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Posted June 27th, 2014 by English PEN staff & filed under Campaigns.<\/p>\n
Leading authors will gather at Downing Street today (Friday 27 June) to urge David Cameron to overturn restrictions on sending books and other essentials to prisoners<\/p>\n
Writers including Sir David Hare, Mark Haddon, Sarah Waters, A.L. Kennedy and Kathy Lette are to join English PEN and the Howard League for Penal Reform for the event, organised as part of the ongoing Books for Prisoners campaign.<\/p>\n
They will present to Number 10 a letter signed by more than 40 high-profile figures including Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, Alan Bennett, Salman Rushdie, Philip Pullman, Vanessa Redgrave, Julian Barnes, Irvine Welsh, Jacqueline Wilson and Joanne Harris.<\/p>\n
\u2018We believe this is a misguided policy,\u2019 the letter states. \u2018Reading goes hand in hand with education and rehabilitation, whilst research shows that informal learning reduces re-offending\u2026 We strongly urge you to reverse this harmful policy at the earliest opportunity.\u2019<\/p>\n
The campaign is calling on the government to end restrictions, introduced in November 2013, which prevent families and friends sending books, underwear and other essentials to prisoners.<\/p>\n
Tens of thousands of people have shown their support by signing a petition and sending photographs of bookshelves to the Ministry of Justice\u2019s Twitter account using the hashtags \u2018#shelfie\u2019 and \u2018#booksforprisoners\u2019. The government\u2019s stance has also been condemned by international writers and former prisoners of conscience.<\/p>\n
The gathering at Downing Street was organised after Justice Secretary Chris Grayling refused to meet the Poet Laureate and other writers to hear their concerns.<\/p>\n
Jo Glanville, Director of English PEN said:<\/p>\n
\u2018We\u2019re dismayed by the Justice Secretary\u2019s failure to respond to an unprecedented public campaign. We\u2019re hopeful that David Cameron will appreciate the necessity of reversing a misguided policy.<\/p>\n
\u2018There is already evidence of the positive and lasting benefits of access to books on prisoners. At a time of chronic overcrowding and stress in the prison population, it would be perverse to continue to deny supporting the enjoyment of a fundamental human right.\u2019<\/p>\n
Frances Crook, Chief Executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said:<\/p>\n
\u2018That so many leading writers are urging the Prime Minister to act illustrates the growing disquiet over the ban on sending books and other essentials to prisoners.<\/p>\n
\u2018The Justice Secretary\u2019s refusal to meet with us to discuss the issue has succeeded only in galvanising the campaign and baffling anyone who believes we should be broadening access to reading and not restricting it.<\/p>\n
\u2018This is a petty and counter-productive policy which the Ministry of Justice has tried and failed to justify with spurious arguments.<\/p>\n
\u2018It is surely time the government conceded a change, particularly against a backdrop of ever more overcrowding, growing unrest in prison and an alarming rise in suicides behind bars.\u2019<\/p>\n
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For detail please visit here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Posted June 27th, 2014 by English PEN st … Continue reading