Support

The following letter was sent to the Telegraph Newspaper by the undersigned, to express their support for the Cambridge Two Campaign.

Unfair Drugs Law
17th June 2000

SIR - We wish to express our dismay at the conviction and continued imprisonment of Ruth Wyner, the Director of Wintercomfort for the Homeless, and John Brock, the manager of the charity's day centre.

Six months ago, they were sent to prison for five years and four years respectively because some of the people they were helping were trading heroin on the day centre premises. The judge himself stressed that neither Wyner nor Brock had been personally involved in the drug dealing, or benefited from it in any fashion.

They were charged under Section 8 of the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act. This is the first time this law has been used against charity workers attempting to help, rather than exploit, drug addicts; it sets a dangerous precedent that puts many other innocent people at risk of prosecution.

We believe that the law must be clarified to prevent such arrests from happening again, and that the convictions of Wyner and Brock should be overturned as soon as possible.

Signed,

Joan Baez, Julie Christie, Caroline Coon, Brian and Anthea Eno, Paul Flynn MP (Labour), Profossor Roger Scruton, Sir Tom Stoppard, Michael Winner.

Anne Campbell MP tables an amendment to Section 8 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 during a Hansard Debate in the House of Commons on 12th June 2000.

It will come as no surprise to anyone in the House that I have tabled the new clause, given my concern about Wintercomfort and my constituent Ruth Wyner who at present is serving a sentence in Highpoint prison under section 8 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. She was convicted at the same time as her co-worker John Brock, who is not my constituent but who, nevertheless, was working in the charity, which is based in my constituency. I do not pretend to be an expert on the issue, but I shall use my experience as a constituency Member of Parliament of visits to homeless accommodation and day shelters, to explain why a change to the existing law is necessary.

Please click here in order to read the transcript in full, including further contributions to the debate from Peter Bottomley MP (Worthing, West).


UNISON, the largest trade union in Britain affiliates with the Campaign.

UNISON nationally the biggest trade union in Britain with 1.3 million members in local government, health and education, and the utility, transport and voluntary sectors has affiliated with the Cambridge Two Campaign to release Ruth Wyner and John Brock.

Graham Cuffley, branch secretary of Cambridge City UNISON said: 'the imprisonment of John and Ruth is clearly a miscarriage of justice. Unison are particularly concerned that this current interpretation of the law leaves thousands of workers facing the conflict between their own job duties and the law.'

The case of Ruth and John has been prioritised for debate at the UNISON National Delegate Conference to be held at Bournemouth on
12-16 June.


MSF, the fifth largest trade union in Britain and Ireland, backs the Cambridge Two Campaign.

MSF, the union for skilled and professional people, and the fifth largest trade union in Britain and Ireland voted overwhelmingly to back the Campaign at its annual conference on May 8th at Horrowgate.

The motion was proposed by Seth Harman, on behalf of the London Housing Branch, and seconded by Andrew van Dorm for the National Homeless Alliance. Also at the conference were delegates from the National Health Service, who spoke about the potential implications in hospitals.

'The issue of Ruth and John is one that every trade union should be taking up and campaigning around,' said Seth Harman to the Cambridge Two Newsletter, 'both because of the injustice that has been caused to them and also because of the implications for people who work in a wide range of organisations from housing associations to hospitals and social services.

'The vote of support was, in fact, for three proposals: 1. To back the campaign, 2. To instruct the Parliamentary Committee to raise the issues arising from the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act with Charles Clarke, MP, Home Office Minister and 3. To draw up operational guidelines for MSF members so that staff who work with drug users are not at risk of prosecution.

MSF stands for Manufacturing, Science and Finance. The union covers nearly every industry and service, and has over 80 member MPs in the Parliamentary Labour Party. MSF is also the second largest trade union grouping in the European Parliament, with 12 MEPs from the UK and Ireland.


Cambridge City Council Meeting 17.02.00

This motion was carried by the Council.

"In the wake of the sentences of five and four years' imprisonment passed respectively on Ruth Wyner and John Brock of Wintercomfort, this Council:

-requests the Chief Executive, on behalf of the Council, to send letters of sympathy and support, together with copies of this motion, to their families.

-reaffirms its commitment to working in partnership with other agencies and organisations to alleviate the problems of homelessness in our city.

