Who was Chris Tchaikovsky? | Kate Fraser and Deborah Coles

The Secret Life of Prisons

Chris Tchaikovsky was a founder of the charity Women in Prison, the charity that campaigns on behalf of women in the criminal justice system. She died in 2002, having lived an extraordinary life. Today's episode marks the end of Women's History Month and is dedicated to her life and her legacy.

Kate Fraser spent 17 years in heroin addiction, engaged in street sex work, and spending spells on remand in prison. She went on to work for the charity NACRO, and then applied for a job with Women in Prison, where she first came across the name Chris Tchaikovsky. She is now Head of Practice for Women in Prison.

Deborah Coles is the Executive Director of Inquest, the only charity providing expertise on state-related deaths and their investigations. Deborah knew Chris, having met her during her days at the University of Essex.

You can read Women in Prison's new strategy document, Together in Power 2025-2030, here.

You can buy Criminal Women, the book written by Chris Tchaikovsky with Pat Carlen and others, here.

You can find out more information about the work of Inquest here.

Presenters:

Phil Maguire – Chief Executive, Prison Radio Association

Paula Harriott – Chief Executive, Unlock

Producer: Andrew Wilkie

Assistant Producer: Faye Dunn

The Prison Radio Association is a charity that runs National Prison Radio, the world’s first national radio station for people serving prison sentences. We employ people in prison to develop their skills, find their best voices and help them discover ways to lead crime-free lives after release.

To make a donation please visit prison.radio/donate.

To contact the show, please email [email protected].

Registered Charity in England & Wales 1114760

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