COMMUNITY members served some time in jail as part of a fundraising event for charity.

Seven were handcuffed, arrested and locked up at Ruislip Police Station on Friday, October 2 as part of Michael Sobell Hospice’s Jail and Bail fundraising event being held as part of their Hospice Care Week awareness campaign.

Dressed in prisoner boiler suits, detainees were handcuffed and arrested by the police outside the Northwood hospice and taken in a police van to Ruislip Police Station.

There, they were fingerprinted, photographed and had DNA samples taken and were then put in one of the cells to be served typical prisoner microwave meals.

Those who took part were asked to raise as much money prior to the event and then spend time in a police cell with a mobile phone and a list of contacts until further cash was raised and they could be released on bail.

Inspector Rob Bryan, Hillingdon North Neighbourhood Policing said: "Jail and Bail is a fantastic way to raise money for Michael Sobell Hospice which does so much for those with life-limiting illnesses.

“Those arrested did not receive a comfortable incarceration. There was no internet or TV. Even the loo in the cell no longer flushed.”

More than £7,000 has been raised by participants so far and sponsorship is still coming in.

Taking part in the event was Vipool Shah, from Harrow, who was locked up for providing payroll, book-keeping and accountancy services efficiently and at a reasonable cost.

He said: “I took part in this event because all the staff at the hospice looked after my brother and sister-in-law in an excellent manner.

“I just wanted to raise money for this superb charity, raise awareness of all the fantastic work that they do and inspire others to do the same.”

Ursula Reeve, who manages palliative care services at Michael Sobell Hospice and Mount Vernon cancer centre, was also locked up for stealing two hydrangeas from the park and extracting the occasional 'free' can of drink from the chilled drinks machine in MSH before it was fixed.

She said: “I have worked at the hospice for 11 years and see first-hand every day the great work that is done.

“I wanted to support the event and my colleagues thought it would be great fun to see me arrested at work.”