Help Us Fight Back
If you are as outraged as we are by the unjust treatment of Ash and his family, we urgently need your help to take action. Please join us in writing a letter or email to the Complaints and Correspondence Department at HMP Swaleside to seek justice for the six months of mistreatment. We must hold accountable those responsible for this harm and prevent them from causing further suffering to innocent prisoners. Together, we can demonstrate that we can win the fight to defend those who have been tortured.
You can email Complaints and Correspondence here: correspondence.swaleside@justice.gov.uk
Or post your letter here:
Complaints and Correspondence Swaleside
HMP Swaleside
Brabazon Road
Eastchurch
Isle of Sheppey
Kent
ME12 4AX
Below you will find a sample letter to Governor. You are encouraged to use any portions that you find appropriate.
Sample Letter
Subject: Ashley Podsiad-Sharp (Prisoner Number: A6320EW)
Dear Governor Hargreaves,
I am writing to express my serious concerns about the necessary actions to address the clear mistreatment of Ashley Podsiad-Sharp (A6320EW) while he has been under your care at HMP Swaleside.
It has come to my attention that Mr. Podsiad-Sharp has been subjected to severe and unjust restrictions that have deprived him of basic rights, particularly regarding his family.
Mr. Podsiad-Sharp, who has no convictions related to offenses involving children, has been unfairly labeled as a Person Posing Risk to Children (PPRC). As a result, he has been wrongfully denied access to his children, including visits, phone calls, and correspondence. This unjust separation has not only caused Mr. Podsiad-Sharp considerable emotional distress but also violated his right to family life.
Despite Mr. Podsiad-Sharp’s exemplary conduct at HMP Swaleside and his clear requests for transparency regarding the evidence against him, he has been persistently denied access to critical information needed for his appeal over the past four months. Although some evidence was eventually provided after five months, the prolonged denial has subjected him to severe emotional suffering.
These actions appear to contravene fundamental human rights protected by the European Convention on Human Rights, particularly Articles 3 and 8, which safeguard individuals from inhumane treatment and protect the right to private and family life. It is clear that these breaches have also caused significant hardship to Mr. Podsiad-Sharp’s wife and children, who are entitled to family rights as well.
Furthermore, I am deeply concerned that Mr. Podsiad-Sharp may be facing discrimination based on his philosophical beliefs, which is explicitly prohibited by the Equalities Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998. Such discrimination only compounds the injustices he was experiencing.
Although the PPRC restrictions have been lifted due to these violations, I demand that those responsible for this entire damaging process be held accountable. The actions and gross negligence of those enforcing the PPRC restrictions have led to nearly six months of emotional suffering for Mr. Podsiad-Sharp and his family, particularly his innocent children. Such gross negligence should never be repeated again.
If these issues are not addressed immediately, I will have no choice but to support Mr. Podsiad-Sharp in pursuing legal action against you, HM Prison Swaleside, and potentially the Home Office.
I am also forwarding this letter to the Home Secretary to ensure that these serious allegations are acknowledged and to emphasize the urgency of this situation.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
The Home Secretary: Yvette.cooper.mp@parliament.uk
Help Ash with Appeal Process
If you wish to support Ash in his appeal process, we have a few heartfelt suggestions for you. It’s crucial that we maintain strong pressure to ensure that his plea for an appeal is given the serious consideration it deserves and isn’t dismissed once again. Your support can make a significant difference during this critical time.
Write to Minister for Prison and Probation:
If you wish to assist Ash, we urge you to write to the Minister James Timpson and convey your concerns regarding the treatment Ash has endured at the hands of English law enforcement, judges, and the justice system as a whole. You can articulate the profound injustice and unfairness inherent in depriving someone of their freedom based merely on assumptions about their thoughts. Help Ash to express to the Minister the gravity of this matter and the profound impact it has on one’s liberty.
James Timpson, Minister
for Prisons and Probation
102 Petty France
London
SW1H 9AJ
United Kingdom
If you want to help in a more anonymous way:
Feel free to write, call, or email the Prison Reform Trust regarding Ashley Podsiad-Sharp’s case and inform them of this distressing situation. You can locate their contact information on their website.
In The Meantime…
Grant with your prayers
We kindly ask you to join us in prayer, seeking strength and mercy from God to help them navigate through these challenging times. Please pray for Ash, for his family, and for all the families who are experiencing such torture. May God grant them the fortitude to endure, the faith to remain hopeful, and the grace to find peace amidst the storm.
Sing the petition
Thank you to everyone who chooses to help Ash with the above. We will be sure to keep you updated with any progress. In the meantime, please consider signing the “Demand Justice for Ashley Podsiad-Sharp“ petition.
Write letter to Ash
Would you consider sending a postcard or writing a letter to Ash? Your thoughtful gesture would mean a lot to him, especially since he’s currently separated from his loved ones while dedicating himself to helping others. Your message could truly brighten his day.
Ashley Neil Podsiad-Sharp
A6320EW
HMP Swaleside
Brabazon Road
Eastchurch
Isle of Sheppey
Kent
ME12 4AX
England
Send book to Ash
Ash loves reading books, which offer him a much-needed escape. Unfortunately, the prison enforces certain censorship rules, preventing him from receiving books like ‘The Gulag Archipelago.’ However, he would greatly appreciate good fiction and history books for himself, as well as fairy tales to read as bedtime stories for his girls.
Every book you send will make a difference to Ash. He will be very grateful for your support.
This time, Ash can promise to open and read every book he get!
SHOPS
Help Ash’s family
The impact on Ash’s family has been profound. His wife and children are now navigating a future without his financial support, which has left them in a precarious situation. The emotional toll is significant, and they are in urgent need of assistance to meet their basic needs and regain some semblance of stability. If you can, please help them.