Geoffrey Expresses Admiration for Achievement of Former Convicted Prisoner in Winning Award

Torridge and West Devon’s MP Geoffrey Cox has today expressed his admiration for the achievement of Bideford constituent, Mr Chris Dredger, a former convicted prisoner and member of the charity StoryBook Dads, who has recently won a TalkTalk Digital Hero 2011 award for the South West, as well as the overall national award.

The prizes equal an additional £10,000 to help develop the charity, which helps prisoners maintain positive contact with their children. It is understood Mr Dredger will be using this money for equipment to provide the StoryBook Dads service to more prisons and also into the armed forces.

Geoffrey commented: “Mr Dredger has turned his life around since leaving Dartmoor Prison, and his story serves as a prime example of how penal reform coupled with true commitment can facilitate this.”

“The government is working to lower the reoffending rate through many different programmes such as drug and alcohol rehabilitation. There are also training in prisons and access to web-based learning and job sites, proactively encouraging prisoners to better themselves. It is fantastic to be able to report that when these options are available, reoffending rates drop dramatically.”

“These measures can only be viewed as a step forward, and in a constituency which includes Dartmoor Prison, I will be pushing for these reforms to not only increase public safety, but further lessen reoffending rates. In the meantime, I do not doubt Mr Dredger will continue his work and support other family units by keeping prisoners and army servicemen and women in touch with their children through StoryBook Dads.”