Jailed drivers
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Thank you to Jon Smedley 1 for the comments he made in CM (29 May-4 June) about the drivers held in various prisons around the world. Having had dealings for a long time with the Foreign Office I have come to the conclusion that they have a taped message which they play when we mere mortals ask questions of them; it goes: "We are monitoring the situation".
I monitored the situation for almost two years and had regular "heated discussions" about the lack of consular help for Mickey Chinnick, held in a Turkish prison.
Once, when I had pulled stops out and gone over their heads and got results, one of their staff told me I had no business to do so. When I
asked the young lady if she would like to be locked away in similar circumstances knowing she was an innocent victim her reply was to remind me that "Mr Chinnick had been to trial and found guilty by the Turkish Courts and sentenced accordingly"
Now how on earth can any driver in similar circumstances have any charm of help or even have confidence in the British Consulates abroad when the attitudes of Embassy staff is one of contempt and negativity towards drivers?
I am still actively campaigning for Hobbs, Mills and Steve Bryant and any other driver that finds him/herself in trouble abroad.
The more letters, faxes and interviews with MPs and Euro MPs also Transport Ministers etc complaining about the raw deal drivers get abroad the better. Danneke I Neale, Scarborough,