-calls upon the government, as a matter of urgency, to consider giving further guidance on Section 8 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 so as to clarify the responsibilities of people working with the homeless; and to review sentencing policy so that inappropriately severe sentences will not be applied in similar cases."

The following are comments made in response to the conviction of the Cambridge Two

"I see no purpose in the conviction or the sentence," said Anne Campbell, MP for Cambridge. The sentences are "outrageous".

" I have grave concerns about the events leading to their conviction and I am astonished at the subsequent sentences," said James Paice, MP for South East Cambridgeshire.

Peter Bottomley, MP for Worthing, has called for a pardon for these two dedicated charity workers.

The following is an extract from a speech made by Peter Bottomley MP at a House of Commons Hansard Debate
which took place at 12.30pm on 29th February 2000

"It is for Parliament to make the duties of prison staff, prison governors and Ministers clear, just as we should make clear the position of charity workers, so that there is no ambiguity. I cannot believe that, either in day centres or prisons, those who need help are refused it. It is not consistent with a civilised society that people who run projects in day centres or prisons to the best of their abilities, who do not connive in or profit from the supply of drugs, and who do not pursue any political agenda should be imprisoned for sentences of draconian lengths--or at all--for simply doing their jobs".

Please click here in order to read the transcript in full, including further contributions to the debate from Anne Campbell MP and Paul Boateng, Minister of State, Home Office.

Peter Bottomley MP

Letters of Support

Byker Bridge Housing Association

I am writing with regard to the recent imprisonment of Ruth Wyner and John Brock for 'knowingly permitting or suffering the supply of drugs' at the Wintercomfort Day Centre in Cambridge.

The conviction and imprisonment of the above persons is of grave concern to me as the Chief Executive of Byker Bridge Housing Association Ltd., an organisation in the North East of England providing extensive services to homeless and vulnerable people. We have 'direct access' Hostel , and 'off the street' Healthcare Centre, a Day Centre, a Therapeutic Workshop and numerous shared houses and hostels in the community. Naturally our dealings with homeless people means we come into contact with individuals who suffer from drug abuse problems.

As a charitable organisation Byker Bridge Housing Association has a duty to help and support vulnerable people (though not to the extent of knowingly allowing the soliciting or execution of illegal acts at or around the premises owned and/or managed by the Association). It would however be fair to say that my colleagues at Byker Bridge and I are aware of the substantial drug misuse problem among homeless, mentally ill and vulnerable people.

I am personally outraged at the thought that my colleagues in Cambridge have been convicted and imprisoned for undertaking their duties to the best of their ability.

I am very aware that there is a substantial drug abuse problem and drug supply problem in many of the countries penal establishments. I am also aware that few prison governors would deny that illegal drugs were supplied and consumed in prisons. I am also sure that prison wardens and prison officers are often aware of those who are consuming illegal drugs and therefore are in possession of illegal drugs in prisons. It is unreasonable to suppose that the Home Secretary is unaware of the fact that drugs are supplied in penal establishments. Are we to expect the imminent arrest of the Home Secretary?

The situation with regard to Ruth Wyner and John Brock is clearly nonsense. It is not unreasonable to demand their immediate release pending a full review of the law governing such cases. In the interests of pursuing sensible social policy, workers in both the statutory and voluntary sector must be allowed to properly interact with the vulnerable people they are helping in spite of the fact that those vulnerable people may have problems related to drug abuse.

Maurice Condie
Chief Executive

Hull Resettlement Project

I write in my capacity as Chair of the Hull Resettlement Project, a charitable organisation providing direct access accommodation for single homeless people. Recently Board Members have had sight of literature from the Cambridge Two Campaign Group which provided a detailed account of the circumstances that led to the shameful jailing of the Manager and Deputy Manager of the Wintercomfort Day Centre. Board Members were astonished at the severity of the treatment and were surprised that any custodial sentence had been given. Of great concern is the decision not to allow an appeal against the verdict although we are naturally pleased that an appeal is being allowed against the length of the sentence.

Rob Batty
Chair - Hull Resettlement
Project Limited

UNISON City of Edinburgh Social Work Shop Steward Committee

6th March 2000

I recently raised the circumstances fo Ruth and John's situation at our Shop Stewards Committee and members were in equal part, shocked and angry at their treatment by the Police and the Courts.

We voted unanimously that I send this message of support to your Committee and ask that you bring it to Ruth and John's attention. The precedent set by their imprisonment is deeply worrying to all working in Social Services, and we are committed therefore to raising the profile of their case within our own membership and elsewhere in our trade union.

