Sign Steve's Petition

See how Commonwealth and other Countries support their citizens' King's Pardon Applications compared to the almost non existent support from the UK

And this is Steve's support

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Room G/109

Consular Division

Old Admiralty Buildings

London

SW1A 2PA

                                                                                                            13th December 2006

Dear Ms. Thompson,

 

Steven Michael Willcox – Bangkwang, Thailand

 

Thank you for you letter dated 11^th December 2006.

 

I would now like to address two further issues.  The first relates specifically to Mr. Willcox’s case and the second is a more general matter concerning the Foreign Office’s policy of supporting prisoners imprisoned abroad.

 

Please find enclosed a copy of the letter from Kate Duffall at the British Embassy in Bangkok dated 10^th November 2005 in relation to Mr. Willcox’s application for a King’s Pardon.  You will also find enclosed various letters of support from many other Embassies in relation to their own citizens imprisoned in Thailand.

 

In comparison with the enclosed letters of support from other Embassies I am most disappointed at the letter provided by Ms. Duffall for Mr. Willcox.   Although you state that you will not support a prisoner’s application for a King’s Pardon unless they meet your criteria, at the very least I would expect the British Embassy’s letter to the King to address him correctly.  It is common knowledge that the King of Thailand is honoured.  By addressing the letter “To whom it may concern” it is likely to be an insult to him, which is not really the appropriate thing to be doing in the circumstances!  It is also evident from the other Embassies letters the lack of support the British Embassy has given to Mr. Willcox.

 

My second, and main point, relates particularly to the enclosed letters from the Australian and New Zealand Embassies.   You will note their policy in relation to supporting their own citizens is to give automatic support to a prisoners application for a King’ Pardon once a prisoner has served a sentence equivalent to that they would have received in their own country, and less one year in the case of Australia.  The strict criteria adopted by the British Embassy as to when they will consider supporting a prisoner’s application for a King’s Pardon, is very difficult to meet.  Other countries are very keen to support their own citizens, something which in general the UK Government frequently fails to do!  

 

My question to you is, would the British Embassy consider adopting the approach taken by the Australian and New Zealand Embassies?  This clearly seems a logical approach.  I note that both Australia and New Zealand are also part of the Common Wealth.   If this approach was adopted then the British Embassy could not be criticised for letting people commit crimes abroad and getting away with it, as the policy is only to support prisoners imprisoned abroad once they have been punished for their crime.

 

I am very disappointed in the lack of support the British Embassy gives to its citizens imprisoned abroad and hope they will give very strong consideration to this proposal.  If you do not believe such an approach would be suitable please could you explain why?

 

Yours sincerely