I'm spending six months inside HMP Belmarsh, Britain's most notorious high security prison. It's locked up the country's most dangerous convicts, from the great train robber Ronnie Biggs... to Ian Huntley, and the killers of Stephen Lawrence. No bed, no toilet. I don't think I could do an hour in here without going round the twist. But what happens here has remained virtually unknown. Cameras have never been granted full access to this jail until now. So far, I've seen how Belmarsh deals with its volatile mix of inmates. From high-profile prisoners... 'Tommy Robinson's been sentenced to nine weeks...' ...and gangs... This is Hell-marsh. ...to common criminals. At this precise time, I'm not guilty. I've learnt that being locked up here can affect anyone. You seem very emotional now. Yeah. Now I want to see what it takes to survive within these walls. There's a lot to it than just getting up and walking out of a door. I've been given unprecedented access to spend the night in a cell in Belmarsh. I'll meet the prison's only transgender inmate... Oh, my God, I'm the odd one out here... ...come across a new type of terrorist... I will attack Isis members. ...and I'll meet the staff who must step in... Healthcare Whitbread. ...to deal with the jail's most vulnerable and unpredictable prisoners. Would you kill someone? If I have to, yeah, definitely, why not? # Please, release me, let me go! # Welcome to Belmarsh. www.able.co.nz Able 2020 Built in 1991, Belmarsh was the UK's first supermax jail. Designed to take in prisoners considered a threat to national security. Besides its very own dog unit, and a bombproof tunnel linking it to Woolwich Crown Court, Belmarsh has one thing that truly sets it apart from other prisons. It has the only jail within a jail in England and Wales. Thank you. Thank you. This is the High Security Unit - or HSU - that's held some of the world's most dangerous terrorists. And this place has been home to people like Abu Hamza and the killers of Lee Rigby. But Belmarsh is having to deal with a new kind of prisoner. Just through those gates are anti-Islamic and anti-ISIS inmates, who can't be released into the general population for fear of attacks and reprisals. One of those is Darren Osborne. The murderer who drove his van into a crowd outside Finsbury Park Mosque in 2017. SHOUTS Also here is Aidan James, the only Brit charged with terror offences for fighting against ISIS in Syria. It's Monday morning, and HSU inmates are returning to their cells after exercise, including Aidan James in the red T-shirt. Without warning, James violently attacks another prisoner with a pool cue. As a consequence, he is taken from the HSU to one of the cells in the main prison segregation unit, designed to hold Belmarsh's most disruptive convicts. He has a history of self-harm, suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, and has just cut himself with some plastic cutlery. OK? The concern now is that Aidan James's self-harming could escalate before medics reach him. The rest of Belmarsh's convicts are nearly all held across its four main house blocks, each one capable of taking over 200 men. As Head Of Safety, it's Adrian Knight's job to know where every inmate is at all times. Every prisoner on this house block is on this board. How many are there? Today, we've got 197. 13 cat A's among this lot. Category A prisoners are the country's most dangerous and violent inmates. They make up around 10% of Belmarsh's population. The majority are sent here from the Old Bailey and Woolwich Crown Court. Men like Usman Khan, the London Bridge attacker who once spent time on this very wing for a previous terror plot. So, Adrian, if you were to look on this particular spur... So, there's probably around 70 prisoners on that spur right now. There's five cat As. Around 12 gang members. And they're mixed in with burglars, robbers... Is Belmarsh different to every other prison in the UK? Belmarsh is unique. We'll take prisoners that are very high-profile. We'll take the highest escape-risk prisoners. Prisoners in for multiple murders. There is not one prisoner that we won't take. One in five of the convicts here is serving time for murder. But there's a killer on the third floor of House Block Three who is not what you might expect. Every morning, I get myself looking as best I can in here. You've got to make sure that before the door opens, you've got everything done. Eyeliner, mascara, foundation... Because you don't want people seeing you... without make-up, looking horrible. Claire Darbyshire is Belmarsh's only transgender inmate. Born Christopher, she's 39 and has been living as a woman since her early 20s. Claire. Hi. Nice to meet you. You, too. All right if I sit down? Yeah, course you can. You're the only woman prisoner in Belmarsh, aren't you? Yes. At first, I found that very daunting. It was kind of like, 'Oh, my God, I'm the odd one out here. 