Wintercomfort

[shewhomust]

Five years ago today, Ruth Wyner and John Brock were released from prison.

They were social workers who ran Wintercomfort, a day centre for homeless people in Cambridge, and they had been sentenced to five years and four years respectively, for "knowingly allowing the distribution of a class A drug".

There wasn't any suggestion that they had been involved in drugs dealing themselves, or even that they had knowingly tolerated it. The centre had anti-drugs policies, but it also had a policy of confidentiality which meant that they could not go as far as the police wanted them to in passing on the names of people they thought were dealing or using drugs. So when two undercover policemen saw people exchanging bags of heroin on the charity's premises, it was the organisers who were prosecuted and jailed.

They were released because the appeal court decided that, although they were guilty as charged, the sentences were too high.

The Guardian's articles about the case.


I am proud to describe Ruth Wyner as my cousin; her mother's father and my mother's father were brothers.

She told The Guardian that she had finally stopped dreaming about prison:

"I realised I'd got it taped when I had one of my prison dreams, but this time the beds were nice, with lovely fluffy duvets... And the staff were saying to me, 'You're not supposed to be in here. It's terrible. We are going to do something about it as soon as we can - sorry!' That was the last dream I had about prison."

This is collateral damage in the war on drugs; a war the government is losing (but they're not going to tell us that.)

Comments

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Tony Blair came to power in 97 with such a huge mandate that he could have afforded to tell us the truth about things like the "war on drugs". It was, in fact, what we expected of him. How pitifully he has squandered his opportunity.

[profane-stencil.livejournal.com]

So, your government also has a "war on drugs"? And the drugs are winning there, too?

That's a very sad story.

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

Yup, our government can be relied on to follow your government in everything.

And your governent can be relied on to do just what it was going to do anyway!

[profane-stencil.livejournal.com]

Ah, but come the Revolution....

[sekhmets-song.livejournal.com]

It really is sad that the war on drugs, in either country, has so blatantly turned into a war against the poor. They aren't raiding mansions in the 'burbs for "suspected drugs violations," even though one is just as likely to find dealers there (and even more likely to find distributors with large quantities) than in the city. If one is pulled over in a newer vehicle, he isn't likely to have it ransacked by the police, for "suspicion of possession." That isn't the case if you are driving a rusted out "hooptie". Though, really, if you are major player in the drug world, you aren't driving a crappy car. When drugs are found on a person, if it is a wealthy lawyer, he usually isn't charged are receives a minor misdemeanor charge. An urban youth: hard time.
And, in the case you mention above, gods forbid the pair were actually working to help the poor! Well, such miscreant must be doing it solely to help move product, right?
Gar!