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Fair Trials Abroad needs cash for French project

14th November 2002
Page 10
Page 10, 14th November 2002 — Fair Trials Abroad needs cash for French project
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

• Legal pressure group Fair Trials Abroad is seeking funding for a research project to assess the way the French legal system treats UK drivers arrested on drug smuggling charges.

Sarah De Mas, deputy director of Fair Trials Abroad, says the charity, which gives free legal help to UK prisoners jailed abroad, has so far men unsuccessful in securing the £20,000 funding needed.

Demand is high for the charity's services, says De Mas—on average one driver a month approaches it for legal help on drug smuggling charges.

"Trials in France can be unfair," says De Mas. "Drivers often have minimum rights with no access to lawyers who speak English or even to translated documents."

In the past the pressure group has taken up the cases of highprofile prisoners such as Essex driver Steve Bryant, who was jailed in Morocco on drug smuggling charges. Last year it highlighted the risks involved in picking up sealed trailers while abroad, warning that it was a bit like "Russian roulette" for drivers because they can do nothing to check the contents (CM 5-11July 2001).

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