Before i start i am not trying to condone IPP's or keeping this man imprisoned.

Reading this with no experience of a custodial environment you might be lead to believe his actions are extreme, rare or even mental health related. But trust me this stuff happens all the time in prison. Fires, self harm and destructive behaviour are all tactics used by a large proportion of prisoners to manipulate the system to there own benefit.

Fire in prisons will happen 2-3 times a day. The usual motive for these is usually very minor. Usual motive being not having any "burn or rizla". Prisoner will set fire to there cell, self harm or cause as much as a problem as possible to manipulate weak management into supplying them with what they want. On any given unit 10-15% will be monitored for such behaviour on ACCT documents (documents for monitoring and managing prisoner who self harm or are at risk of suicide).

This behaviour is a consequence of the system. It is usually learnt behaviour from others as prison staff are so under staffed and swamped it is the only way prisoners feel they are noticed. They also learn early that management will cave to try and appease this behaviour even when it is clearly not serious attempts at self harm. Often Giving TV, tobacco and cell moves to there friends to those who have been down graded to "basic" and had there TV and privileges taken for serious acts of violence or disobedience.

This prison would of certainly been on an ACCT document, which would of had heavy involvement from the prison mental health in reach team and management. If he was in need of sectioning he would be placed in a prisons in patient health care center, and waiting for spaces in a secure unit (which are horrifically lacking).