Inside Time: A Voice for UK Prisoners Since 1990

Inside Time: The Newspaper Giving UK Prisoners a Voice

When people think of newspapers, few imagine one written for, and often by, those behind bars. But Inside Time is just that: the only national publication in the UK dedicated to prisoners, detainees, and secure hospital patients. With tens of thousands of copies distributed across the country’s prisons every month, its influence is quiet but powerful.

In this post, we take a closer look at the origins, purpose, and impact of Inside Time, and explore why this niche paper deserves wider recognition.

A Newspaper Born From Crisis

The story of Inside Time begins in 1990 with the infamous Strangeways prison riot in Manchester, one of the most serious disturbances in British prison history. In the aftermath, Lord Woolf’s public inquiry identified a key failing in the system: prisoners had no adequate means of expressing their concerns or being heard.

That gap inspired the late Eric McGraw, then director of the New Bridge Foundation (a long-established prison reform charity), to create a publication that would give prisoners a voice. The first issue launched in December 1990, under the name Time, with 12,000 black-and-white copies distributed to prisons and young offender institutions.

Following a copyright challenge from Time magazine, the publication was soon renamed Inside Time, a name that stuck, and with good reason.

“The paper is a place where the voice of the prisoner can be expressed and heard.”
— Eric McGraw, Editor and Founder

What Inside Time Aims to Do

At its core, Inside Time exists to give prisoners a voice. But over the decades, it has evolved into far more than just a platform for complaint. The paper’s goals include:

  • Amplifying unheard voices: Around 60% of content is written by serving prisoners, ex-offenders, or their families.

  • Clarifying prison law and procedures: The “Mailbag” section answers legal questions, often providing clarity prisoners can’t easily access elsewhere.

  • Promoting reform: Coverage of systemic issues, such as book bans, parole delays, or poor healthcare, has brought national attention and occasionally prompted real change.

  • Maintaining independence: Crucially, the paper is not run by the Prison Service. It remains editorially independent, which builds trust with its readership.

Growth and Readership

From its humble beginnings, Inside Time has grown into a full-colour, 56-page monthly newspaper with a wide reach. According to Inside Time’s website:

  • Print circulation is between 50,000 and 60,000 copies per issue.

  • It is distributed free of charge to every prison, immigration removal centre, and secure hospital in the UK.

  • The website attracts hundreds of thousands of unique users each month.

  • The “Mailbag” section receives 200–300 letters every month, a strong signal of its relevance to the prison population.

Its digital platform has also expanded, making its stories and advice accessible to a wider public, including lawyers, families, and campaigners.

Why Inside Time Matters

Inside Time fills a critical gap in the UK justice landscape. It’s a tool of empowerment, transparency, and community inside institutions where those values can be scarce. It has:

  • Given prisoners a safe and constructive outlet

  • Helped reduce institutional tensions by clarifying rules

  • Contributed to national conversations on justice and reform

  • Supported reintegration by encouraging writing, reflection, and critical thought

It has also helped legal professionals, journalists, and campaigners better understand the real experiences of incarceration.

The Legacy Continues

After Eric McGraw’s retirement, former prisoner and journalist Erwin James became editor. His tenure continued the paper’s ethos of integrity and hope. Even after James' passing in 2024, Inside Time remains a crucial fixture in UK prison life, supported by the New Bridge Foundation and charitable funding.

The paper also produces:

  • Inside Poetry – a yearly prison poetry anthology

  • Inside Information – a guide to prison rules and services

  • Inside Justice – a separate investigative unit that looks into alleged miscarriages of justice

Final Thoughts

In a media world increasingly driven by clicks and controversy, Inside Time is a rare thing: a quiet, steady force for justice and dignity.

For those working in or around the criminal justice system, from solicitors to forensic experts, it’s a valuable window into the everyday realities of incarceration. For prisoners, it’s a lifeline.

If you're interested in the ways media, reform, and justice intersect, Inside Time is well worth your attention.

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