There comes a time when amidst all of the doom and gloom you have to take a walk on the lunatic fringe just to reassure yourself that you are indeed - sane.

Norfolk Police appear to have taken such a walk, however the sanity bit is questionable, why is this? I hear you ask, I will tell you says I.

Norfolk police have painted on the ceilings of their cells a compass, this compass points to Mecca - no this is not the direction to go to get to the Bingo hall, it is to enable the Muslim prisoners to pray in the correct direction - ie facing Mecca.

The Norfolk Police have decided to take this innovation one step further, they are going to issue compasses to all Muslim prisoners - so they can face the right direction -blah, blah, blah etc, so-on and so forth - you get the picture.

Norfolk police have also said :- (link to article)

Inspector Colin William, custody Insp for King's Lynn, said the force had a responsibility to meet the religious needs of everyone it takes into custody.

Also from the article

The announcement comes after a successful trial at Bethel Street police station in Norwich, where compasses were painted on the ceilings of cells. The custody suite at King's Lynn station is next in line to be redecorated.

Norfolk Police Authority suggested the idea in its Custody Visitors Committee report.

The report states: 'The painted compasses on the ceilings at Bethel Street will be replicated across the rest of the county.

'However, further guidance has been received and in future small compasses will be issued to those detainees who request them.'

The religious needs of everyone - now that's interesting, does this mean if the prisoner is a Rastafarian they will be given cannabis ?

Will the Buddhist be allowed to have their bells?, how about the Prisoner who follows Voodoo, will they be provided with live Chickens to slaughter?

Here are the main points of Voodoo:

	a feast before the main ceremony
	creation of a veve, a pattern of flour or cornmeal on the floor which is unique to the Loa for whom the ritual is to be conducted
	shaking a rattle and beating drums which have been cleansed and purified
	chanting
	dancing by the houngan and/or mambo and the hounsis (students studying Vodun). The dancing will typically build in intensity until one of the dancers (usually a hounsis) becomes possessed by a Loa and falls. His or her ti bon ange has left their body and the spirit has taken control. The possessed dancer will behave as the Loa and is treated with respect and ceremony by the others present.
	animal sacrifice; this may be a goat, sheep, chicken, or dog. They are usually humanely killed by slitting their throat; blood is collected in a vessel. The possessed dancer may drink some of the blood. The hunger of the Loa is then believed to be satisfied. The animal is usually cooked and eaten. Animal sacrifice is a method of consecrating food for consumption by followers of Vodun, their gods and ancestors.

Oh boy the cell would be a right mess after that little lot, but Voodoo is a recognized religion and according to Norwich Police - their religious needs must be met.

How would the Police meet the needs of a Jedi - would they let him keep his light sabre? and more importantly would the "Force" be allowed in prison - these are lofty theological arguments that must be had if the needs of all religions are to be met whilst the follower  is in prison

I suppose it is just a matter of time until all Prisons in the UK are built facing Mecca.

I am now leaving the twilight zone reasonably convinced that I am not insane ( but then again I have no insight into my condition) and that the world outside has gone barking mad.