MP Supports Organisation for Families of Prisoners

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 31st Mar 2004

Action recently celebrated the 1st Anniversary of its national helpline, which has received over 5,500 calls

Annette Brooke, MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, yesterday hosted a reception for the small, independent charity "Action for Prisoners' Families", which gives support and information to the families of people in prison.

The charity recently celebrated the 1st Anniversary of its national helpline, which has received over 5,500 calls, and the launch of a new series of information booklets.

Formerly responsible for prison issues in the Home Affairs team, and recently appointed the Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Children, Annette Brooke is only too aware of the crisis in the prison system today, and also of the effects on the families of offenders, particularly children. She said:

"Supporting prisoners' families is important not only because they are the innocent victims, but because offenders are up to six times less likely to re-offend if good family contact is maintained while they are in prison. As such, these relationships should be supported and encouraged. Better statutory support for this group of people could do a great deal to prevent re-offending and to keep families together."

"Children, in particular, suffer bullying and teasing in school which can also be devastating to their future development, mental health and educational achievement. Too often, they suffer in silence, judged guilty by association and sharing the stigma of imprisonment, but not the guilt."

Lucy Gampbell, the Director of Action for Prisoners Families, highlighted some of the comments received by men, women and children who had contacted the helpline for support.

"I felt upset at first and missed him all the time. But I was ashamed and didn't want to tell people. We never got any information from anyone, where he was or telling us what was happening."

"It is quite hard when your son is in prison and it has never happened before and you are left in the dark with nobody to help."

"It makes you feel horrible, like you have done something too."

"If you can ever imagine the darkest nightmare that you've ever had and you're living it."

Prison is supposed to serve as a punishment for those who have committed crime. Too often, the wife or husband and children are being punished, with no support or advice, for crimes they did not commit, and knew nothing about. This charity is not about pretending that criminals should not be punished, but that their loved ones need help too.