Fresh from using the European Convention on Human Rights to give prisoners a right to vote – which will make plans for elected police commissioners farcical – Hirst is trying to organise prisoners’ associations.

He is urging convicts to set up “Prisoners Representative Associations” under Article 11 of the European Convention. Prison governors will, he hopes, be forced to facilitate such associations, guaranteeing free communication with prisoners on other wings, allowing the holding of meetings and elections. In other words: unionising criminals.

Unfortunately for the out-on-licence killer he has confessed on the Jeremy Vine Radio Show to breaching the terms of his licence (smoking dope). A formal complaint has been made to the police. It could mean Hirst will soon be able to organise his prison union from inside…