Three Prisons, Three Levels of Pain - Part 4

The journey to my new jail was a long one, I was escorted in a people carrier, with two group 4 officers and a driver. I remember one of the officers, a female I think they called Emma* was trying to talk to me, But at the same time talking over my head to the other officer, I became aware that they were talking about me.1

"She's too bloody thin, there's somethign wrong here", she was saying, I remember realising that I had lost a lot of weight, this was the first time I came close to admitting I had an eating disorder.2

When we arrived at the jail, I was led to the steps of the van, A tall Senior Officer was stood looking at me, as I looked out, I was shocked to see the row of prison officers creating an alley from the van, to the door of reception, each one of them had riot gear.3

Then I noticed the Senior Officer was laughing, "Fucking Hell, if this is the most dangerous female prison in the system, Im fucking Mickey Mouse" within seconds other officers were laughing and the lines of shields relaxed, that was the first time they had acknowledged that I was just a kid. As the Senior Officer, who I later found out was Russian, and nearly seven foot, walked over to the van, standing next to me, he towered over me, I looked tiny, He put a hand on my head and ushered me out of the van and up to reception. Past all the officers who had been prepared for a nutcase arriving, and into the waiting area.4

I was checked in relatively quickly and told "I know there have been issues at your last jail, but we are willing to give you a chance, you will be placed on the induction wing for two weeks, while you take part in a prison induction, then you will be allocated a wing." It was at this point I relaised that I had never yet spent time with other prisoners, and the thought terrified me.