>> Wasn't this because authorities wanted to cut costs and feared drugs were smuggled in on
>> the spine or paper impregnated with chemicals?
>>
>> Whatever the reason, an easy solution would have been to ensure all books were sourced
>> from a few approved suppliers like WH Smiths, Waterstones, Amazon etc.
The specific ban on books was found to be unlawful in a ruling by Mr Justice Collins in December 2014:
www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2014/3997.html
It's a pretty short judgement and sets out the various rationales adopted by Grayling etc. The primary issue appears to be the prison regime and a political/policy decision to make it tougher. Although it was suggested that prisoners could purchase books there were in fact significant hurdles which made it difficult. Not least of these was the amount of money allowed to prisoners for purchase of personal items.
When the applicant in the case suggested books being acquired from Amazon via her solicitor that was not allowed.
Security was raised by Ministers later, including those like Nick Clegg who I suspect were appalled by the provision. It didn't persuade Collins J......
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