Deadline extended for women to have their say on cuffing during pregnancy
The watchdog leading an investigation into the handcuffing of female prisoners during hospital visits while they were pregnant has issued a fresh appeal for women to come forward.
Adrian Usher (pictured), the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, has extended the deadline for submissions to 5 August to ensure that more women get the chance to have their say.
Mr Usher was asked by Prisons Minister Lord Timpson on 30 March to carry out an independent investigation into the practice.
The Ombudsman said: “This is because of allegations that the HM Prison and Probation Service policy governing the use of restraints on pregnant women in prison was breached at one or more women’s prisons.
“This means that we will be looking into how widespread the use of restraints on pregnant women in prison going to hospital appointments is, and where this may have happened inappropriately or outside policy guidelines. I will present Lord Timpson with our findings at the end of the investigation and publish the final report on our website.”
The investigation covers the 10 closed women’s prisons in England – Bronzefield, Downview, Drake Hall, Eastwood Park, Foston Hall, Low Newton, New Hall, Peterborough, Styal and Send. Women are being asked to submit their responses on a special form, which ought to be available to women currently in prison from their Business Hub Manager.
The investigation team can be contacted by post at: Restraints investigation team, Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, Third Floor, 10 South Colonnade, London, E14 4PU. The team can be emailed at PPOrestraintsinvestigation@ppo.gov.uk. All contact will be handled confidentially.
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