WHEN he's not arguing the case for fire-fighters across Lancashire he's fighting the corner of prisoners across the world.

Steve Harman is Lancashire Fire and Rescue's full time union representative and has been involved in top-level negotiations during the recent pay dispute.

But during his spare time, 41-year-old Steve is the Chairman of Chorley and South Ribble Amnesty International.

He first became involved in the charity seven years ago when he spotted an Amnesty stall at Leyland Festival.

The worldwide human rights charity campaigns for the release of prisoners of conscience, fair trials for political prisoners, an end to torture, extra judicial executions, 'disappearances' and the death penalty.

Based at Washington Hall Fire Training Centre in Chorley, Steve joined the fire service nineteen years ago after a short career in the Merchant Navy. He became interested in human rights as a fire service volunteer helping with international aid projects . "I travelled across the World and visited lots of poor countries including Tanzania, India, Russia, Armenia and Bosnia," he said.

"It made me realise how comfy we are in Britain and I developed a political conscience.

"Free speech is so important to me in my job and in this country we take it for granted. But in so many countries people just can't stand up for what they believe in.

"In a lot of places membership of trade unions is banned and without collective bargaining workers have no powers to protest about working conditions and are effectively slaves.

"In fact, people in some countries are tortured or even killed just for belonging to a trade union.

"Amnesty polices the Human Rights laws across the world to ensure that people have a voice."

Amnesty International meets at the United Reformed Church, Hough Lane, Leyland every four weeks. A collection to raise funds will be held in Chorley town centre on Saturday April 12. For more information contact Steve on 01772 431126.