.2012 11:55

You know you are winning when the mods have to illegally censor the comments because they contain sound reasoning and facts.

Good work. Keep up the fight! No surrender!

solidarity


Jog on screw!

23.05.2012 14:23

"illegally"?! LOL! Why don't you send them a nicking sheet? John Bowden may not be in a position to defend himself against your lies, but he has plenty of friends on both sides of the prison walls.

ABCer


Nice sunny day today

26.05.2012 15:24

Good day to take a walk in the countryside.
Maybe stop off in a beer garden for a cool pint in the shade

good un


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