Free books offered to prisoners in police custody

A new scheme that offers books to prisoners in police custody has started in London. Guardian UK reported.

The scheme started was inspired by Metropolitan police special constable Steve Whitmore, after he arrested an 18-year-old on suspicion of assault and possession of drugs earlier this year.

The teenager asked Whitmore if he could borrow a book to read while he was in custody, but the special constable could not find anything that would have been of interest to the young man.

“The range and type of books available didn’t appeal to him, so I offered him my own book, The Catcher in the Rye, and told him to keep it,” Whitmore told Guardian UK.

“The look on his face was amazing, his attitude and hostility towards me completely changed and it created common ground for us to talk about. He said he’d never been given a book before to own, and that really moved me.”

From then onward, Whitmore has worked with the charity Give a Book to give prisoners who have been detained in all 43 of the Met’s custody suites access to more than 30 books, which they are able to take away for free.

The books distributed include classics such as The Catcher in the Rye, To Kill a Mockingbird and Animal Farm, as well as graphic novels. The selection also includes poetry, short stories and young adult fiction from authors including Sophie Kinsella, Frederick Forsyth, Andy McNab and Alan Bennett, along with books in foreign languages.

“The aim of this scheme is to provide easy-to-read books that are familiar, tangible and can be kept,” said Whitmore. “Our core belief is that to pass on a good read is a transaction of worth.”

Victoria Gray, trustee of the Give A Book charity - which also provides books to schools and prisons - said: "We just thought it was a brilliant idea and right up our street.

“Just the act of giving a book can change a difficult situation. It shows you’re being thought about differently. I truly believe that reading can open a door and help turn people’s lives around.”

The charity provides the books for the initiative, which does not cost the Metropolitan Police anything.

This is a wonderful idea, and we hope Nigerian charity organization will adopt this.

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