ABSTRACT
In an attempt to secure a more independent investigation of grievances there is at the end of the day nothing to stop prisoners from using outside channels. They might, for example, write to their member of Parliament or contact one of the reform groups, say the Howard League. Such contacts are by no means unusual. Unfortunately neither of these agencies, acting independently, has much clout. The Prison Department might agree to look into the grievance referred to it, but in any event neither lobby groups nor MPs can pursue individual cases to the point of securing an independent investigation and requiring redress. Short of rooftop protests or letters to the press, this leaves prisoners just two other channels, the courts and the Ombudsman.
