Prison Death Demo

abolitionist | 27.01.2009 00:52

Protest the fatal imprisonment of another woman at the notorious HMP Styal - Alison Colk was found hanging in a cell just one day into a 28 day sentence.

Stop Prison Deaths by Self-Harm

Demonstrate Wednesday 28th January 1:00pm
Styal Prison
Styal Road
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 4HR

Prison campaigners and mothers Joan Meredith and Yvonne Bailey have called this demonstration.

The call for protest comes after the latest self-inflicted death of mother Alison Colk at HMP Styal on 8th January 2009.

The campaigning organisation 'INQUEST' has referred to Styal as:
' a prison with a disturbing history of deaths of vulnerable women'.

"It is deeply shocking that a woman has died one day into her sentence. Vital questions need to be asked about what possible justification can there be in sentencing a woman to just 28 days. Despite high level scrutiny of Styal prison, serious concerns remain about the safety and quality of life for women held there and why lessons from previous deaths appear not to have been learned. Unless more women are diverted from prison the increase in self inflicted deaths and the associated high levels of self harm, mental distress and family disruption will continue". Deborah Coles, for INQUEST

Joan Meredith and Yvonne Bailey have worked together with and supported prison justice movements such as 'Inquest', 'No more prisons' and with the late Pauline Campbell and 'the Howard League' for several years. They are both mothers and wish to help stop the devastating effects of such deaths.

Further information and interviews from:

1. Joan Meredith: 01948-860862 or mobile (available on mobile from Wednesday at 12.00 noon): 0781-6928232
2. Yvonne Bailey mother of Joseph Scholes (on Wednesday at the demonstration)

Background links and articles: Joan Meredith / Yvonne Bailey

News release by Frances Laing, freelance journalist and blogger