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About the Drivers and Families Helpline |  |
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| A little information about Danneke
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Danneke Neale is a very remarkable lady who we should help as much as we can. We hope that you never need her services, but unfortunately many drivers and their families do. Having spent most of her working life as a trucker, often running aid to the Eastern Bloc countries and working within the haulage industry, Danneke is now retired. Even though she is now a pensioner she is still very involved with the trucking industry and runs the Drivers and Families Helpline which offers help, support and advice for drivers arrested abroad and also for the families left to cope alone. This is a FREE service which Danneke runs alone with no help from the Government or outside monies except that which is raised by drivers, their families and other wishing to help. Danneke's own money keeps the Helpline afloat. Danneke started the Helpline around 10 years ago out of the need to know what to do and where to go for help and advice when a driver is arrested in foreign parts and it has since grown to cover drivers arrested in the UK. When a driver is arrested, it is a nightmare for the family who, along with the driver, are in a state of shock. Often the family do not get any news of the driver for some days after the arrest, then usually a letter from the Foreign Office arrives, giving the briefest of information. Sympathy and kindness play no part in the letter from the Foreign Office. The helpline helps the family to come to terms with what has happened and advises what to do and how to get the best help for their loved one. The Helpline is a FREE service, available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Families may contact Danneke at any time if they are in distress or have problems of any kind. Since the Helpline was started, more and more drivers have been duped into transporting illegal goods. Nearly all the items or substances being placed in their load without the drivers knowledge and we all know how easily that can be done. Drivers found guilty can expect 2/7yrs from a European court, 5/15yrs in Eastern Bloc countries and Asia and 7/22yrs in the UK (These sentences of course, vary depending on the amount and the type of substances found.) If the driver is innocent, which in fact, most are, this is a massive blow to all concerned. The gangs and drug barons depend on the truck drivers to unwittingly transport their booty in bogus consignments, the vigilance of the driver is paramount at all times and common sense must be on full alert. The Helpline is run on a shoestring and is always desperate for cash to pay for things like sending food parcels out to drivers being held in places like Morocco, Macedonia etc where the families are expected to provide for the prisoner. Even water has to be paid for, also bed space, gas to cook with and many more things. So if you can help in any way (car boot sales, raffles, donations or any other way) please send your donation to to the Drivers and Families Helpline where the money will be used to directly help drivers in prison abroad. All donations will be gratefully received and acknowledged. email Danneke |
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