David Shipley
@shipleywrites.bsky.social
Did corporate finance, produced a film, committed a fraud. Served my time. Horrified by the prison system. I write and talk and try to change it.
Words in Inside Time, The Spectator, the i, amongst others.
[email protected]
Words in Inside Time, The Spectator, the i, amongst others.
[email protected]
Pinned
Somehow, history returned
October 9, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Beards are laden with meaning. What does Tommy Robinson’s tell us?
www.spectator.co.uk/article/tomm...
www.spectator.co.uk/article/tomm...
Tommy Robinson and the truth about jail beards
Beards have long been associated with wisdom. Perhaps Robinson wanted to show the world a visible sign of all he had endured.
www.spectator.co.uk
May 31, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Beards are laden with meaning. What does Tommy Robinson’s tell us?
www.spectator.co.uk/article/tomm...
www.spectator.co.uk/article/tomm...
What does the Sentencing Review mean for victims of domestic violence?
www.thetimes.com/uk/law/artic...
www.thetimes.com/uk/law/artic...
Sentencing reforms will benefit domestic abusers, says victim
A woman whose neck was fractured in an attack by her partner claims the prison overhaul means violent men will not fear serious punishment
www.thetimes.com
May 27, 2025 at 7:04 PM
What does the Sentencing Review mean for victims of domestic violence?
www.thetimes.com/uk/law/artic...
www.thetimes.com/uk/law/artic...
Reposted by David Shipley
So in all the noise and bluster, what’s the key takeaway from the sentencing review and gov’s reforms? There’s a lot to like in the proposals — but the gov risks shooting itself in the foot through key omissions to look ‘tough on crime’ 🧵
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/sent...
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/sent...
Key omissions risk undermining the government’s bold sentencing goals | Institute for Government
Not all of David Gauke's recommendations have been taken on by the government.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
May 23, 2025 at 1:45 PM
So in all the noise and bluster, what’s the key takeaway from the sentencing review and gov’s reforms? There’s a lot to like in the proposals — but the gov risks shooting itself in the foot through key omissions to look ‘tough on crime’ 🧵
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/sent...
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/sent...
Reposted by David Shipley
🚨SPECIAL EPISODE🚨
Does equality before the law mean treating everyone the same?
Sonya Ruparel & @shipleywrites.bsky.social discuss the fiery debate between the Lord Chancellor & Sentencing Council over how judges should consider cases involving minoritized communities
🎧Listen now: pod.fo/e/2c65b4
Does equality before the law mean treating everyone the same?
Sonya Ruparel & @shipleywrites.bsky.social discuss the fiery debate between the Lord Chancellor & Sentencing Council over how judges should consider cases involving minoritized communities
🎧Listen now: pod.fo/e/2c65b4
April 11, 2025 at 8:01 AM
🚨SPECIAL EPISODE🚨
Does equality before the law mean treating everyone the same?
Sonya Ruparel & @shipleywrites.bsky.social discuss the fiery debate between the Lord Chancellor & Sentencing Council over how judges should consider cases involving minoritized communities
🎧Listen now: pod.fo/e/2c65b4
Does equality before the law mean treating everyone the same?
Sonya Ruparel & @shipleywrites.bsky.social discuss the fiery debate between the Lord Chancellor & Sentencing Council over how judges should consider cases involving minoritized communities
🎧Listen now: pod.fo/e/2c65b4
I'm writing a piece about DBS / criminal records reform - I would love to speak with anyone who has missed out on a job because of an old / irrelevant conviction which showed up on a DBS.
March 17, 2025 at 9:32 PM
I'm writing a piece about DBS / criminal records reform - I would love to speak with anyone who has missed out on a job because of an old / irrelevant conviction which showed up on a DBS.
This weekend @thetimes.com is free to read, so why not check out mine and @mattdathan.bsky.social’s investigation into the suspension and subsequent sacking of the Deputy Governor of Wandsworth prison.
www.thetimes.com/uk/law/artic...
www.thetimes.com/uk/law/artic...
Governor who moved gangster to open prison faced no investigation
The treatment of Bobby Cunningham, nicknamed ‘Nepotism Bob’ by staff at HMP Wandsworth, has fuelled fears of a cover-up
www.thetimes.com
March 15, 2025 at 3:50 PM
This weekend @thetimes.com is free to read, so why not check out mine and @mattdathan.bsky.social’s investigation into the suspension and subsequent sacking of the Deputy Governor of Wandsworth prison.
www.thetimes.com/uk/law/artic...
www.thetimes.com/uk/law/artic...
I was a prisoner at Wandsworth. At this point I was coping. I’d got a job in the library, had a reasonable amount of time out of my cell and was optimistic about moving to an open prison soon.
