The Guardian has reported that pregnant women prisoners in England are being handcuffed to prison officers – often male – during intimate examinations and long, agonising births.
When Joanna went into labour on 30 December 2022, she was taken to hospital, handcuffed and chained to a prison officer. She remained so for the 36 hours of a long, difficult birth. “I was crying so much that my nose was too blocked to use any of the breathing techniques,” Joanna says. “I’m the kind of person who is good at researching my rights. So many people had told me during my pregnancy that I wouldn’t have to give birth in handcuffs. I was taken to hospital chained to an officer with handcuffs but assumed they would be removed at the entrance to the hospital.
Though Joanna told the prison guards of her right not to be handcuffed during labour, as per the advice issued by Birth Companions, officers told her they were not aware of such a rule.
Following news of Joanna’s ordeal, Prisons Minister, Lord Timpson, announced last June that an independent investigation would be carried out by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman into the practice of handcuffing pregnant prisoners during antenatal appointments, intimate examinations and labour.
Jane Ryan, a Solicitor now representing six female prisoners who were handcuffed in these circumstances, believes that some 250 women may have given birth while incarcerated between 2021 to 2025 – the period to be covered by the investigation.
Concerningly, Ms Ryan maintains that the investigation does not comply with human rights standards and is calling for an independent investigation to ensure that witnesses – including prison officers and private contractors – can be held to account and victims’ voices heard.
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