Stephanie de Leng: Life in Strangeways

Somewhat fittingly, her Strangeways show is under lock and key – insofar that if you want to see it, you have to ring up the people at the Baltic Creative HQ (where the works are hanging) make an appointment and get them to buzz you in - contact details below. 

Since 1990, HMP Manchester has developed into a 'High Performing Prison' and a High Security Prison holding some of the most dangerous and disruptive prisoners in the country. It has been widely recognised for implementing ground-breaking changes in prisoner care and re-settlement programmes. 

The prison today centres on providing a safe and decent environment for all prisoners -  a regime a world away from that which caused the longest prisoner protest in British penal history. 

Stephanie said: “All the staff, the inmates I worked with (for a later phase on the project) were open, friendly and willing to be photographed, and I did learn a lot there.

“I was surprised that I was not judgemental.  You never know who has done what, and you never would ask.  Violence is in every man and woman, given the right - or wrong - set of circumstances. You are acultely aware of how it could easily be you."

But, despite the facility housing some of the most dangerous criminals in the UK, she says: "I never felt under threat at any time. The relationship between the officers and the inmates is, on the face of it, good, with lots of banter. 

"But security is tight. Every door is locked behind you. State-of-the-art locks, locks and more locks - which, of course, I was not allowed to photograph. Paradoxically, the prison has an open cell policy. Some inmates ask to be locked in their cells for a bit of privacy. Yet they must eat all their meals alone in their cells. There are no more communal dining areas." 

Stephanie pauses and adds: "Despite all the reforms, anyone who thinks prisons have gone soft should take a look.  This is not a place you would want to be."