I would really really love to hear other people's notes/strong memories about the specifics of this. I feel like we were all in such trauma that the memories have vanished fast, leaving a blanket of "oh god yuck awful" which isn't helpful for understanding how it's affected us.
#fiveyearson
#fiveyearson
I have this feeling that over the next few weeks I might like to note and mark what I was doing five years ago. Because it is big and real and still feels incredibly present in our lives.
I'll use the hashtag #fiveyearson which as far as I can tell is only used about Covid. Do mute if you need.
I'll use the hashtag #fiveyearson which as far as I can tell is only used about Covid. Do mute if you need.
March 5, 2025 at 7:58 AM
I was a prisoner at Wandsworth. At this point I was coping. I’d got a job in the library, had a reasonable amount of time out of my cell and was optimistic about moving to an open prison soon.
Sorry guys it’s over for me. I heard someone describe instagram as “old people TikTok today”
March 4, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Sorry guys it’s over for me. I heard someone describe instagram as “old people TikTok today”
Every time the satnav says “bear left” or “bear right” I say “oh! Look out for a bear” even if I’m the only one in the car
What's the worst joke you're committed to? Mine is to say 'thank god you're charging more for that. Every year, thousands die drilling those little holes' whenever website tries to upsell me more memory on some form of device. A joke that a) isn't funny b) no-one but me can hear.
March 2, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Every time the satnav says “bear left” or “bear right” I say “oh! Look out for a bear” even if I’m the only one in the car
Moral rot
The dark secret at the heart of the prison system
shipleywrites.substack.com
March 1, 2025 at 2:18 PM
I wrote about the government's interest in the 'Texas model'
shipleywrites.substack.com/p/the-texas-...
shipleywrites.substack.com/p/the-texas-...
The Texas model
Can we really learn from the Lone Star State?
shipleywrites.substack.com
February 28, 2025 at 9:01 PM
I wrote about the government's interest in the 'Texas model'
shipleywrites.substack.com/p/the-texas-...
shipleywrites.substack.com/p/the-texas-...
I would love to write a piece about why Ged’s journey in A Wizard of Earthsea is like my prison journey.
February 24, 2025 at 7:56 PM
I would love to write a piece about why Ged’s journey in A Wizard of Earthsea is like my prison journey.
Any lawyers able to speak to me about harassment law? For a piece I’m writing today.
February 24, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Any lawyers able to speak to me about harassment law? For a piece I’m writing today.
Reposted by David Shipley
A very distressing C4 report tonight on pregnant women prisoners being handcuffed during childbirth, despite it being against MoJ policy. Those policies aren’t worth the paper they’re written on — the only way to keep pregnant women safe is to stop sending them to prison.
February 19, 2025 at 9:18 PM
A very distressing C4 report tonight on pregnant women prisoners being handcuffed during childbirth, despite it being against MoJ policy. Those policies aren’t worth the paper they’re written on — the only way to keep pregnant women safe is to stop sending them to prison.
Is another prison capacity crisis round the corner? There are actually reasons to be hopeful.
www.spectator.co.uk/article/labo...
www.spectator.co.uk/article/labo...
Labour has until Easter to stop prisons running out of space
Prisons minister James Timpson and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood could not have been dealt a worse hand.
www.spectator.co.uk
February 19, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Is another prison capacity crisis round the corner? There are actually reasons to be hopeful.
www.spectator.co.uk/article/labo...
www.spectator.co.uk/article/labo...
I’ve noticed that when my AirPods are on noise cancelling mode the space I’m in feels smaller, while the opposite is true on transparency mode. I presume there’s some subconscious process of echolocation going on?
February 19, 2025 at 11:53 AM
I’ve noticed that when my AirPods are on noise cancelling mode the space I’m in feels smaller, while the opposite is true on transparency mode. I presume there’s some subconscious process of echolocation going on?
I made a grave error on The Other Place. Posted something about having a crap time at school (I went to an especially unpleasant and ‘traditional’ prep school) and somehow I’ve awakened a lot of Americans arguing about homeschooling.
February 17, 2025 at 7:35 AM
I made a grave error on The Other Place. Posted something about having a crap time at school (I went to an especially unpleasant and ‘traditional’ prep school) and somehow I’ve awakened a lot of Americans arguing about homeschooling.
I’ve given myself a ‘court week’ ahead. Attending an inquest into the death of a Wandsworth prisoner tomorrow, and then supporting a friend at his sentencing on Tuesday. Haven’t been inside a court since my own sentencing, so it’ll be interesting to see what it brings up.
February 16, 2025 at 3:25 PM
I’ve given myself a ‘court week’ ahead. Attending an inquest into the death of a Wandsworth prisoner tomorrow, and then supporting a friend at his sentencing on Tuesday. Haven’t been inside a court since my own sentencing, so it’ll be interesting to see what it brings up.