“I was back on the wing for teatime”: Danny’s journey from unexpected recall to speaking in Westminster
Recalls – where someone is sent back to prison after having been deemed to have breached their license conditions – have almost doubled in the past year.
The majority of people recalled have not committed any further offences. Between October and December 2024, about 74% of recalls involved non-compliance with an order, 35% involved failure to keep in touch, and just 23% involved a charge of further offending – the same percentage as those which involved failure to reside (often meaning someone has failed to find somewhere to live).
The recalls crisis is placing huge pressure on our creaking justice system. Revolving Doors has been a leading voice for change, calling on the Government to seize the opportunity to rethink recall policy in a way that will benefit society and the justice system in the long term. We recently ran a Parliamentary drop-in about recalls alongside Catch-22 and Switchback, where lived experience member Danny shared his story about how his unexpected recall to prison impacted his life – and made him more determined to campaign for change:
I’ve experienced recall to prison a couple of times in my life.
I will say that in the past my recalls were deserved: I reoffended and was rightly sent back to prison. My last sentence was a long one; I spent 5 years behind the door and this time I decided change was needed and used my time productively. By the time I was ready to be released I honestly felt I was rehabilitated and had a clear plan for the future, ready for the challenge of leaving criminal instincts behind.
The impact of a recall
On the day I was recalled, I’d been buying presents for Christmas, so was getting deliveries almost every day. This one morning after my birthday I thought it was no different.
BANG BANG BANG at the door.
It was no delivery man.
Not only did every single neighbour see me get put in a police car, but local newspaper photographers were there covering all the recalls that day. I was so humiliated. I was back on the wing for teatime – head in my hands, world upside down.
I found out later I was recalled for poor behaviour because I had called my kids whilst drunk, but the worst thing of all was that at first I wasn’t told this; I didn’t know why I’d been recalled. I also didn’t find out for two weeks whether it was going to be a fixed term 28-day or full recall; in fact, as I still had four years left on my licence it was possible they could have kept me inside until the end of my sentence.
Being recalled was completely unnecessary and caused massive hardship for me. Support was out of the window. Most of my family are dead, and the ones that are alive I can’t even speak to.
My head well and truly went; I went back to using inside, to give myself a head change because one minute my life was amazing, I had everything in place, my house was in order and best all I wasn’t a criminal anymore. And then there I was: back on the wing having to graft for everything. It was horrible beyond words.
Setbacks caused by recall
Because I had done so well since I was released previously, my probation officer was able to just make it a 28-day (fixed-term) recall.
I got out after 28 days and tried to put my life back together, but I am now far worse off. Due to my medical conditions, I am meant to receive limited work capability and PIP. At the time of writing this it’s almost six months since I was released following my recall but I still haven’t been assessed yet. I’m having a nightmare time trying to survive on £340 a month – my rent is so expensive my allowance gets deducted.
Looking forward and moving on
However, I’m now working with an unbelievable organisation – Revolving Doors. I recently went to Westminster with Policy Manager Kelly as we took part in a Parliamentary drop-in about the recalls crisis with three other organisations, Switchback, Catch 22 and NAPO. Getting to work with these guys was amazing and I learned that we have similar goals.
I also had a tour of Westminster, and had the best time learning the history of the Houses of Parliament. Being able to see where policies are debated and argued for made me realise how important our MPs work is and how giving them the correct information helps them do amazing work.
Lived experience voices for change
I’ve found myself in a position where I can tell this story to people who can make serious change in our country, and help us fix this system which is clearly not working and where resources are not utilised in the right places.
I was very lucky have some good conversations and voice my concerns about recall, speaking to Parliamentary staffers and MPs themselves. I can honestly that every one of them listened intently and were shocked at what I was telling them.
The whole day was made possible thanks to Kelly and Revolving Doors. The amazing work we do gives me hope for the future of the justice system and people currently trapped in the revolving door.
