25/10/2012
Collecting Clothes for
Babies in Sierra Leone
On 15 November 2012, for the first
time ever, the public in England
and Wales will elect police and
crime commissioners who will
be accountable for how crime is
tackled in their area.
UNISON backs candidates for
the region’s Police and Crime
Commissioners posts and has
officially endorsed John Prescott,
Shaun Wright and Mark Burns-
Williamson. The union is supporting
the candidature of John Prescott
in Humberside, Shaun Wright in
South Yorkshire and Mark Burns-
Williamson in West Yorkshire. After
interviewing the candidates in
Leeds, UNISON chose those three as
being best equipped to protect the
police service from privatisation and
reduce crime rates in the region.
UNISON Regional Manager Chris
Jenkinson said unprecedented
government cuts in police budgets
posed huge challenges to Police
forces throughout the region. He
said: “Threats to privatise the 40
per cent of police staff who are not
police officers would have a drastic
effect on their ability to protect the
public from crime.
The candidates we are
supporting have all made it clear
they will oppose privatisation and
challenge the government’s attacks
on the regional economy which
are having a direct effect on levels
of crime. We are supporting them
because it is extremely important
we have strong representation at the
highest level to forcefully argue for a
fair and adequate funding system for
our police forces”.
Our Regional Women’s Group is collecting baby
clothes for babies in Sierra Leone in its work
to support the charity Life for African Mothers.
In Sierra Leone the maternal mortality rate is
1:8. When hospitals provide bundles of baby
clothes, women are more likely to come to
hospital to give birth and are more likely to
survive as life saving medication can be given.
The Group collects hats, babygrows, cardigans
and blankets for babies and children up to
the age of 2. The clothes can be knitted,
secondhand or new.
If you have any clothing to donate please
forward it to Caroline Hammerton, UNISON
Regional Office, Commerce House, Wade
Lane, Leeds LS2 8NJ.
