China’s Qingpu Prison: the ‘first-class’ facility at the centre of Tesco’s forced labour scandal
- A British newspaper report said a girl found a message in a Christmas card apparently written by an inmate who said they were forced to work against their will
- The authorities say detainees are offered therapy and ‘cultural exchanges’ but former prisoner Peter Humphreys says the reality is very different
Shanghai’s Qingpu Prison, the Chinese prison at the centre of a forced labour scandal, describes itself as a “first-class” facility, where inmates can learn about jade sculptures and receive therapy.
But the jail, which holds both Chinese and foreign prisoners, is now embroiled in controversy after a purported secret message was sent in a Christmas card and discovered by a London schoolgirl.
The Sunday Times newspaper reported at the weekend that a six-year-old named Florence Widdicombe opened a card from a Tesco supermarket in Britain to find a message inside, claiming to be from inmates in China.
“We are foreign prisoners in Shanghai Qingpu prison China,” the message read in capital letters, inside a charity card featuring a kitten in a Santa hat.
“Forced to work against our will. Please help us and notify human rights organisation.”
On its website, Qingpu Prison says holding foreign inmates from 40 nationalities “offers a lawful platform for cultural exchange”.
The centre, on a 20 sq km (8 sq mile) site, is staffed with more than 500 police officers across three units – the logistics unit, foreign inmates unit and a maximum security unit.