'What are the other inmates going to be like? 'How are they going to treat me as a trans person?' Can you give me some indication of some of the things they say to you? Just stuff like, 'Queer, tranny...' you get some saying, 'Oh, show us your tits.' Are you worried that you might be sexually abused here? Um... there was always that in the back of my mind, what could happen, you know. The officers can't always be by your side. So I was always on edge. So how long have you been here? I've been here three years, eight months now. As a pre-op trans prisoner, Claire wasn't given the choice of a women's jail. And when she arrived here, she rarely left her cell. It's Belmarsh. It's intimidating... scary... you expect the worst. She now has a job as a cleaner, which means that she can come out when most other inmates are locked up. Thank you. 'I've learnt the best times for me to be out and about, 'the best times for me not to be out and about...' So far, Claire's managed to avoid any trouble. I consider myself to have been very lucky. Back in the segregation unit, Aidan James is struggling, and continuing to cut himself with a broken spoon. With James still self-harming, staff must move him to one of the constant watch cells in the prison's healthcare unit, run by clinical psychiatrist Doctor Rachel Daly. They want to bring up Aidan now. Have we a cell? No. That's why I need to get this sorted first. Is there anyone we can take off constant obs? There are only three constant-watch cells in Healthcare, and right now, they're all full. That is unworkable. There's not even anyone due to be discharged today, is there? No. Doctor Daly sends a nurse to the segregation unit to assess James's injuries. Healthcare scramble to free up one of the cells. OK, right, the time is 14:44... James is a volatile category A inmate. To move him, the prison has to call upon a team of specially-trained officers in full riot gear. He's got a broken spoon in his cell, and we're not fully sure that he's gonna comply with the instructions and come out of the cell. He's in the seg now, they've got a team ready to do a planned removal on him now and bring him up here. Where are the spaces coming from? We're having to move some people around. OK. As the minutes tick by, James suddenly starts to smash his head against his cell wall. OK, will do. Finally, Healthcare free up a cell. Officers get the go-ahead... Teams go in, we place him into cuffs. OK? ...but have no idea how James will react. * In Belmarsh's segregation unit, six specially-trained officers are preparing to move dangerous prisoner, Aidan James, who has been cutting himself and smashing his head against his cell wall. They have riot shields and protective clothing, as James seriously assaulted another convict earlier today, and he's now made an improvised weapon from broken cutlery. Aidan James suffers from PTSD after fighting against ISIS in Syria. Charged with terror offences, he's been in Belmarsh for 15 months, awaiting trial. Right now, staff must get him to a constant-watch cell in the Health Care Unit. Here, he can be monitored around the clock. James is well known to Dr Daly, who's been treating him in Belmarsh. What are you doing to yourself? Look at your face. Mr James, what is wrong? You need another officer. Tony, no, no, you need another officer. Mr James, this is unusual, I thought you were doing OK. Things got worse? What happened? Who did you fight with? That's not great. Now, are you taking your meds, darling? You're very stressed. You'll stay here until I think you're doing OK. Calm right down, now. James is 28, and the only British man charged for fighting against ISIS. Well, I think he was in the pub in Liverpool, drunk and he thinks it's a good idea to go to Syria and fight with the Kurds, right? So, he goes out to Syria fighting with the Kurds. Really? Yeah. Totally traumatised by it. So, we treated the trauma. He had lots of psychology and medication for the trauma. Belmarsh has the largest health care unit of any prison in the UK, able to house up to 30 patients. So, just give me an idea of the spectrum that comes through health care. Well, we'll have some people coming up with rare neurological conditions, we had a young man last week with multiple sclerosis who joined us up here and then there's, of course, the trauma, the fights on the houseblock, broken noses, broken jaws, broken arms. So a full range, like you'd expect in any general population. But Dr Daly's not running your average surgery. Would you kill someone? If I have to, yeah, definitely, why not? Providing medical care for other inmates, including serial rapists and murderers, many with mental health issues, poses extreme challenges. Security is on another level here. Just gonna open the door so Sarah can come in. With six times