@Ladieunlucky As a 17 yr old, {homeless} I had a boyfriend who was arrested for a tiny bit of 'cannabis resin'- and as I was with him, I was arrested too- We pleaded 'guilty' - no solicitor! {we weren't advised to get one, and has no money}
- on the day of the magistrates court hearing, as homeless, we had no idea at all as to the time, and had no bus fare, so were late for court.
{we had to walk to Bow street from the East End where we had a squat in a condemned house}
Being late was ''Contempt of Court'' and a strip search, where I had a tint blim of hash on me. Probably enough for a couple of joints.
The police woman doing the search was triumphant.
''You'll be held on Remand in Holloway for a week'' she crowed.
Holloway back then had a fearsome reputation- I was a kid who was bullied at school and the thought of this was terrifying.
Down in the Cells below Bow Street magistrates Court it was so grim. {Pic}
A wooden bench affixed to the wall had been carved with initials {how, I don't know, as anything sharp was taken off us, like badges pins &c}
''Isa Loves Heroin'' is one that I remember..{Probably Isa was withdrawing}
The other women who soon filled the cell up were actually nice.
One very well dressed woman breezy with amphetamines she'd taken was in for 'Soliciting' , and used the loo {within full view} and said ''Don't worry love, I know everyone there, You'll be okay''- she wasn't remotely scared.
We were moved to Tottenham Court Cells, individual ones, and the policewoman there was lovely.
She said 'Girls, if you will be quiet all night, I can give you each a cigarette- but save half of it for the morning, OK?''
She lit our cigarettes for us. {Pre cigarette ban.
There wasn't ''a week in Holloway'' - the next morning we were seen by the magistrate who seemed irritated {Not with us}
''Conditional Discharge and don't re-offend within six months''.
It was all over a tiny bit of cannabis and being late for court. {Just don't be late!}
However, the advice the Well dressed woman gave while held in the cells was ''Keep your head down, and do your Time''
@Ladieunlucky A book I read after that was ''Inside Out'' by Rosie Johnston -she was sent down along with the rest of her Oxford friends for supplying heroin to Olivia Channon at an end of term party.
Olivia tragically died, it was a really big story at the time in the media- the beginning of the then heroin 'epidemic' that cut across all classes.
Rosie Johnston only served for months out of a six month sentence, due to her involvement, and her book told what it was like to be in England's jails.
The noise was very off-putting , and also 'slopping out' - probably not done these days.
She and others were moved around -Ironically she found Holloway better than ''Bull dyke Hall'' {Bullwood Hall} - her book was like a Michelin guide to English prisons.