I started in January this year; I've been a prison officer for six months now. I was a truck driver before. I must say, I did have my reservations about it, I thought it would be fights all over the place, full on all the time 24 hours a day. But no, it's very relaxed and I've built up a good rapport with the Prisoners on my house block. It's totally changed my mind and my opinions.
I hadn't been in a classroom for twenty odd years and I thought 'Ah! This is going to drag by… I can't do this… I'll be no good!' And we had three weeks, and then we had an exam at the end of the three weeks. We did a week of C&R training, Control and Restraint training; then we came into the prison itself for a week; a gap week and just shadowed people. Then back for another three weeks, another exam at the end, then the passing out parade. It just flew by! The amount I picked up has been absolutely unreal - I couldn't believe it.
There were two others on the course the same age as me and we were all called 'Dad' by the rest of them because they were all youngsters. But we all did mix in with each other and we had a very, very good group. The examination process was a bit 'nail biting syndrome' really, but we all got through it, everyone on the course passed.
I thought my main critic would be my mum, but she is so proud she's said you've taken all these years, you know, to do something right! She really, really was impressed that I was going for it. I sent her pictures from the passing out parade and she was just so, so proud. My wife has been very supportive, the kids think it's great, in fact my eldest son, who's twenty, is thinking of coming in (to the Service) in a couple of years time.
The team behind you is excellent as well you know; when you get into the office it's just excellent. If ever you want to know anything they always say 'Don't be afraid to ask a silly question!' Whatever it is, it's been asked before; you might think it's silly, but it's not. You know, so you've always got the back up in that way. If you're not sure what to do – go and ask. The most satisfying aspect is basically when you notice a change in someone; I've had a few, either when they've been on release day or they've been shipped out who've come up and said 'thank you Mr', 'thank you Guv'. And they shake your hand and you think maybe I did ok there, you know.
I really don't think I have changed since becoming a Prison Officer, I always had the same character before and I've gone onto the Spur and talked to the Prisoners the same as I would to anybody in the pub, down on the street… I haven't changed at all.
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