more staff per inmate than the rest of the jail. You're dealing with some really violent, unpredictable human beings. They all come with a story. But we have to remove ourself from what they've done, to their health care and see them as another individual. And this is the NHS, where we care for everyone. Besides its complex mix of difficult prisoners, Belmarsh deals with inmates of all ages. The youngest here is 18, and the oldest, 93 years old. Some of these men have spent most of their adult lives behind bars... and so have some of the staff. Oh, my lord! Hey! Why can't I go anywhere without having to see you? Whatever prison I work in, you're always there. And I promise I'll always stand by you, Jenny! Oh, you're the only one who calls me Jenny, as well. Deputy Governor Jenny Louis joined the prison service 32 years ago. She's been in Belmarsh for the last nine years. Mr Keane has known me when I was slim and young. I wanna see paint on the walls, not on your clothing. 53-year-old William Keane has been in prison 23 times, and is currently serving six years for burglary. It's 30 years you've known me. We were teenagers. 30 years? You've both known each other inside the prison system? The majority of all of these here, gonna get dumped out to prison, back on to the same thing and keep coming back all the time. That's all that's going to happen, it's happened year in, year out. Not the majority, you're the only person I see. I'll always be back. That's because we've got this thing going on. You think. I know you'll marry me one day. She still won't turn around and give into my charms. Just get up, just get upstairs. Go! Nice to meet you. So, do you see that a lot? You do see people coming back and I think if you can achieve some of those elements like housing, employment, if you can achieve that, that is so much more to ensure that somebody won't come back inside. For some, Belmarsh is a revolving door. For others, it's a more permanent home. All right to come in? How are we? Yeah, we're good. So, you two seem quite, what's the word? Chilled? Yes! Yeah. Cell mates Lee Sales and Patrick Molloy, both in for violent GBH offences, know what it takes to do time. I'm doing 21 years. You're doing, will you do...? Nah, I'll do 16 out of that. My first parole is 2028 and then, if not, '33. My daughter, my daughter is 16 on Friday. They're in Benidorm now. Does that not kill you, though, the fact that you're here? Yes, yes, it does kill you. Yeah. We're hoping you're gonna help us with the parole board! LAUGHTER It is what it is, ain't it? I'm doing ten year. Light work, though. Light work? It's light work. Listen, the human body is built to adapt. You don't realise, we thought that, didn't we? Until you get yourself in that situation, the body is actually stronger than what you think. You have to survive, don't you? You know what I mean, you have to. If you don't in here, they'll spot, you'll become a victim? Of course you will, of course you will. You either fall apart or else you get beaten, one of the two. What don't kill you makes you stronger. And if you ain't strong in here, things happen. Someone who's had to adapt fast to life in Belmarsh is transgender prisoner Claire Darbyshire. Prison does harden you. You have no choice but to accept prison or it will eat you away. Claire arrived here in 2016, after her court case at the Old Bailey hit the headlines. My Mum died in 2008. Erm... ...and I'd been looking after my dad ever since. He had MS, he was bed bound. He wanted to commit suicide, but couldn't do it on his own and I helped him. Like all murderers, she received a life sentence, but the judge accepted Claire's plea that it was an act of mercy and gave her one of the lowest minimum terms in British legal history ` just four years. I was going to commit suicide. I had no reason to live without my dad, but I couldn't do it. Something I still feel bad about, I should have gone with him. Like others convicted at the Old Bailey, Claire would have known she'd be coming to Belmarsh. Its reputation as a tough environment precedes it, and arriving here can be frightening. But when this is the last place you expect to end up, it must be especially daunting. SCREAMING 100 miles away, in a category B prison, 20 inmates have broken out of their cells, causing a full-scale riot, with the footage shared online. 