Preservation of the Rights of Prisoners

Preservation of the Rights of Prisoners (PROP) was a prisoners' rights organisation set up in the early 1970s in the United Kingdom, which organised more than one hundred prison demonstrations, strikes and protests.

Formation In the first five months of 1972 there were across the United Kingdom over fifty peaceful protests by prisoners. PROP was launched on 11 May 1972 in a public house, the Prince Arthur opposite Pentonville Prison, to "preserve, protect and to extend the rights of prisoners and ex-prisoners and to assist in their rehabilitation and re-integration into society, so as to bring about a reduction in crime."Fitzgerald, M. (1977) Prisoners in Revolt, Harmondsworth: Penguin pg.136-137

PROP's foundation meeting was held in Hull and was attended by 60 people. Speakers included Norwegian sociologist Thomas Mathiesen, Jack Ashwell local branch secretary of the TGWU and Ros Kane from Radical Alternatives to Prison.Fitzgerald, M. (1977) Prisoners in Revolt, Harmondsworth: Penguin pg.142-143 The sociologist Mike Fitzgerald took on the role of press officer.

Prison strike Later, on 4 August 1972, PROP organise a 24-hour general strike in support of the demands in the PROP charter.Taylor, I. (1981) Law and Order: Arguments for Socialism, London: Macmillan pg.128 Prop estimated the support at 10,000 prisoners in 33 prisons, the Home Office at half that.https://libcom.org/article/prop-72-history-uk-prisoners-union

The prisons listed by PROP were:

HM Prison Albany HM Prison Birmingham HM Prison Blundeston HM Prison Bristol HM Prison Brixton HM Prison Camp Hill HM Prison Canterbury HM Prison Chelmsford HM Prison Coldingley HM Prison Dartmoor HM Prison Durham

HM Prison Gartree HM Prison Gloucester HM Prison Haverigg HM Prison Hull HM Prison Lancaster HM Prison Leeds HM Prison Leicester HM Prison Lincoln HM Prison Liverpool HM Prison Long Lartin HM Prison Maidstone

HM Prison Manchester HM Prison Northeye HM Prison Nottingham HM Prison Oxford HM Prison Parkhurst HM Prison Pentonville HM Prison Preston HM Prison Stafford HM Prison Wakefield HM Prison Wandsworth HM Prison Wormwood Scrubs

Later history PROP were active for a few years, it's not clear when the organisation closed.

References