Jeremy Harrison
It is with profound sadness that PAS has learned today of the passing of trustee, Jeremy Harrison.
Jeremy served as a PAS trustee for nine years, between 2015 and losing his battle with cancer on Sunday, 1 September. During that time, he attended most of PAS’ London-based Management Committee meetings in person, despite living in Ireland.
In a message of condolence, PAS Chair, Dominique Webb, said of Jeremy,
“[he] gave PAS so much over the years he was a trustee, always willing to write a policy or review a business plan at the drop of a hat, producing professional, thought-through documents seemingly effortlessly. He supported PAS to succeed through many, many legal aid audits, annual reports, HR processes and other organisational challenges.
“But more importantly, Jeremy was always so keen to be involved. He was the epitome of the engaged trustee… He was so supportive of me personally in my transition to becoming Chair, a very gentle, kind and talented man.”
Jeremy brought a wealth of wisdom and experience to PAS, culled from a commendable career spanning journalism, the third sector and the new field of Impact Measurement. He served as Public Relations Director at tenants’ rights charity Shelter, and as Deputy Director of the Community Projects Foundation (now the Community Development Foundation). Jeremy was as a long-term consultant for the European Commission on Education, Training and Economic Development. In recent years he taught Impact Measurement and Evaluation, both in the UK and overseas, in India, Sri Lanka and Nigeria.
Jeremy’s generosity of spirit, and his contribution to PAS, will be sorely missed.
Vacancy at PAS – Community Care Caseworker
PAS is currently recruiting for a Community Care Caseworker.
PAS’s caseworkers provide legal advice and advocacy to prisoners throughout England and Wales. The Director at PAS supervises the post, which is self-servicing.
This role offers excellent opportunities for the right candidate, who will be able to take responsibility for and develop a full caseload. Knowledge of the main issues affecting prisoners is essential.
The post is 4 days a week.
The entry pay level will be £30,811 – £31,939 including London weighting.
PAS currently offers hybrid working, where the post holder would be expected to attend the office for at least two days a week.
The caseworker specialises in prison law and community care law as it relates to prisoners, including advising and assisting prisoners with disabilities, and those who are soon to be released with regards to their resettlement rights in the community.
Further details and application materials can be found here.
Eric Allison Legacy In Latest Medomsley Investigation
Prison and Probation Ombudsman has announced the beginning of Operation Deerness, the most recent investigation into the abuse that took place at Medomsley Detention Centre between 1961 and 1987.
This development, like its predecessors, could not have occurred without the work of late PAS Trustee, Eric Allison, who campaigned in his writing to recognise the terrible sexual ordeals suffered by the boys at Medomsley.
A spokesperson for PAS said, “Eric was always concerned about the kids in Medomsley who’d been abused. He persuaded Simon [Hattenstone; Guardian features writer] to research it with him. It was their joint work on it that led to various inquiries into the abuse, of which Deerness is the most recent.”
As Hattenstone says in his obituary of Eric,
‘Our work on the abuse of children in Medway secure training centre contributed to the security giant G4S being stripped of its contract to run the children’s prison. Our 2011 investigation into sexual abuse at Medomsley detention centre led to Operation Seabrook, one of the largest single abuse inquiries in the UK, with more than 1,600 former inmates coming forward to report allegations of abuse. Nearly all our stories came from Eric’s brilliant contacts, who were as loyal to him as he was to them.’
Erwin James (1957-2024)
Prisoners’ Advice Service was shocked to hear of the death at 66 last week of a long-standing friend to the charity, Erwin James.
Journalist and author, Erwin James Monahan, served a life sentence for murder and became known for turning his life around, winning a Koestler Award for his first article, written for The Independent in 1994, whilst still in prison, and being discharged with an Open University degree in 2004.
James went on to write for The Guardian, again while serving his sentence, and published a number of books including his memoir, Redeemable, in 2017. He was editor-in-chief of Inside Time, the national free newspaper for people in prison, from 2016 to 2023.
Having been sentenced to life in 1984, in the early 1990s James discovered that the minimum term he would have to serve before release had been set at 25 years by the Home Secretary. PAS successfully represented him in an appeal to reduce his tariff by five years and a relationship was fostered that lasted until his death.
While still in open prison, and already writing for The Guardian, James was granted temporary release to work at PAS, first as a volunteer and then as a paid member of staff. When released from prison on life licence by the Parole Board in 2004, he went on to become Development Manager at PAS. He was instrumental in securing extant, long term funding for the charity and also donated part of the proceeds from the sale of his own books to us.
It was with great sadness that colleagues learned of James’ death. He will be remembered as a steadfast champion of prisoners’ rights.
PAS Contributes to Article Excoriating the Practice of Releasing Prisoners Homeless
PAS is pleased to have assisted with the researching and writing of an article, published in The Independent on Thursday, 28 December 2023, criticising the government’s track record on releasing prisoners from jail with no home to go to.
PAS Consultant, Anna Fairbank, contributed to journalist, Andy Gregory‘s piece, which describes how 600 people leave prison without accommodation every month, leading to a cycle of , ‘cell, street, repeat’.
To read the article in full, click here.
