The Cambridge Two Campaign official site

Cambridge Two are not alone

NGO Finance
May 2000

By Simon Falush

Over half of the hostel workers trained by drug advice body Release since January could fall foul of the same laws that saw two day centre managers imprisoned on drugs charges.

Wintercomfort's Ruth Wyner and John Brock dubbed the Cambridge Two, were sentenced to five years and four years respectively under Section 8 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 for allowing drugs to be distributed in a day centre for homeless people.

Kevin Flemmen, project officer at Release explained that over 300 of the hostel workers he has trained have broken drug laws and would be liable for prosecution.

The case has focused attention on how UK homelessness and drug rehabilitation charities are run. Judge Jonathan Haworth's stiff sentencing suggests that those running day centres and homes should take measures to protect themselves against litigation.

The National Homeless Alliance, for example, has issued guidelines to charity workers in response. It suggests how managers should interpret the law and enforce it. One guideline, for example, states 'a clear, lawful drugs policy is vital. Your policy must stipulate that drug dealing is forbidden.'

But John Reid, Senior Bursar of Cambridge University's St John's College and a trustee of Wintercomfort, admits to being uncertain over what action the charity should take. He said: 'its unclear what was being done wrong. The judge said there was nothing wrong with the policies; it was the way they were implemented. It seems as if the problem is really one of confidentiality …if there is an obligation to pass on information to police it should be set out clearly in statute.'

The judge also argued that the two should have named people banned from the day centre for suspected drug dealing. However, the recent Police Federation enquiry on drug abuse recommended that failure to release names should not constitute a breach of the law.

Reverend Ian Harker of Manna Day Centre in London said: 'if workers have to shop people who are only suspected of using or dealing drugs, you will soon lose the trust of the people you're trying to help.'

Jag Bains, solicitor at Sinclair Taylor & Martin, agreed that it is essential to have notices stating that drug use on the premises is not acceptable. But she questioned the practicality of some of the judge's recommendations. She said: 'Installing CCTV definitely raises issues of confidentiality and the right to privacy.'

Michael Mansfield QC is to represent the Cambridge Two in their appeal for which a date is awaited. Mansfield is the President of the National Civil Rights Movement and represented Stephen Lawrence's family in the MacPherson enquiry.

Of the eight drug dealers prosecuted in the same police operation as the Cambridge Two, seven received lighter sentences than the charity workers.