The response of ‘Edinburg Criminal Justice Services’ to John Bowden’s legitimate complaints about the pack of lies told about him in a report to the Parole Board by scumbag prison social worker Brendan ‘Pinocchio’ Barnett has been to try and cover-up Barnett’s lies and instigate John Bowden’s transfer out of Scotland and back into the English prison system. As John says in his most recent article ( http://leedsabc.org/corrupt-social-workers-attempt-to-rid-themselves-of-prisoner-john-bowden/):

“Edinburgh Criminal Justice Services, or what used to be known as the plain Social Work Department, have seriously compromised their professional integrity by defending a member of staff who deliberately told lies in a report to the Parole Boards in an attempt to sabotage my chances of release from prison. Behaving like corrupt policemen instead of traditional social workers seems now to be acceptable practice at Edinburgh Social Services.”

This sort of behaviour may be acceptable in the corrupt corridors of ‘Edinburg Criminal Justice Services’, but it will not go unchallenged.

Senior Social Worker Michelle Miller, along with her colleagues, seems to have spent a lot of time recently trying to sweep Brendan ‘Pinocchio’ Barnett’s lies under the carpet. So we thought we’d send her a new broom and give her the opportunity to sweep Grindlay Court Social Work Department clean. We won’t hold our breath, but we ARE holding our noses, because the stench of corruption is reaching us here in Leeds.

John Bowden is highly respected by prisoners throughout the Scottish and English prison system, but hated by the screws, whose corruption and brutality he’s been exposing for 30 years, so it’s hardly surprising that the low-life scum troll any thread about John’s struggle to try and blacken his name with more lies. For his part, Brendan ‘Pinocchio’ Barnett, is typical of the pathetic little wankers who abuse their power over prisoners, and is clearly frustrated and hopping mad at having his lies publically exposed. We have only one suggestion for you Barnett: Get down the Job Centre!

John Bowden has always been prepared to fight for other prisoners, he needs our support now. Please help to expose Brendan ‘Pinocchio’ Barnett’s lies and the corruption of ‘Edinburg Criminal Justice Services’.

There is a Day of Action in support of John Bowden on Monday June 11th. Please organise what you can – banner drops, demos, phone-ins, letter writing, etc – and please help spread word of this call as widely as possible.

Some useful contacts:

Brendan ‘Pinnochio’ Barnett, Grindlay Court Social Work Centre, Criminal Justice Services, 2-4 Grindlay Court, Edinburgh, EH3 9AR. (Telephone: 0131 469 3408 Fax 0131 229 8628)

Michelle Miller, Chief Social Worker, Grindlay Court Social Work Centre, Criminal Justice Services, 2-4 Grindlay Court, Edinburgh, EH3 9AR. (Telephone: 0131 469 3408 Fax 0131 229 8628) NB Michelle Miller also works out of Waverly Court, see details for Peter Gabbitas below.

Peter Gabbitas, Director, Health and Social Care Department, Waverly Court, Level 1/8, 4 East Market Street, Edinburgh, EH8 8DG. (Telephone 0131 553 8201 Fax 0131 529 6218).

Social Work Advice and Complaints Service, Waverley Court, Level 1/7, 4 East Market Street, Edinburgh, EH8 8BG. (Telephone 0131 529 6217 Email  socialwork.complaints@edinburgh.gov.uk).

Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, 4 Melville Street, Edinburgh, EH3 7NS.
Scottish Prison Service HQ, Communications Branch, Room 338, Calton House, 5 Redheughs Rigg, Edinburgh, EH12 9HW. (Telephone 01259 760 471 Fax 01259 762 003 E-mail  gaolinfo@sps.gov.uk

Ian Whitehead (Governor), HMP Shotts, Cantrell Road, Shotts, Scotland, ML7 4LE. (Telephone 01501 824000 Fax 01501 824 001 ).

Letters and cards of support to John at: 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

You can download John Bowden’s pamphlet ‘Tear Down The Walls!’ free of charge from the PDF section of the Leeds ABC website at www.leedsabc.org