Publisher's Synopsis
What is it like to work day-in day-out in a high security prison? Do you have the required qualities? What skill-set is required? These questions and more are answered in this book. The transcript is a synthesis of two 'Ways'; 'Bushido - The Way of the Warrior', and 'The Way of service to the SPS', my Uji (Clan), and the Joo Heika (Her Majesty the Queen. Both Ways have served me well in my personal life, and within these pages I describe the mind-set of both and their connection. The Samurai, by definition of his lifestyle, chose immediacy as a core principle. In close parallel, the SPS Officer also embodies the Samurai Way of 'immediacy', for if he made a wrong decision, riotous consequences could very well be the result. In the following pages, discover the difficult path both the Samurai and the Warrior Officer [chose to] tread. During my tenure at HMP Shotts (Castle Shotts 1988-1993), SPS Officers faced many quiet routine days. In stark contrast, we also dealt with numerous demonstrations, sit-down protests, hunger-strikes, self-harmers, staff and prisoner (shuujin) assaults, as well as riots and staff hostage situations. For a Samurai, to know and to act are ostensibly one and the same; the Warrior Officer also upheld this basic correctness of 'The Way', he had to 'Act' upon it. This text describes how staff pulled through the many difficulties thrust upon them daily, as well as what made them return to such an arduous duty whilst being well aware of the possibilities of what lay ahead. The Esprit-De-Corps at HMP Shotts was both magnificent and unequalled. I had never experienced such an inspirational workforce previously, nor had I since at any other castle, or indeed in any other workplace. This is The Way of the Warrior Officer.
