Tell Shabana Mahmood: protect pregnant women and mothers

The Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood has forced the suspension of vital sentencing guidelines that introduced new measures to protect pregnant women and mothers from the harms of imprisonment.

Now, we need to get as many people as possible to tell Shabana Mahmood that if she insists on blocking the Sentencing Council’s guidance, she is responsible for ensuring protection for pregnant women and mothers through legislation.

The more voices she hears, the stronger our collective call to urgently prioritise the wellbeing of pregnant women, mothers and children swept up in the criminal justice system.

Women cannot wait any longer.

When you click ‘submit’, your message will be sent directly to the Lord Chancellor.

Name(Required)

First Last

Email(Required)

Hidden

Address

ZIP / Postal Code

Join the Level Up mailing list

yes

Organisation name (if applicable):

Adjust or add anything that's necessary.

Dear Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood,

I am writing to express my concern regarding the suspension of the Sentencing Council’s Imposition guideline due to come into effect today.

The revised guideline included important measures that would have made meaningful changes in the lives of women and children in our criminal justice system. Too many lives have been torn apart by unnecessary custodial sentences and three babies have died inside the women's prison estate in recent years. A decision to imprison a pregnant woman poses serious risks to mothers and their children.

The Royal College of Midwives has stated that prison is "no place for a pregnant woman," while the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has called for greater use of non-custodial sentences for pregnant women and mothers.

Delaying these guidelines means pregnant women and mothers appearing before courts today, tomorrow and thereafter face riskier sentencing outcomes than if the guidelines were implemented as planned. For pregnant women and new mothers especially, every week matters for healthy development.

Given your willingness to act quickly on sentencing matters, which you have demonstrated this week, I urge you to introduce statutory reforms that will protect pregnant women, mothers, and their children from the harmful impacts of imprisonment.

Yours sincerely,

CAPTCHA

First Name

Last Name

Full Name

Password

Your personal information will be kept private and held securely. By submitting information you are agreeing to the use of data and cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy

Password

Remember me

Forgot password?