12 hours later, two of the main suspects are shipped to Belmarsh, in distinctive E-list, or Escape List, uniforms and moved straight into the Segregation Unit, where one of them is already making himself heard. Guard! BANGS ON CELL You've got to feed me! I want my food! Right, I offered you your food and then you started giving it the bigg'un, didn't ya? See what I mean! SCREAMS Showing your true colours now, aren't ya? Listen to me. I've taken your number. You can take me number, I don't care about that. Are you gonna speak to me as an adult? You've taken my shit, bruv! SLAMS SHUT See you later. Can I please get my food? OTHER INMATE: Welcome to Belmarsh! LAUGHTER The other new arrival is 20-year-old Liam Waters. All right? You know where you are now? In the highest security prison in the country. Right, so just tell me why you're here. You're OK in the seg for now. I dunno. I don't know anything about you. You don't come across as someone that should be in the seg but I've obviously got to go with what I'm being told. Nice to meet ya. They'll be in E-list for a considerable time while we work out what to do with them. Obviously, one's quite a young guy, that's why he'll find it difficult in the prison. It'll be a big step up for him compared to what he's used to. As an Escape List prisoner, Liam Waters is now considered high-risk. He won't be allowed contact with the outside world and his every move will be monitored. Obviously, this is all new to me. Being shipped here is crazy. Belmarsh... A-Cat... High-security. I believe it's one of the most dangerous places to be in the whole of England, prison-wise. I know there's gangs here, there's terrorists here. All I gotta do really is pray... pray I get out of here quick as possible. When night falls in Belmarsh, the reality of life behind bars can hit newcomers hardest. Every year, over 4,000 inmates come through its gates. All new prisoners coming in to Belmarsh are brought here to Houseblock 3 and into the First Night Centre. Each prisoner is allocated a cell and contact with the outside world is now by appointment only. Put Mum, Dad, brothers, sisters, girlfriend, whoever on here. Get that handed in as quick as you can. Tyren Brooks has just been transferred from another prison. This will be the first night of what could be a five-year stretch here. Is this your first time in Belmarsh? Second time. Second time? Yeah. And how many other prisons have you spent time in? A good few. Over ten. Ten? Yeah, I've been about. Why do they keep moving you? A whole host of things. You can have a fight, they get rid of you. Belmarsh has a reputation for being a tough prison. Does that not concern you? It's ruthless, it's vicious in here. It's all gangs, you know what I mean? A lot of the young fellas in here, they got problems what follow them from, from, from, from the outside world. A lot of it's in people's heads. They smoke drugs, they get paranoid. 'He's coming for me, he's watching me.' He's not. LAUGHS I used to be like that, but I'm grown up now. I'm nearly 30, you know what I mean? I've been coming jail for 10 years, unfortunately. What's your advice to anyone coming to prison? For your first time, it's new, innit? Everything's new ` the noise, the keys, the smell. Keep yourself to yourself, take it day by day. This is where prisoners get a taste of what's on Belmarsh's menu. I know people are gonna moan about it, but I've been to some other places around the world and this is very nice... But that doesn't mean I'd want to eat it every day. Soon, the moment comes for inmates to go behind the door for the first time. Evening, gents. Got one to share with you. Unaware of who they'll be sharing with and what crimes they may have committed. Cheers, gents. Have a good evening. Every night, all 900 inmates are locked up for 14 hours. See you in the morning, bruv. From 6pm to 8am. And, tonight... I will be, too. While I can never know what it's truly like to be a prisoner here... ...I am about to spend a night in Belmarsh. KZ1 was seriously out there, an extreme challenge. Spent more time in the courtroom than on the water. But the outcome created a new class and new approaches. * 'I'm the first non-prisoner to be granted permission 'by the Ministry Of Justice to spend the night in a UK prison cell. 'Like every inmate, I've been given what's called a first-night pack.' Let's see what we've got in here. Body wash, gel... This is going to come in... Someone's been very funny. A lot of shampoo, that's going to be very handy, as well (!) Now... it's about 33 degrees... inside this cell. I know this is only for one night, but when that door closes... And I'm lucky, I've got a cell to myself. A three-man cell, that is a totally different ball game because you are dealing with the pecking order, you are dealing with the politics of three individuals living, breathing in each other's... ...farts, breathing in each other's bad breath, breathing in each other's smells when they go to the toilet. 'Locked in a ten-foot-by-seven-foot box, 'I'm struggling to sleep.' 'Three hours and still no sleep.' DISTANT CHATTERING You have to be mentally tough to be able to survive in a place like this. Not only physically tough, you'd have to be mentally tough. No matter how hard your night has been, at 8am sharp, Belmarsh comes to life. DOGS BARK As soon as you're ready, unlock, please. Foundations of change, young Evans. 