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Restraint of pregnant women special investigation

For information on our special investigation into the use of restraints on pregnant women during pregnancy-related hospital escorts, click the link below.
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PPO extends deadline: We want to hear from pregnant women in prison

Published:

We were commissioned by Lord Timpson at the end of March to carry out an independent investigation into the use of restraints on women in prison during pregnancy-related hospital escorts.

Read more about the investigation here.

We have extended the deadline for women in prison who were restrained to contact us until 5 August 2026, to ensure that more women have the opportunity to share their experiences.

If you have a loved one in prison who was restrained while pregnant during a hospital visit, they can contact us by completing our contact form available within prisons. The form can be obtained from their Business Hub Manager and returned to us free of charge.

If you were in prison and restrained during a pregnancy-related hospital escort, you can contact us directly by completing our online form.

“It is my view that pregnant women in prison should not be routinely restrained. I recognise this may be upsetting for some, but I encourage anyone affected to consider sharing their experiences with us.”
Adrian Usher