Police Chief “Prison Lock Up” raises over £7800 for Tenovus Cancer Care

A Prison ‘Lock-Up’ event has raised over £7800 for a Wales-based cancer charity.

North Wales Police Chief Constable Carl Foulkes was amongst those taking part in the sponsored ‘Lock-Up’ at Mold police station on Saturday evening.

Chief Constable Foulkes was joined by North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood and around 16 other volunteer prisoners getting a unique opportunity to experience life behind bars while raising money for Tenovus Cancer Care.

Our @tenovuscancer #lockup participants waiting to be arrested earlier this evening @AllingtonHughes @idata @nwpolice Gill Lehrle @cherelle_lm @MarkIsherwoodAM @nwalestweetsuk @NWPCCFoulkes @samcox2306 @nicmorgy pic.twitter.com/zf0SRJ6sBw

— Debbie Rowley (@debbietenovus) March 9, 2019

During the event, prisoners had their fingerprints and mug shots taken, handed prison clothing to wear and had all home comforts taken from them, including their mobile phones.

Prisoners were put into cells at Mold Police station by officers and staff who had all volunteered their time for the event.

They were questioned by the police officers for “made-up” charges, fed the infamous microwaved prison food and put through their paces in the dingy exercise yard at the station.

Food at the funny farm @debbietenovus @tenovuscancer all volunteers for the love of the cause pic.twitter.com/IbmcIYoCh0

— NWP Custody Llay (@NWPCustodyEast) March 9, 2019

It was up to individuals to entertain themselves however, all participants were moved around the cells to get meet the other prisoners throughout the evening.

Upon his release, Chief Constable Carl Foulkes said:

“After a fantastic effort we raised over 7k (£7000) tonight and a huge thank you once again to those who sponsored me I raised over 700 pounds in the end.

We have all been released a great job by the cadets, staff and officer who made tonight what it was.”

Debbie Rowley, Tenovus Cancer Care Regional Fundraising Manager North Wales, said:  “I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who made our very first North Wales Lock Up a massive success.

All prisoners raised bail and were set free and the total currently stands at £7,000 with more donations still coming through.

I’d like to thank North Wales Police and the Police Cadets for all their hard work, we really couldn’t have run this event without them. We’re overwhelmed with the response we’ve had to this event and we’re always looking for new supporters, so please get in touch if you can help.”

PS 1679 Gill Lehrle, said: “Having been critically ill with cancer myself in 2010 I was very excited, if not a little daunted, to be asked to organise the first ever North Wales Police Lock Up event.

I would like to thank Debbie from Tenovus Cancer Care for her support but most importantly I would like to thank my colleagues and the cadets who kindly volunteered their time to staff the event.

Saturday nights off are few and far between so to spend it in the cells running round after 24 detainees may not have been the most enticing invitation. However, the prisoners were a delightful bunch and we all very much enjoyed the evening.

I’d like to dip my hat to the Chief Constable, whom received no preferential treatment whatsoever.

In fact we may have given him a slightly harder time than was strictly necessary. All in the name of a fantastic cause”.

The money raised from this event will help keep the charity’s services running. This means that the charity’s Cancer Support Advisors can continue to offer free financial advice, its Sing with Us Choirs can continue to provide support with a difference and nurses are just a phone call away, 365 days a year, for anyone affected by cancer.

You can still donate on JustGiving: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/nwplockup