A pregnant woman who ‘begged’ prison officers to remove her handcuffs as she went into labour is one of five women suing the Government. The former prisoner of HMP Bronzefield  recounts that she was ‘left alone on the bed, handcuffed to a male officer’ as she prepared to give birth.

Of the group, four women allege that they were handcuffed during labour, while a fifth alleges that she was handcuffed during intimate examinations. 

According to government guidelines, restraints must not be used on pregnant women when attending medical appointments unless there are exceptional circumstances. It states that if restraints are required, escort chains – which allow a longer distance between a prisoner and the member of staff they are attached to – must be used to allow women to have confidential interactions with healthcare professionals.

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