The archive consists of material collected by Betty Jerman for a planned book on baby-abduction by women (never published). Jerman became interested in the subject through the case of Pauline Jones (who abducted baby Denise Weller in 1971, and was sentenced to 3 years in Holloway prison) and wrote a series of articles about the case for The Guardian that led to a 'Free Pauline Jones' campaign.
The archive is mainly comprised of press cuttings from the national media about 'baby-snatching' cases, spanning 1971-2002. It also includes Jerman's book proposal outline, research notes, correspondence, typescripts and publications. It includes papers relating to the Pauline Jones' case, the Kilroy television programme 'Snatch', the support organisation The Portia Trust, and the campaigning organisation Radical Alternatives to Prison.
Jerman , Betty , fl 1950-1999 , journalist and author