Ann Widdecombe MP is to be arrested, but the shocking news doesn’t make her a criminal – the imprisonment is part of Guide Dogs’ fundraiser: Jailbreak.

Ann, who volunteered for her ‘time behind bars’, will be arrested outside the Houses of Parliament, then taken to the Clink Prison Museum on London’s South Bank on Thursday, 29 November.

Wearing prison uniform, Ann will appeal for community support to raise her bail of £35,000; money which will be invested in Guide Dogs’ services for blind and partially-sighted people.

If you would like to find out more about Ann Widdecombe and her involvement or just more about Guide Dogs' Jailbreak, please visit our website.

‘Prison officer’ and Guide Dogs’ Jailbreak coordinator, Theresa Robberts explains:
“When someone loses their sight, they can also lose their independence. This lost mobility is rediscovered thanks to a guide dog, in a similar way to bail money bringing freedom to Ann Widdecombe."

“It’s like the extraordinary partnership between guide dog and owner.  In this case Ann, supported by the public donating the bail money, uniting in a common cause, supporting Guide Dogs.”

“It costs £10 a day to breed, train and support the thousands of guide dog partnerships in the UK, and with the charity receiving virtually no government funding, every hour Ann spends behind bars will make a real difference to our work.”