The Loose Screw: The Shocking Truth About Our Prison System

Jim Dawkins left home at the age of sixteen to pursue his dream of joining the army, and subsequently served with the Royal Green Jackets, including tours of Canada and Northern Ireland. During that time he learnt many important lessons in the 'University of Life' that would serve him well in the future, such as discipline, respect, pride and honour, but which, at the same time, would lead to insufferable stress as he constantly battled with his conscience and struggled to swim against the tide. Once back in Civvy Street, and with a new house and a baby to support, Jim decided to join the Prison Service. But what faced him in this new career, which centred on Wandsworth, Wormwood Scrubs and Belmarsh prisons, shocked him to the core. For this ex-squaddie, who believed in establishing good working relationships with inmates, including notorious long-termer, Charles Bronson, the cancerous environment of staff bully-boy tactics and prisoner victimization was sickening. Jim tells his story, which, although peppered with humorous anecdotes of often lager-induced incidents from both his army and prison days, bears witness to the stark reality of what actually goes on behind prison doors, and exposes both the glaring flaws in the prison system and the atrocities perpetrated in the name of justice, which ultimately forced his decision to leave the Prison Service seven years later.

About the Author :
Harlow-born Jim Dawkins left home in Eltham at the age of sixteen to pursue a career in the army and served with the Royal Green Jackets from 1985 to 1991, including tours of Canada and Northern Ireland. Upon leaving the army, he joined the Prison Service and spent the next seven years training and working in Wandsworth, Wormwood Scrubs and Belmarsh prisons. In 1999, Jim left the Prison Service, ill with stress and disillusioned by the abuse levelled out to inmates by many of the staff. Jim eventually settled down with his childhood sweetheart, Natasha, and has two daughters, Lauren and Morgan. One of Jim's goals in life is to fight for the rights of long-term high-security inmate, Charlie Bronson, with whom he has struck up a remarkable friendship. He wants the prison service to pull itself out of the Victorian mentality and give Charlie the chance he deserves to work towards his release and lead the normal life he yearns for.

Review :
The book makes for a most fascinating and engrossing read. - Lesley Toll, The Daily Mail - Eye-opening, passionate and often terrifying, these memoirs of a renegade prison officer will shake the British Prison System. - Jeff Maysh, Loaded Magazine - This book is a great insight to the prison system from an officers point of view and is sure to rock the system with some of Jim's tales. - Robert Potter, The Weekly News - A hard hitting account of life on the 'inside' of our prisons and a much needed exposure of this very secret world. The author, having served in Northern Ireland, could have reasonably expected to have been suitably prepared for a career as a prison officer so to read of him being shocked and sickened by what he witnessed behind the walls is a real eye opener. - John D Roberts, Inside Time Magazine - A well written insight into life behind bars and beyond by a man who has seen it all. - Gary Wright, Kentish Saturday Observer (Editor) - The Loose Screw gives a interesting insight into prison life, from its everyday routines to the bullying that goes on behind bars. Dawkins' autobiography gives an honest account of his experiences. His sinister stories of violence depict the stark reality of how some officers behave and Jim's tales are a real eye-opener. What is most fascinating about this book is the detailed description of notorious prisoner Charles Bronson, which portrays him not as a crazed criminal but as a man who was driven to take action against his mistreatment. The Loose Screw will challenge stereotypes, shock readers and cause controversy in the world of Her Majesty's prison service. - Jenni Horn, The Kent Messenger