News story

29th September 2005

Website Seeking "Pen-pal" for Louise Smith's Killer taken Down after Pressure from Local MP

A website seeking pen pals for convicted criminals, including the killer of local teenager Louise Smith, has been taken down following pressure from Northavon MP Steve Webb.

The website, "prisoner pen-pals", contained photographs of inmates together with personal messages in the style of a "lonely hearts" advertisement seeking members of the public to write to them and to meet up with them after release.

Local MP Steve Webb was contacted by Louise Smith's mother, Gill, who was offended by the style and content of the site, and he immediately took up the case with the Home Office. The Lib Dem MP has now received a reply from Home Office minister Fiona Mactaggart saying that Prison Service Headquarters had been in touch with the site's owner who would be removing the site from the internet. In the letter, the Minister says that the site owner apologises for the distress that has been caused.

Commenting, Steve Webb said:

"Families who have lost a loved one have already suffered enough and they should not have to be put through further distress because of thoughtless actions such as this. I am pleased that the Home Office has taken swift and effective action in response to my complaint and that this site has now been removed."