Pregnant women prisoners imprisoned at HMP Bronzefield, run by a private contractor Sodexo Justice Services, were forced to attend antenatal examinations and undergo labour whilst restrained in handcuffs.
The use of restraints happened repeatedly, lasted for days, and directly interfered with their experience of pregnancy and birth. Restraints took place during the extreme physical pain of labour including during contractions and during the most intimate vaginal examinations. At times women were restrained to male officers. Two of the women affected have now asked the Secretary of State for Justice to commission an independent investigation into their treatment.
Jane Ryan and Joanna Khan act for former pregnant prisoners who are seeking accountability for their traumatic experiences of being handcuffed during antenatal examinations and labour. If you would like to discuss these issues with a member of our team please contact us.
See Channel 4 coverage here, and here.
Read Tortoise Media coverage, here.
