Behind these Doors: As heard on Radio 4 Book of the Week

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In my first years, I loved the job so much and part of me was scared to admit that I didn’t any more. The most scary times weren’t even frightening when they were happening. You’ve got your adrenaline and you just have to deal with it. Afterwards, I’d begin to feel it.’ Alex South is a former Prison Officer with ten years' experience working for Her Majesty's Prison Service. She has worked at HMP Whittemore, HMP Wormwood Scrubs and HMP Belmarsh as an Officer, Senior Officer and Custodial Manager. During her time at these prisons, Alex was deployed to numerous live incidents in her capacity as a trained riot commander and hostage negotiator. Helen Flanagan joins former Corrie co-star Sally Dynevor's daughter Hattie on glamorous night out at Sexy Fish King Charles expresses 'sorrow and regret' over Britain's colonial past - but stops short of a full apology during state visit to Kenya Women shouldn't be police officers," a colleague told Alex South mid-shift. South's gender is a central feature of her new book Behind These Doors, which tells of her 10 years working as a prison officer in HM Prison Service. But despite her size making her diminutive in comparison to many of the extremely dangerous men she spent her time looking after, she also discovered her being a woman afforded her unique chances to connect with inmates and intervene in situations that could easily escalate, if left to the devices of hyper-masculine etiquette, and rigid notions of honour and respect.

Behind These Doors by Alex South, Episode 1 BBC Radio 4 - Behind These Doors by Alex South, Episode 1

Inside Marilyn Monroe's DRAMATIC transformation from unknown nobody Norma Jeane into an on-screen icon Our Yorkshire Farm's Amanda Owen 'is using her son Reuben's popularity to bolster her brand as she relaunches TV career after secret affair was exposed' Gisele Bundchengets into the spooky spirit as she hangs a giant fake spider outside her Miami home... before getting a visit from rumored beau Joaquim ValenteMAFS UK viewers urge Paul to 'run' from 'toxic' Tasha as she offers 'fake' apology for their heated row - as fans query why the argument wasn't aired Being a prison officer is lonely. They have to patrol the wing by themselves at 3am, witness incidents their friends outside cannot comprehend, and protect a public that doesn’t much like them. When, at 22, Alex South began working as a prison officer in HMP Whitemoor in Cambridgeshire, a men’s prison, an older male colleague, Parry, said to her: “I don’t think women should work in here.” This was the first of many times that South’s gender would enter the room before her. In 2021, South left Belmarsh. ‘I’d joined for the talking, the listening, and that was no longer possible,’ she says. ‘In prison, you have all these people, many of whom want to do better and it could be such a huge opportunity. Liam Hemsworth's stunning girlfriend Gabriella Brooks looks chic as she leads arrivals alongside Isabel Lucas at Aje's 15th Anniversary party

Behind These Doors by Alex South - Available BBC Sounds - Behind These Doors by Alex South - Available

MAFS UK's Bianca reveals she wanted to be matched with GEORGES rather than JJ because of his 'manly vibes' Few people leave prison unchanged. It’s a place heavy with suffering, a place where you will find dangerous, vulnerable, and forgotten people. But for Alex South, it was a place where she also found hope.Davina McCall admits her relationship with Kylie Minogue 'is complicated' after 'phone snub' despite once starring in singer's music video Amanda Abbington slam trolls after Strictly exit and hints at being 'pushed over the edge' as she says 'you never know what someone's going through' Disgraced ex King Juan Carlos of Spain attends his granddaughter Princess Leonor's 18th birthday party after returning from Dubai Mariah Carey takes the plunge in low-cut sequined red dress while channeling Jessica Rabbit for her glamorous Halloween costume Big Brother SPOILER: Drama ERUPTS after Noky and Trish's cursed nominations are revealed to the rest of the house