This special episode of The Secret of Prisons was recorded live at the Longford Lecture at Church House, in London, on Thursday 21st November. The 2019 Longford Lecture was given  by the former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ian, Lord Blair of Boughton, to a packed audience. Lord Blair spoke to presenters Phil Maguire and Paula Harriot before speaking on stage, alongside the broadcaster Jon Snow, a Longford trustee and chair of the event. Lord Blair’s lecture implored all political parties in the election campaign to back a “systematic, holistic review” of the criminal justice system, which he argued was “not yet actually broken but it is so neglected as to be a matter of serious national concern.”

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In Episode 4, Paula and Phil hear stories about the road back out of prison, in The Release. Ruth Devent and Peter Yarwood both share their stories of being released and the bumpy path that followed. James Timpson, CEO of Timpson, reveals the many reasons his company chooses to employ people released from prison.

Carl Cattermole writes and delivers a powerful piece on being released and the poet Mr Gee performs an original poem about life after prison.

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In episode 3 of The Secret Life of Prisons, Paula and Phil ask what's it like to visit a family member in prison? Author of the award winning blog 'Prison.bag', Josie Bevan and her daughter Tala, talk about being regular prison visitors.

Carl Cattermole delivers a powerful piece on prison visits, poet Mr Gee performs an original poem written during this recording and Dr Kimmett Edgar reflects on the truth behind the headlines and the statistics. 

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In episode 2 of The Secret Life of Prisons, Phil and Paula hear what it's like to live in The Cell. Wrongly-imprisoned journalist Raphael Rowe and author and blogger David Breakspear share their stories of living in a cell. 

Carl Cattermole is an award-winning dramatist and author, he writes and delivers a powerful piece about living in prison. Dr Kimmett Edgar reflects on the true meaning behind prison related headlines and statistics. And poet, Mr Gee, delivers his poem at the end of the episode, written during the recording.

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In Episode 1 of The Secret Life of Prisons, hosts, Phil Maguire and Paula Harriot hear stories about The Arrival into prison. They hear from poet and performer, Brenda Birungi (aka Lady Unchained), music entrepreneur Curtis Blanc and former MP and conservative cabinet minister Jonathan Aitken, about their respective arrivals into prison.

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