Steve Coulson
Senior Shop Steward

I W Independent Housing Advice Centre

28th February 2000

Dear Ruth I and my colleagues have taken an interest in yours and John Brock's case from the early days. In the article around the interview you gave to Observer journalist Anne Garvey you made the point of which I am deeply concerned about whilst working with homeless people who come into our offices to be given advice and the dangers it can place us in. In January of this year we met with Dr Peter Brand MP for the Isle of Wight on a range of housing issues. As your case is a matter of deep concern we voiced these concerns with the MP along with the way you have both been treated. The MP voiced the fact that he found strange in that as Prison governors the officers face the same issues as you and John did, but, they do not face the same charges.

Dan Draper
Caseworker

MSF
The union for skilled
And professional people

23rd February 2000

The following motion was passed unanimously at our recent Regional Council Meeting.

This Region is deeply concerned at the length of jail sentences passed in December on Ruth Wyner and John Brock, who were employed as workers by the Wintercomfort homelessness charity in Cambridge.

The sentences have created an unnecessary climate of fear amongst staff. Including MSF members, who work with vulnerable people.

This Region agrees to:

1. Support the immediate release of Ruth Wyner and John Brock, who should not have received custodial sentences.
2. Raise within MSF the need for clear guidelines to be issued to staff who work with users of illegal drugs, to ensure that neither they nor their vulnerable clients are placed at risk. Drafting such guidelines should be made a priority by the union, and they should then be circulated out to all relevant members and workplace representatives, to enable them to negotiate effectively with employers.
3. Ask the parliamentary committee to consider the issue in detail, and then write to Charles Clarke MP at the Home Office asking him to review the interpretation of the legislation in this case, and consider appropriate amendments as necessary.

The Region intends to hold a meeting on this serious matter to discuss the campaign and the issues involved.

Sarah McDonald
London Region Secretary

Foxbar Youth Drop In

14th February 2000

May I take this opportunity to stress again that I am appalled that this has happened and am concerned about the implications for anyone working with young (or older) excluded people.

I currently manage a youth drop in project, and work mainly with excluded young people, many of whom have drink/drugs problems, and like Ruth and John, operate a drugs policy. However, no matter how much we try to combat drugs use, or take steps to ensure that no one deals on the premises - it could very well happen without us having any knowledge. Furthermore, the decision to charge the workers, rocks the very foundations of successful youth work. If we cannot build trusting relationships with young people, then quality youth work will go and we will find ourselves in the position of 'policing clubs' rather than working with the people who use them.

…I have made a point of raising awareness of this campaign with workers throughout Paisley and Glasgow, I have spoken to our MP and MSP about it and have discussed it with young people who use our Drop In. Additionally, my partner is a local Councillor, and he has raised this within the Renfrewshire Council.

I have also arranged to send information to my MP and MSP, (both of whom seemed to offer their support).

Winnie Walker
Project Leader

NCH Action for Children
The Young Persons Housing Project Morecambe and Lancaster

31st January 2000

Dear Ruth

I have followed the case of John and yourself over the past few months and at a recent training day provided by RELEASE I was once again reminded of your plight. This reminded me to check the web site that has been constructed to inform people of your situation and to raise awareness of the issues.

The issues and difficulties which you faced at Wintercomfort are issues for housing projects across the nation and many workers will relate to the difficulties which you faced and the dilemmas posed by these. It is clear to our team that you did all in your power to deal with the problems presented in a realistic and positive manner.

The simplistic and unrealistic interpretation afforded to your situation by the police and the court has brought about a devastation result both to John and yourself personally and also to any project striving to serve a vulnerable client group.

The best wishes of our team are with John and yourself and we can only hope that the Court of Appeal will call a halt to this injustice. If they do not, prisons across the country will be incarcerating housing project staff who are doing an excellent job with a challenging client group.

Daniel Bradley
Project Manager

Tower Hamlets
UNISON

28th January 2000

I am writing following our Branch Committee meeting held on 18th January 2000 at which your campaign was discussed. The Committee felt strongly that a miscarriage of justice had been committed - one which has repercussions across the whole voluntary sector. This judgement sends an extremely worrying message to those working with vulnerable people who are just trying to do their job in difficult circumstances. Please pass on the support of the committee to both Ruth Wyner and John Brock.

Rachel Curley
Branch Administrator