EXTRACT FROM MY BOOK “CUTTING THE BARS”
VOLUME I
A Probationary Prison Officer was commonly referred to, or known as a “baggy arse”. The term came about because the initial uniform issue was straight off the shelf and rarely fitted. The second and all subsequent uniform issues were tailor made at the New South Wales Government Stores, thus it was only Probationary Prison Officers that were branded “baggy arses”.The Observation Section (OBS) in the Central Industrial Prison at Long Bay was a very dangerous place in which to work. Baggy arse Prison Officers were never rostered in the OBS on day work when the prisoners were out of their cells. They were only rostered in there on “C” watches, (16.00 hours until 23.59 hours), and “B” watches, (23.59 hours until 08.00 hours), at which time the prisoners were locked in their cells, being rotated every two or three hours with other posts within the Gaol. Whilst in the OBS on “C” or “B” watches, the Officers would patrol all cells every 15 to 20 minutes and were required to keep very accurate notes of their patrols and all occurrences were to be noted in the log book. They did not have or carry any cell keys.
The 25 cells were all one out, (one prisoner to a cell). The lights were left on permanently 24/7, a steel bed was bolted to the floor with just a mattress, a pillow and two blankets on the bed, there were no sheets or other furniture permitted in the cell, with a rubber “shit tub” and a plastic water jug being the only other items in the cells.
One night a young baggy arse was patrolling the cells when he came to Kenneth Brazier’s cell. Brazier was sentenced to Governor’s Pleasure (GP). Governor’s Pleasure was an insidious sentence, in general terms it was normally reserved for prisoners with severe psychiatric conditions, who had committed murder. Governor’s Pleasure was an indeterminate sentence. Brazier was considered suicidal when he was placed in the OBS. He was unshaven and unkempt and was somewhat irrational in his speech.
The young baggy arse looked at Brazier in horror as Brazier started to cut his eye lids with a razor blade. The Officer with only six weeks service behind him remained calm and in control when he said to Brazier, “What are you doing Brazier”? Brazier replied, “I’m cutting my eyes out boss”. Without hesitation and clearly thinking on his feet, this very inexperienced Officer said, “That razor blade is no good, it’s all rusty, slide it under the door and I’ll give you a new one”. With that said, Brazier promptly slid the razor blade under the door. As he stood waiting for his new razor blade, the Night Senior was called and Brazier was given appropriate medical assistance.
When facing any critical situation it was always crucial to have something rational to say and do to allay the gravity of whatever the circumstances may be, and generally speaking, if this is carried out with a cool conviction, the outcome will be lessened to a greater degree, or better still resolved.
To purchase this book, Click Here
