OAPs refuse to work with killers and drug abusers

A GROUP of elderly volunteers at a Scottish charity shop claim they are being forced to quit after refusing to work alongside "murderers, drug abusers and fraudsters" as part of a new prisoner placement scheme.

The 18-strong group, some in their 80s, are threatening to leave their posts at the Sue Ryder Care charity shop in Broughty Ferry after being told they would have to be willing to work with inmates on day release from the nearby Castle Huntly open prison.

Evelyn MacPherson, 71, one of the volunteers, said: "We were assured we wouldn't be working with rapists, child molesters, paedophiles or serial abusers, but were told we could get murderers, drug abusers or fraudsters.

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"I would be frightened to work with some of these people and I certainly wouldn't want them finding out where I live."

Alan Hodges, the director of retail for Sue Ryder Care, said

: "This programme is hugely successful. Of the 300 placements, only five have gone wrong and they have not gone wrong because of non acceptance by the volunteers or the management team within the shops. They have gone wrong for other reasons. "