Why WinVisible is supporting this picket of the CPS:

We want to highlight that:

·         Abuse of those of us who are older and disabled women is rife, but few attacks are prosecuted.  The latest scandals at Winterbourne View (Bristol) and Ash Court care home (Camden) are the tip of the iceberg. 

·         Cuts in homecare, privatisation, the drop in care standards, including in residential homes, lack of women-only staff, official indifference to mistreatment, lack of investigation, unwillingness to prosecute, encourage increased abuse.

·         Fiona Pilkington killed herself and her daughter Francecca Hardwick, aged 18, who had learning disabilities, after 10 years of torment – they had reported incidents by local young people to the police 33 times.  The police did not put incidents together or recognise disability hate crime.  The inquest jury found the police partly responsible for their deaths, but none will be sacked. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/may/24/fiona-pilkington-police-misconduct-proceedings

·         The CPS is prioritising prosecuting Ms Sheila Farmer, who is seriously ill with a malignant brain tumour.  She has been charged with managing a brothel, and is facing an onerous trial and possible imprisonment for up to seven years.  Yet all involved in the alleged crime were consenting adults, there was no coercion, and the purpose of working together was for women’s safety. 

·         It is not unusual for women with disabilities to turn to sex work to meet our added disability expenses which benefits and other provision do not cover. 

·         Cancer patients can’t count on access to sickness and disability benefits – an estimated 7,000 are set to be cut off after one year, under the Employment and Support Allowance limiting rules which replaced incapacity benefits.  And terminally-ill people have been refused by Atos.

·         Ms Farmer was earning money to pay for her cancer treatment.  She is partially-sighted as a result of diabetes, and many years ago, gave up a job as an IT consultant because her vision was deteriorating.  Ms Farmer’s consultant has written to the court: “I am afraid the future is uncertain and one can almost guarantee that the tumour will grow and progress in the relatively near future.  If possible it would be medically justifiable to try and avoid any stress associated with any prolonged Court hearing.” 

·         It is cruel and sadistic to put her through a trial which further undermines her health, at a time when her very survival depends on decreasing her stress levels.