Surviving Serco –  Feminist Crime and justice podcast exposes the obstructions faced by Constance Marten, defendant at the Old Bailey. Podcast reveals how private prison contracts are undermining the right to a fair trial.

The latest episode of Rebel Justice, the podcast by The View CiC amplifies the silenced voice of an incarcerated woman –  Constance Marten, a defendant currently on trial at the Old Bailey which hears England’s most serious crimes. This episode features Marten’s written testimony, read by an actor, describing the extreme conditions she is experiencing while being transported to and from the Old Bailey by private prison contractor  Serco – The UK’s biggest private contractor for prisoner escort services.

Claire Sims, The Managing director of the View CiC says, “Connie is charged with the most serious of offences,  manslaughter by negligence of her baby daughter. How can she possibly stay alert to the complex nuances of a serious Crown Court trial when she can barely stay awake? Yesterday a Juror at the old Bailey was ill but the Court didn’t bother to inform the prison so she was taken at 7.30 AM and not collected until 4 PM. There was no reason for her to go to Court at all. This is deliberate, state sponsored, systemic and controlled abuse and violence against women in the criminal justice system. We’re calling for the justice minister to review Serco’s prison transportation contract and to recall it to the public sector. The privatisation of justice services is a failed experiment. The casualty of this abject disregard for women’s human rights and public funds is justice.”

Constance Marten’s  harrowing description exposes in graphic detail long and arduous van journeys, suffering with sleep deprivation and insufficient time to meet with her legal team before court — all while being expected to participate in a trial that will determine the course of the rest of her life.

This episode also examines Serco’s wider track record, including its £4.8 billion in revenue last year and repeated government fines for failure to deliver key services, including electronic tagging of prison leavers.

A producer of the Rebel Justice Podcast, Nastasya said, “What I discovered about Constance’s treatment and Serco’s practices shocked me. It was devastating to learn how profit is consistently placed above the needs and wellbeing of people on remand, especially women. It’s impossible to claim that someone has access to a fair trial under these conditions.”

 If you care about justice in this country, this podcast episode will prompt you to ask some serious questions about why Serco, whose sole objective is to maximise profits for its shareholders, continues to be given such lucrative justice contracts. The View CiC has discovered that Serco is being paid 700 per trip per prisoner whilst its own employees are paid minimum wage.

The right to a fair trial is protected under International and domestic human rights law. Yet Rebel Justice raises urgent questions about how that right can be upheld when fundamental conditions, such as rest and access to legal counsel, are not met.

Serco responded to our request for comment, stating “ journey times, vehicle design, and access to legal counsel are set by the Ministry of Justice.” Nastasya says, “While those policies may fall under government control, Serco is contracted to deliver these services in practice – and the testimony shared by Constance suggests serious failings in how those outsourced public service responsibilities are carried out.”

Constance Marten says, “ the entire system fails to uphold our rights or even basic human decency. They will continue to deny us the right to a fair trial as long as we allow this to happen. I feel as though I need to sue Serco for adversely affecting my trial, obstructing access to my lawyers, and damaging my mental health, which is now in pieces.”

The episode is available now here.

Notes to editors

• The View CiC is the only feminist human rights platform for women in the criminal justice system. It produces the quarterly magazine and the Rebel Justice podcast.
• For more information please visit https://theviewmag.org.uk/ or contact admin@theviewmagazine.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebelljustice/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/the_view_magazines

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rebell_justice

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theviewmag/