§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Blatch on 4 December 1995 (H.L. Deb., col. WA 66), whether governors have discretion not to use handcuffs on women prisoners while they are suckling their infant children; and if not, why not.
§ The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Blatch)Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to he given.
Letter to Lord Lester of Herne Hill from the Director of Services of the Prison Service, Mr. A. J. Butler, dated 11/1/96.
Baroness Blatch has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about whether governors have discretion not to use handcuffs on women prisoners while they are suckling their infant children.
Following the publicity about the handcuffing of women during labour, a note was sent to governors of prisons with mother and baby units clarifying the position on handcuffing of women in labour. The directive states that once the woman has been confirmed as being in labour at the hospital all restraints are to be removed. No restraints should be applied until the baby has been delivered and the mother has finished nursing the baby.
After that, restraints will still not be applied unless the governor considers it necessary on security grounds. Medical, surgical or clinical reasons will often indicate that restraints should not be used.
The Director General has agreed to meet with the President of the Royal College of Midwives, to discuss this further and to try to resolve any difficulties.