Neil 'Sam' Sam worth spent eleven years working as a prison officer in HMP Manchester, aka Strangways. A tough Yorkshireman with a soft heart, Sam had to deal with it all. Strangways is a shocking and at times darkly funny account of life in a high security prison. Sam tackles cell fires and self-harmers, averts a Christmas Day riot after turkey is taken off the menu, and stands up to officers who abuse their position. He describes being attacked, and reveals the problems caused by radicalization and drugs. As staffing cuts saw Britain's prison system descend into crisis, the stress of the job left Sam suffering from PTSD. This raw, sparingly honest memoir is a testament to the men and women of the prison service and the incredibly difficult job we ask them to do.
