POA Conference 2006

LLW attended the POA Conference in Portsmouth and had a hard working but, productive week meeting many Branch Officials and discussing legal issues with them. The LLW/POA Umbrellas were as popular as ever but thankfully the weather was kind enough not to make them necessary that much during the week.

We were all delighted to see Honorary Life Membership bestowed on Pete Hancox and John Boddington – I have worked with both of them on POA Legal issues for many years and the work they have done for the POA at all levels over so many years has been exemplary making this an honour they richly deserved.

We would also like to congratulate those who received the Cronin Clasp – for me one of the best moments of Conference is when this ceremony takes place.

We now have a new Finance Officer and Chair of the Legal Aid Committee in Steve Gillan. I recall working with Steve when he was on the Committee at Chelmsford and, of course, since he joined the NEC. All of us at LLW look forward to working with him in the future – with Pete retained as an Adviser to the POA he will soon be schooled in the art of saying “no”!

For us it was an important Conference because the NEC put forward a Motion to re-appoint us as Solicitors for the POA for a further 5 years from May 2007 and this was approved by Conference. I have been involved in working for POA Members since 1975 and LLW has been the national Solicitors for the POA since 1992. We have therefore learnt a lot about you, what you do, the challenges you face and hopefully, how to fight for justice on your behalf. We would all like to thank the NEC & the Conference Delegates for the faith they have shown in us.

We are always looking to improve and always working hard to identify ways in which we can continue to represent the Membership. We will do all that we can to fight for justice for POA Members and justify the faith you have shown in us.

Branch Visits

Conference Motion 153 of 2006 requires us to make at least 12 Branch Visits each year – many of you will know that Branch Visits (and other POA based meetings or Events) are something we have always done and we are more than happy to commit to a minimum of 12 each year.

They are very useful from our point of view because –

• We get the chance to meet individual Members whose cases we are dealing with;
• We get the chance to see parts of an Establishment where a major incident may have occurred;
• We normally see one or more of the Committee and have the opportunity to discuss general legal issues with them;

Already in 2006 we have made a number of Branch Visits as well as meeting with POA Members on other occasions. This is the story so far!

Frank Rogers

• 2.3.06 HMP Stafford;

• 7-10.3.06 HMP Parkhurst & HMP Camp Hill;

• 13.3.06 HMP Preston;

• 16.3.06 HMP Woodhill;

• 12.4.06 Prison Service Football Tournament – Newbold Revel;

• 25/26.4.06 Branch Official Training in Birmingham;

• 23-26.5.06 POA Conference in Portsmouth;

Anthony Marriott

• 19.1.06 HMYOI Feltham;

• 31.1.06 HMP Wormwood Scrubs;

• 10.2.06 HMP Holme House;

• 6.4.06 HMP Dartmoor;

• 23-26.5.06 POA Conference in Portsmouth;

Joanne Taylor

• 7.2.06 HMP Frankland;

• 16.3.06 HMP Woodhill;

• 23-26.5.06 POA Conference in Portsmouth;

Bruce Henry

• 25/26.4.06 Branch Official Training in Birmingham;

Simon Higgs

• 17.5.06 Simon Higgs visited HMYOI Lancaster Farms: to see a Member in relation to a Claim arising out of an attempted suicide where, due to a lack of a vent aid, psychiatric injury resulted. A long Statement was taken and Simon had the opportunity to look round Coniston Unit;

• January 2006 Keith Sheppard visited HMP Kingston for a Pre Inquest Meeting: Keith was able to tour the Prison, the cell where the death occurred and the Segregation Unit. This was the first Inquest for Kingston and apparently the Coroner himself had no experience of Deaths in Custody. Keith was able to advise on the key issue of whether there was a conflict of interest (there was not) and in relation to requests for Disclosure from the Solicitors acting for the family of the Deceased;

• 8.2.06 Keith Sheppard visited HMP Wormwood Scrubs for a Pre Inquest Meeting: again he had the opportunity to discuss the Case with Committee Members and look round parts of the Prison;

• 3.3.06 Keith Sheppard visited HMP Norwich for 2 Pre Inquest Meetings: one meeting was then cancelled. Separate representation was again the key issue to discuss but Keith also had the chance to discuss Inquests with the Committee in general terms;

• 7.3.06 Keith Sheppard visited HMP Brixton for a Pre Inquest Meeting: again Keith had the chance to discuss a specific case with Committee Members and issues relating to Inquests generally;

• 22.3.06 Keith Sheppard visited HMP Holloway for a Pre Inquest Meeting: Counsel was also in attendance here. The Committee kindly arranged a full tour of the Prison;

• 19.4.06 Keith Sheppard visited HMP Birmingham for a Pre Inquest Meeting: general discussions took place on Inquest issues – another good opportunity to ensure that good lines of communication were open between LLW and local Committees;

I have already contacted a number of Branch Committees who have asked us to visit and hopefully specific dates will be agreed shortly.

I will keep you updated on this and other issues through Gatelodge and on our website www.llwpoa.co.uk

Frank Rogers
Lees Lloyd Whitley