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Justice for Jane

The following information is reproduced from the article in the PCS South-West region section of this website.

Justice for Jane Campaign

The Land Registry has sacked PCS rep Jane Brooke. Jane is based at Weymouth Land Registry and it appears her only offence was to make an industrial injury complaint against the agency.

Surveillance was conducted on six members of staff at the Weymouth office. Not only do we believe this is a breach of both the Data Protection and Human Rights Acts but we also believe it is an affront to common human decency.

Land Registry's management board singled out two of our colleagues to undergo the ordeal of a particularly unpleasant disciplinary enquiry which lasted for many months. The Land Registry pursued this investigation, conducted a hearing in breach of its own procedures and then acted as both prosecutor and judge.

As a result of this process Jane was summarily dismissed and escorted off the premises, with just five minutes to collect her personal effects and compose herself, while a senior member of staff stood guard.

Having worked in the same office for 31 years with an unblemished record, this is absolutely devastating for both Jane and her colleagues.

Land Registry and PCS held a campaign meeting on 11 December. It was well attended, with members from Weymouth Land Registry, PCS senior officers, Chris Baugh assistant general secretary, reps from Unison, FBU, the Prisons Officers' Association, Ministry of Defence, Associate and Retired Members network and south west trades council, as well as colleagues from Land Registry Portsmouth branch, all marching from the front of the Land Registry office, then on to a meeting.

The story made the front page of the Weymouth Echo and there has been lots more media interest. Chris Baugh also did an interview on BBC Radio Solent on 15 December.

It is absolutely vital that we obtain Justice for Jane and all those subjected to this covert surveillance.

Please join the Justice for Jane facebook page

Messages of support should be sent to Jane via justiceforjane@pcs.org.uk

 

January 2010 Update

A fantastic rally on the 11 December 2009 was organised for Jane which started at the Weymouth Land Registry and finished with a meeting in the Alexandra pub, a few minutes from the Weymouth DLR.

Lots of people attended from the PCS including Chris Baugh, Brian Shaw and Dave Lunn. There was overwhelming support from different unions and there were reporters from the Dorset Evening Echo to take details of the Accelerated Transformation Programme (ATP) and the dismissal. The event was a huge success.

Articles were displayed in the Dorset Evening Echo and the Morning Star regarding the rally on the 12 December and the 23 December 2009. Gerrard Sables (south west ARM’s committee) who wrote the article for the Morning Star showed genuine concern for the proposals for the ATP and Jane’s plight.

Mick Kavanagh (President PCS), Brian Shaw (Group Secretary), Jim Knight (local MP for Dorset South), Jane and others who were the subject of the surveillance met with Minister Michael Wills at the Ministry of State for the Ministry of Justice on the 11 January and await answers to the questions that were posed.

A rally took place in London in the House of Parliament on the 20 January, the suite was bursting at the seams with people - it was great to see everyone’s 'togetherness’.

Jane attended the south west regional committee annual meeting on 21 January 2010, with Sue Sugden (newly elected committee member). Both talked about Jane’s dismissal, surveillance, rally and ongoing plans. There was a great amount of support shown for Jane.

The Accelerated Transformation Programme, the possible change of the compensation scheme and Jane’s dismissal has caused a lot of unrest. In the face of these challenging issues we must stand together in order to send a message that we are not prepared to accept these changes.

The fight must go on. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

These are worrying times for all of us. Further action is proposed and an update will follow in due course.

Jane would like to thank everyone who has shown their support.

Solidarity - The strongest bond of human sympathy outside the family relation should be one uniting working people of all nations and tongues and kindreds.