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UK: Cambridge Two freed to appeal

01 June 2000

Two charity workers jailed for four and five years respectively for failing to prevent petty heroin dealing at a centre for the homeless in Cambridge have been bailed by the Court of Appeal after seven months in prison. John Brock and Ruth Wyner were found guilty in December of "knowingly permitting or suffering the supply of a Class A drug on the premises" (Section 8, Misuse of Drugs Act (1971)) following an undercover police operation (see Statewatch vol 10 no 1). In their defence the two had relied on the charity's confidentiality policy under which they were unable to pass-on the names of suspected drug-dealers to the police. Despite them having issued ten bans to clients for drugdealing and 162 for suspected dealing over a 16 month period, the Judge, Jonathan Howarth, described the centre as a "haven for heroin dealers". Bail was granted after prosecution lawyers asked for more time to consider evidence produced by the defence. Defence lawyers say Howarth misdirected the jury by not allowing them to consider the relevance of the client confidentiality code. While the granting of bail does not prejudge the result of the appeal (which is likely to resume in September), those working with drug users - and workers across a range of institutions or premises where drug-dealing might occur - have breathed a huge sigh relief. Homeless charities have reportedly been turning away drug users for fear of police investigations and prosecutions threatened by the unprecedented sentences handed to Wyner and Brock. The Free the Cambridge Two Campaign say they are resolved to fight on to overturn the convictions and clear the two's names.

Justice for the Cambridge Two Campaign, link