Archer faces probe over prison diaries

According to publisher, Macmillan, the millionaire novelist's latest book - A Prison Diary - names fellow inmates, which is strictly forbidden.

Director general of the Prison Service, Martin Narey, says he is now "taking legal advice" to determine whether the jailed peer has done anything wrong.

Based on the three weeks Archer spent in London's top security Belmarsh jail, the diary is being serialised in the Daily Mail from Monday, and will also be published next week.

Under strict Prison Service rules, an inmate is not allowed to identify any other prisoner in literature, describe his or any other prisoner's crime or be paid for work.

The fact that Archer has been allowed to publish his highly critical indictment of the penal system while he is still a serving prisoner has attracted widespread criticism.

But the Prison Reform Trust has said its publication could also be a force for good.

Director Juliet Lyon said: "If the publication of these diaries alerts the public to the poor conditions in our overcrowded jails, they may prove a force for change."

Macmillan said Archer would not earn money from the book, and payment is being donated to drug rehabilitation and victim support groups.

Payment issues

Mr Narey told the BBC: "He can't make money while he is a serving prisoner from publications and I have a duty to protect the privacy of other prisoners and members of staff.

"He has to respect that."

He added: "Disciplinary action could lead to a prisoner losing privileges and could, if the behaviour is very serious, result in him having days added to his sentence, which would mean that he would stay in custody for rather longer than he would otherwise."

Archer's publisher said the ex-Tory MP decided to write the volume as a way of keeping himself sane while locked up.

Richard Charkin from Macmillan said: "Jeffrey is fully aware of the risks and wants to go ahead with publication".

"If he faces retribution for this it will be a disgrace."

Suicidal thoughts

Giving his own reasons for writing the diary, Archer, who is half-way through his sentence, said: "I have a feeling that being allowed to write in this hellhole may turn out to be the one salvation that will keep me sane."

The book includes a section detailing when the former Tory party deputy chairman considered committing suicide with a razor blade.

"They've now supplied me with a Bic razor and I consider cutting my throat. But the thought of failure is just too awful to contemplate," he writes.

In another excerpt written on 23 July, 2001, four days after his sentencing, he describes a 17-year-old boy in the cell below him who has been charged with shoplifting.

Archer compares British jail conditions to those of Turkey and Kosovo and adds: "This same young man will now be spending at least a fortnight with murderers, rapists, burglars and drug addicts".

"Are these the best tutors he can learn from?"

Prison move

The book's release follows revelations that Archer had breached his daily release conditions at North Sea Camp open prison, where he was transferred after Belmarsh, by attending a lunch party thrown by former Tory Education Secretary Gillian Shephard.

He is now in the higher security Lincoln prison while the matter is being investigated.

Earlier this week, a High Court hearing revealed that he has paid back more than £2.5m to the Daily Star newspaper.

The newspaper had sought to regain the £500,000 Archer was awarded in 1987 following a libel action against the Star.