From: Secretaries [mailto:secretaries@ashleysmith.org.uk]
Sent: 23 January 2019 16:56
To: 'Ashley Smith'
Subject: FW: Bromley Cells interview room a warning/true story
From: Secretaries [mailto:secretaries@ashleysmith.org.uk]
Sent: 23 January 2019 16:48
To: 'members@mail.lccsa.org.uk'
Subject: Bromley Cells interview room a warning/true story
Dear All,
Bromley Magistrates Cells
If like me you have received the email telling us that the interview room will be out of action for 16 days next month you maybe as confused as I am as to which interview room they are talking about.
IF they mean the only one where we currently have any protection from potentially dangerous clients ie where there is a sheet of glass between us...can I suggest that everyone is very circumspect about seeing anyone with dangerous tendencies or psychiatric problems in a cell with a member of SERCO stood outside.
Is the door going to be closed? That is a risk to your safety. Will the door be open? Obvious confidentiality risks and frankly still not adequate protection for your safety...it takes a second to get you by the throat.
I foolishly allowed myself to be put in a locked room with a client who had psychiatric issues and whose SERCO paperwork marked “ as dangerous to women and only to be handled by male staff” at court once ( in my defence I did not know gaolers had locked the door until it was time to leave)....the lock broke and I could not get out...I had to engage in frantic small talk with the irate client to prevent him from realising they could not get the door open and he had me trapped -whilst mouthing at the flustered and panicked gaolers to “GET A LOCKSMITH” through the wicket glass...15 minutes later someone found a screwdriver and took the door apart.
The unimaginable can happen. This is obviously a personal bugbear but it was a very unpleasant experience!
The minute I see any reference to mental health problems I always insist on the partitioned room.
If there is no safe place for you to see a client who gives you concerns for your personal safety you are not in the wrong to decline to enter a cell with them. You are not being difficult or wet. Let’s face it no one looks after the defence lawyers so we need to look after ourselves.
If necessary get the problematic cases taken to Bexley where you can take instructions confidentially and safely.
You are not being difficult...you are being sensible.
Thinking about it I will try and speak to Alison Aedy about diverting such cases to Bexley for that period.
I believe she is being very accommodating at the moment! Hot food back on the menu for lawyers so long as we do not let the Defendant’s see us bring it in and keep it to the advocate’s room. ( Thanks to the persuasive powers of Caroline Liggat)
Best wishes,
Ros
PS spoken to Alison- yes it is the partitioned room and it’s not her decision...apparently down to the judiciary but she will mention it and apparently solicitors have been canvassed and we are all happy with the proposal!
R
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