A retired Scotland Yard detective has warned that Russell Brand could face a 'real risk of harm' in prison, citing the comedian's celebrity status and the nature of his convictions as particular dangers.
Speaking on TalkTV, former detective chief inspector Mike Neville told Duncan Barkes that Brand's first nights in custody would likely be spent in solitary confinement because his fame makes it difficult to place him with other prisoners.
Why solitary confinement is likely
Asked what the 51-year-old's initial experience would be like, Neville replied: "Awful. Dreadful, you know, in the sense that he's in that SEG, the care and support unit, I think it's officially called, because they can't put him in the vulnerable person's unit with the sex offenders."
He added: "He's almost too famous, you know. So, with somebody like that, he's going to be put in the SEG. He'll be in solitary confinement."
Neville contrasted Brand's previous lifestyle with the conditions he would now face, saying: "He's used to sleeping in an £8 million mansion, of course. Now he'll be on a concrete bed with a thin mattress, a table and chair screwed to the floor."
Threat from other inmates
The former detective suggested that Brand could struggle with the sounds and atmosphere of prison, where violent inmates and disturbances could make it difficult to sleep. However, his strongest warning concerned the potential threat from other prisoners.
He said: "You know, they're in there for a long time. They're murderers. They know they'll never be released, and to harm somebody who's famous or somebody who's a sex offender – and of course he's now both – would glorify you in front of the other prisoners."
He added: "So he's at real risk of harm in there, and you will well know that. And it's how the mighty have fallen, really, isn't it?"
Doubts over round-the-clock protection
When asked whether the prison system could offer Brand round-the-clock protection, Neville was sceptical, explaining that staffing pressures could make it difficult to monitor every prisoner's movements.
Reflecting on his experience investigating deaths in custody, he compared the monitoring of prisoners with the detailed records kept of someone detained at a police station. He said: "What really struck me is when somebody's detained in a police station, you would know their every move. You know, given a meal at this time, came out of cell at this time, was interviewed at this time."
He claimed that establishing what had happened to someone inside prison could be considerably more difficult, recalling an occasion when he asked when a prisoner who had died in his cell had last been seen, only to be told: "'Don't know'."
Neville acknowledged that Brand would be closely monitored while he remained in his current unit, but warned that the situation could change if he was moved elsewhere. He concluded: "But if he goes into a normal wing or even the VP wing, the vulnerable person's wing, you can't guarantee 100% safety."
Brand denied all the charges throughout the proceedings. His legal team argued that he had been wrongly accused and was the victim of a media conspiracy. Two further allegations against him are being investigated. He remains in custody ahead of sentencing on Monday.