18, Beach. Sales, you've got education, yeah? Morning. Morning. How are you? All right. I've had better nights, I've had worse. Happy days. Thank you. See you, pal. I would be a liar if I said I wasn't relieved to be getting out. On every houseblock, 12 officers must try to smoothly manage the comings and goings of its volatile mix of prisoners. Mr Britain... why's he out? Well-behaved inmates have the right to be out of their cells for up to four hours a day, to head to education, visits and workshops. My favourite term is if you've got, like, 70 kittens and they've all got their own box... Come on. ...and then if each kitten doesn't go in their box, it's chaos. That's exactly what this is. Absolute chaos. Alex Nurthern, who is in for GBH, was considered such a threat outside, the police told the public to keep away from him. But in here, even stepping out on the landing is a challenge. Walking out that door first thing in the morning on a wing, if you're gonna be honest, it is scary. You never know how that day is gonna go. Is it gonna be you today? Your body language has always got to be on point, you never know how someone else is going to react. Are you going to look at someone, they're going to take it the wrong way and then automatically they're gonna act on it. There's a lot to it than just getting up and walking out of the door. And you'd think Belmarsh would be one of the jails that you'd be safe in, wouldn't you? High security nick. Far from that. In a place like this, there's the potential for violence, confrontation, every second of the day. It's always bubbling away. Fights happen daily... SHOUTING ...leaving staff battling to maintain control. In this footage captured on an officer's body camera, staff restrain a man caught fighting. Keep him up! As eight officers move him to the segregation unit, they're unaware that one of his enemies is waiting in a nearby shower block. SHOUTING Anyone can become a target in here. * 'It's three days since Liam Waters was transferred to Belmarsh 'after a riot in another prison. 'He's just been moved from the segregation unit 'onto Houseblock Three, where I spent the night.' How different is Belmarsh? Very different. It's not nice. I mean, at night time, you hear a lot more shouting and stuff and... Horrible place. You know, I'm just trying to keep my head down and... There's more pressure here? Yeah. Especially being dressed up in this, yeah. They're still treating you as an E-list prisoner? I get my fork and knife taken away from me at night time. And my plate and my clothes, shoes. Do you know what's gonna happen to you now? It's not... I don't have a say in what goes on. For all I know, I could be staying here for my whole sentence. Yeah. Belmarsh can be a tough place to survive. Like all jails, mental health issues here are on the rise. No, I don't... I don't... I don't... I don't know what... what you're doing to my head. Isolation, bullying and drugs can all play their part and often lead to self-harm and sometimes suicide attempts. Pressures from outside the jail can push people to breaking point, too. Last night, Alex Nurthern was moved to a constant-watch cell in Health Care. Having been told that his girlfriend was seeing someone else, he tried to hang himself. I had some news from someone about something with the missus which turned out not to be true. I dunno, it just... kind of all hit home, really. I ripped off a length of bed sheet and then I woke up with them cutting it off my neck and basically trying to put me in a recovery position cos I went blue, stopped breathing. I thought it would be quick and easy, but... ...turned out it weren't meant to be. With Health Care once again full and many more prisoners waiting to come here, Dr Daly and her team must quickly assess whether Nurthern remains a suicide risk. Mr Nurthern, at this moment in time, out of ten, between zero, I'm going to kill myself, and ten, I'm having a party, where are you? A three. Three. I wouldn't want you to kill yourself. Yeah. We'll be doing everything to prevent it. So we need... We need to work out what's going on for you. It's all mended. You're in prison, she might break up, what'll we do about that? Yeah, I dunno, I'll just have to deal with it, I suppose. I suppose you'll have to. Yeah. So we need to have you in Health Care, working with us, we need to work your way into therapies. What's going to work for you? 'How am I going to cope? 