Jimmy McGovern Panel Event Great Success
On Thursday 9th November, Prisoners’ Advice Service was delighted to host a panel discussion at Doughty Street Chambers, focusing on the telling of prisoner stories.
The panel featured Time writers Jimmy McGovern and Helen Black, as well as former PAS Co-Director Deborah Russo, who shared her experience of dramatising her recent Criminology PHD research. The panel discussed public interest in prisoner stories, the challenges involved in producing an authentic script and the role of TV in exposing the realities of prison life to a mass audience.
The event was moderated by former PAS Chair of the Trustees, Martine Lignon, who recently stepped down from the role after 10 years. She was thanked at the event close for her dedication to PAS by the charity’s Director, Lubia Begum-Rob.
Feedback from the event has been overwhelmingly positive so far, with one guest saying: ‘I just wanted to say thank you for organising last night’s event. It was so interesting and informative and we chatted with some great people afterwards, too.’
If you would like to watch a recording of the event, you can do so here.
To hear about future PAS events, please sign up to our mailing list.
PAS Annual Lecture Date Announced
We are delighted to confirm that the PAS Annual Lecture will be held at Doughty Street Chambers on Thursday 9th November.
The evening will take as its focus telling prisoners stories through different media, and will feature panellists, Emmy winner, Jimmy McGovern, and Bafta nominee, Helen Black, who have co-written the second series of BBC prison drama, Time. Former PAS Co-Director, Deborah Russo will also join the panel to reflect on her experience dramatising her recent PHD research.
The panel will explore the value and complexities of sharing prisoner stories, particularly given growing public interest in the Criminal Justice Sector.
The event is free to attend and drinks and canapes will be provided.
If you are interested in attending, please email list@prisonersadvice.org.uk.
We are hugely grateful to Doughty Street Chambers for making this event possible.
Venue: Doughty Street Chambers, 54 Doughty Street, London WC1N 2LS
Date: Thursday 9th November
Time: 6-9pm
PAS Appoints New Chair of the Board of Trustees
PAS has appointed a new Chair of the Board of Trustees after current post-holder, Martine Lignon, made the decision to step down after 10 years in the role.
New Chair, Dominique Webb, who joined PAS as a Trustee in December 2019, will take up the role formally on the 19th October.
Dominique is currently Head of Programmes for GamCare, the leading provider of advice and support for anyone affected by gambling. Having begun her career in advice work with the Citizens’ Advice network, Dominique subsequently worked in gender policy for the Equality and Human Rights Commission. She spent eight years as a board member of Merseyside Probation Trust, and two years as Director of Operations at Women in Prison. Dominique believes that providing accurate and independent information and support is vital in enabling people to exercise their rights, especially in the complex and restrictive prison environment. We wish her all the best in her new role.
We also thank Martine for her many years of service, and look forward to continuing to work alongside her as she resumes her work with PAS as a member of the Board of Trustees.
Remembering Eric Allison: The Return of PAS Panel Discussion
PAS is delighted to announce the return of its annual Panel Discussion on 19 April at 6pm, after an absence of four years!
The occasion will honour the memory of a dear friend and colleague of PAS, and will take as its title, “Remembering Eric Allison: Don’t Mourn, Mobilise!”
At the event, a panel of speakers will share their stories of fighting alongside Eric to ‘shine a light’ on the injustice of imprisonment and we will raise a glass in his honour.
Drinks will be served from 6pm, with the panel beginning at 6.30pm, at the London offices of Reed Smith, to whom PAS is most grateful.
To reserve a place, please send your name and e-mail address to list@prisonersadvice.org.uk.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
JOB VACANCY AT PAS
FUNDRAISING AND COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
Interested in Human Rights? Prisoners’ Advice Service, the charity providing legal advice and support to adult prisoners across England and Wales, is recruiting a Fundraising and Communications Officer to work part-time in its London office with some hybrid working possible.
Alongside the Head of Fundraising and Communications, you will be responsible for generating much of PAS’ income from a mix of trusts and foundations, wealthy individuals, corporate law firms and fundraising events. You will be responsible for working with project staff to develop tailored and persuasive applications, communicating our work to both cold and warm prospects.
Further details and application materials can be found on our Vacancies Page
David Ramsbotham 1934-2022
We are sad to learn of the passing of Lord Ramsbotham. His fearless advocacy for prison reform, combined with his wit and enormous compassion, will be missed.
We were very proud when he agreed to be PAS’s first patron and grateful for all of the support he gave to us.
He was truly a fine public servant. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.
Beloved Friend of PAS, Eric Allison, Dies at 79
PAS Director, Lubia Begum-Rob, pays warm tribute to former PAS trustee, Eric Allison, who has died at the age of 79.
In a heartfelt tribute to Eric, written earlier today, Lubia says, “A powerful voice for prisoners’ rights in this country is now silent”.
Eric began offending at a very young age and spent a total of 16 years in prison, quickly becoming concerned about abuses he witnessed within the system. In 1995, Eric co-authored ‘Strangeways 1990: A Serious Disturbance’ on the causes of the 1990 prison riots. From 2003, he wrote for The Guardian as Prisons Correspondent, which won him the Amnesty International Prize for Investigative Journalism in 2013. Eric was a PAS trustee from August 2014 until April 2020.