Victim Support distances itself from Cumbria shootings book
Published: 21 June 2010
- Date:
- 21 June 2010
We have said that we will not be accepting a donation from the profits of a book on the Cumbria shootings. As a charity we are giving help and support to those affected by the shootings, branded the planned publication in July as deeply inappropriate.
Victim Support moved to distance itself following an announcement by John Blake that he would be publishing a book titled, Massacre in Cumbria and would be donating a portion of the profits to the charity.
The announcement came without the prior knowledge of Victim Support who expressed concern that its name was being used to endorse the book.
Commenting, Owen Sharp, Deputy Chief Executive of Victim Support, said: “The timing and content of this book is deeply inappropriate and is not something that we would wish to be associated with. Our volunteers and staff have been giving emotional support and help to those affected by the tragedy. They and the victims’ families will be disappointed to see a publisher seeking to exploit a tragedy which the community is still coming to terms with. Victim Support deals with over 1.5 million people affected by crime each year and accepting a donation of this kind would not be in line with the best interests of the victims we support.”