'How am I going to work through issues?' Right. Simple stuff. Yeah, I appreciate it. So we will sort out your meds and we will see you again later in the week. As long as Nurthern is deemed at risk of taking his own life, he'll remain in Health Care. When someone declares that they want to commit suicide... ...how do you stop them? How do you keep them alive? Well, I suppose we have to look at, 'Are they truly suicidal?' Is there an underlying mental-health problem? Are they depressed? Are they psychotic? Are they in a crisis? In cases like Nurthern, they struggle with their relationships, like they struggle with everything else in life. Is it the job of Health Care to keep people alive? Yes, of course. And we want them to have hope. Because if you haven't got hope, how do you carry on in the journey in life? For many prisoners, it's their relationships outside jail that keep them going. But for Claire Darbyshire, who served most of her sentence on the same wing, it's the close bonds that she's formed inside that help her get by. I've got a select group of people that are my friends. People that have been really good to me in here. I know they've got my back, they look out for me. And they have something for her on a very special day. Hi. Happy birthday, Claire. Oh, thank you. Oh, wow. The big 4-0. From the guys on the landing. 'To my bad bitch, happy birthday...' 'To my jail wifey for life...' How important is that to you? It means a lot because it's just... All these people care. It's lovely. Belmarsh has been good for me. I don't hear that very often. No. 'But Claire could be facing a big change in her life. 'After nearly four years inside, 'she will soon find out if a parole panel 'will be allowing her to leave Belmarsh behind.' I've been on this spur about two-and-a-half years now, so it's... It has become my home. Weird. Home for Aidan James remains the Health Care Unit. He is reacting well to treatment for PTSD. But as a high-risk, Cat-A prisoner, he can only be unlocked when other prisoners are banged up and must be accompanied by two officers. Are you all right? Healing up quite nicely. Yeah, it's getting better. Yeah, you need to behave. I'm always on my best behaviour. James is still awaiting trial on terror charges for fighting Isis in Syria. What made you want to go and fight with the Kurds? Erm, after the Manchester Arena attack was when I thought, 'Right, I want to go and do something about it.' I left everything. I left my family, my son, I left everything. Because I felt so strongly about fighting against Isis. This is, erm, a British guy, Ollie Hall, who got killed when he was over there. Mm-hm. With me. This is me in the middle. Looking rather different. Shaved head and a tash. Yeah. So there you are with your AK, yeah. That's you again, is it? Yeah. How much fighting did you actually see? Quite a lot. We spent five months on the front line. Liberated three villages. Yeah. Rescued thousands of people from death, basically. Mm-hm. Daily, we were getting suicide vehicle attacks on us. But there were British people out there who joined Isis. Yeah. There is, there was many. And there's British people... Being held. ...in this prison now, who fought for Isis. Yeah, I know. How does that make you feel? Angry. But that's why they've got to keep me separated, there's no chance of me going on Main Houseblock. I'm not allowed. Simply because if I did, I will attack Isis members. You will? Definitely. You're not anti-Islam, you were just anti... Isis. Nothing against Islam whatsoever. But while he awaits trial, staff have little choice but to keep Aidan James in Health Care. 'Can't go back into the high-security unit 'because he's attacked.' He can't go into the main prison because there is a price on his head and, his own admittance, he will attack anyone that he thinks is in Isis or associated to Isis. So where do you put him? And he is just one individual amongst the 900 other prisoners here. - What makes you happy? Livin' the high life. And you can live it well with the all-wheel-drive Highlander GXL. Kick back in leather-accented, heated seats up front, with room for the whole team behind. And you can relax knowing the car is packed with Toyota Safety tech and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control to keep you cruising through life. You don't even have to lift a finger to shut the boot. Live the good life for a Toyota Driveaway Price of 58,490. * 'It's ten days since Belmarsh took in two prisoners 'accused of rioting in another jail.' I'm just gonna be speaking to Waters up here. 'And they're happy that one of them, 20-year-old Liam Waters, 'is no longer a risk to their regime.' Waters, you awake? Yeah. Let's just turn the light on. I got some good news. How long have you been E-list for? Ages. You've been taken off of it. Which means that we'll get you some clothes you can wear. Thank you. You can have a phone call to your mum, because you didn't have your induction call when you came in. Brilliant news! Right, put this lot on. I'll wait for you. Soon as you're ready, we'll go down. I get my phone call now? Yeah. Whoo! Finally getting out of my costume. Right. And I have clothes that will fit me. 