Hi

Can anyone advise me or take on my client in relation to continued unlawful detention?

On 24^th September 2024, a sentence was imposed which should have resulted in the defendant’s immediate release. Instead, he went back to HMP Belmarsh where he is still detained. The warrant to the prison set out an eight month sentence and the defendant had been in custody since 5^th March.

Calls to the prison have been met with instructions to email the offender management unit. The only response has been an email from “communications” stating “we are unable to share any information due to the Data Protection” I have replied, copying in the offender management unit, that I am trying to tell them that my client is unlawfully detained but have had no response.

I’ve tried to get the Crown Court involved but they’ve washed their hands of it. “I’m afraid that once the court has sent the relevant paperwork to the prison and our cells, it is for the prison to do the calculation of release, therefore, you will need to liaise further with the prison.” With the prison ignoring me, and only doing criminal defence work, I’m looking for some help.