'As an E-lister, Liam's not been allowed to call home...' Connecting. '...until now.' Hello, Mum, you all right? Hello. Finally! Not yet. No, no, not yet. I'm gonna need clothes and stuff. And my shoes. They've given me size 7. Toes are cramped up in them. That's it. Time up. 'The police are still investigating the riot, 'and Liam has no idea how long he might be in Belmarsh.' It must be quite daunting for someone of his age, 20 years old, in an area that he doesn't know, with people that he doesn't know. The young lads like him, we'll try and keep an extra eye on. Cheers, then. Later. They've given me a pair of flip-flops, these are size 4 man, I'm size 9. Ha! 'Liam might not have the right footwear, 'but at least staff are looking out for him.' The relationship between prisoners and officers goes a long way, which is where a lot of people go wrong. They come in and it's sort of like, 'Ooh, they're the enemy.' You reap what you sow. If you're decent with them, they're decent with you. It makes prison life so much easier. 'Hair-dye is banned here 'as peroxide can be used to make explosives. 'But, after nearly four years, staff have something for Claire.' I have... 'They've found a Belmarsh-friendly variety.' ...mahogany. Claire, apparently, you've been asking for this for some time. Oh, excellent. Oh, thank you. Go easy. I will. We don't wanna go too dark. No. See you later. Thank you very much. Cheers. 'The hair-dye has come at a big moment for Claire, 'as the parole panel are about to let her know 'if she'll be free to leave Belmarsh.' 'The panel is satisfied that it is no longer necessary 'for the protection of the public that you be confined, 'and therefore direct your release 'as per the proposed risks management plan 'and licence conditions.' Oh, shit! I can go smoke a bloody cigarette. I can... Oh, my God. It is amazing. 'But Claire has no friends, home or family to move in with. 'Nearly a third of the UK's jail leavers are homeless 'and some commit crimes just to go back into prison 'and get a bed for the night. 'Claire wants to stay in a female hostel, 'and it's the job of Belmarsh and Probation 'to find one that will take her.' They're going to be effectively judging me on if they think I'm woman enough. It is... it's a little bit nerve-wracking, you know, not knowing what's going to happen. 'For a lot of prisoners, leaving Belmarsh 'can be as big a moment as arriving. 'For some, it's a chance to celebrate.' The first two things I'm gonna do, yeah? What's the first things you're gonna do? The first thing is McDonalds. McDonalds? And the second thing is I'm gonna have a proper cigarette. 'For others, it's a transfer to another institution.' Have a good trip. 'While for many, it's the hope of a fresh start.' Where am I signing? There. Behave your bloody self! As a hotel, it gets zero stars! 'For some, it means stepping into the unknown.' So, after four years of being in Belmarsh, Claire is finally being released. Claire. Can we come in? Course you can. Do you have any idea where you're going to sleep tonight? No, no, no idea. That's all I'm asking for. Four walls and a roof. I feel let down by the system, actually. 'The female hostels have rejected Claire for being too male. 'And the male hostels for being too female. 'But she has to leave today.' Be nice. Yeah, I'm gonna be nice. Take it easy, Claire. All right, Terry. See you later, Claire! Thank you. See ya. I wish her well. But, she completely doesn't know where she's going. She's not going to a safe refuge, as Belmarsh is. So, she might have a lot of issues once she leaves here. All right. It's your last few bits. You'll get your cash, your valuable items. Right. And a travel warrant to get where you're going. Thank you. Good luck. Do you think that life might be easier for you in here than on the outside? Yes, in as much as I've got a place to sleep, food to eat, all of that. I'll be starting from the ground upwards. Which is daunting, but also, I got a chance to try and make something of my life. Wow. Right. 'If you survive Belmarsh as a transgender person, 'you're pretty much prepared for most things.' 'But for Belmarsh's 900 inmates, life inside goes on.' For me, the last six months has confirmed Belmarsh's reputation as one of Britain's most notorious prisons. But its high levels of security and the fact it will take inmates that no other prison can or will take, makes it unique. I've also seen the other side of this prison, that deals with vulnerable prisoners with complex health needs. But there are no easy journeys here, for staff or for inmates and anyone can become a victim here at any point. And whilst society remains so troubled and so violent, we will continue to rely on places like Belmarsh to deal with Britain's most demanding and dangerous prisoners. Subtitles by ITV SignPost Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air. www.able.co.nz Able 2020