Level Up
in the Press

Prisoners who gave birth in handcuffs sue Ministry of Justice

One of five women who went into labour while an inmate at HMP Bronzefield says she begged officers to remove her restraints in the hospital

Black women call for a ban on toxic hair products linked to cancer - Voice Online

Black women are calling for a ban on toxic hair ingredients - which have been linked to an increased risk of cancer and fibroids

Sentencing of pregnant women: a 21st century approach

Maya Sikand KC and Janey Starling, co-authors of a new toolkit, Representing pregnant women and mothers in the criminal justice system, believe that advocates can play a critical role in ensuring that sentencers get it right

Pregnant in prison: 'When I thought my baby had died nobody seemed to care'

Pregnant women in prison are seven times more likely to suffer stillbirth and twice as likely to give birth prematurely.

A mother’s fight for justice after baby dies in prison

Baby Aisha Cleary died in a prison cell after her then teenage mother, Rianna, was left to give birth alone in 2019. Earlier this year, a coroner ruled that multiple systemic failures led to her death.

Alarming data reveals high diabetes risk for pregnant women in English jails

Freedom of information requests show that female prisoners are three times more likely to suffer gestational diabetes

Prisoners forced to give birth handcuffed to male officers

At least two female prisoners have come forward over incidents that occurred at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey between 2021 and 2023

‘Prison will never be a safe place to be pregnant’ – campaigner

We spoke to Janey Starling, from the feminist campaign group Level Up, and former prison governor Pia Sinha, who now heads the Prison Reform Trust.

Damning report published into death of baby born to teenager in prison cell

Inquiry into how 18-year-old gave birth on her own in HMP Bronzefield in Ashford finds many failings

Pregnant woman’s jail sentence quashed in ‘landmark’ UK ruling

Campaigners hail decision to replace 22-year-old’s prison term for firearm possession with suspended sentence

Pregnant women and new mothers shouldn’t be sent to jail, UK public says

Poll shared with Observer shows high support for reform of prison sentencing to stop lives being torn apartar

Revealed: one in three jailed pregnant women in England and Wales still to face trial

New data on prisons has added to calls by campaigners to end custodial sentences for expectant mothers

L’Oréal urged to withdraw hair relaxers after studies find cancer risk

Research claims to show link between cancer and lye-containing products largely used by black women

Urgent call for review into sentencing pregnant women due to health risks

Experts and campaigners write open letter to justice secretary and Sentencing Council warning of dangers of giving birth in jail

Mothers and babies join protest against UK imprisonment of pregnant women

Two babies have died in women’s prisons in UK in past three years, when mothers gave birth without medical assistance

FA and Premier League urged to help tackle gender-based violence

Letter makes demands including letting clubs suspend without pay players suspected of abuse

UK prison where baby died gives women rape alarms to call for help during labour

Campaigners renew calls to end incarceration of pregnant women after introduction of measure at HMP Bronzefield

Facebook criticised after women complain of inaction over abuse

Amnesty says social media firm must do more to support users who report harassment

Pregnant teen, 18, found with dead baby in cell after being ignored for 12 HOURS

A TEENAGE girl who gave birth in prison was found clinging to her dead baby girl after her cries for help were ignored for 12 hours.  The pregnant girl, 18, was in jail for the first time afte…

Prison guards, but not mother, get counselling after baby dies in cell

Exclusive: Report from the ombudsman found that the guards who failed to help were offered bereavement support but not the grieving teenager

Like EastEnders' Sonia, I was in prison while pregnant - it was dehumanising

A personal account exploring the parallels between EastEnders character Sonia's fictional prison pregnancy and the reality faced by real women in UK jails — highlighting how mainstream TV is finally reflecting a crisis that campaigners like Level Up have long been raising.

I had a baby in jail - here's the truth about Lauren's Coronation Street plot'

A woman who gave birth in prison has said it has been 'emotional' seeing soap Coronation Street tell the storyline of character Lauren having a baby in jail on TV

Prisoner, 18, tried to save baby after giving birth alone in cell

An 18-year-old prisoner who gave birth alone at night in her cell bit through the umbilical cord to free the baby, who was either stillborn or died soon after

Jailed teen lost baby after giving birth alone and cutting cord with teeth

Campaigners have demanded an end to the “high-risk” practice of sending pregnant women to prison as new figures show that nearly 200 expectant mothers were be

Half of young women on Facebook suffer abuse

Emily Robins describes the harassment she faced over Facebook as “virtual psychological abuse”. She was 18 when her account was broken into by a hacker she believes to be her ex-boyfriend, starting seven years of torment that still goes on.Robins is not alone. New research shows more than half of yo

Concerned United fan behind protest at Old Trafford

When a public figure responds to an allegation against them with the words “fake news”, they invoke a certain Trumpian disdain, an air of dismissal. When Cristi

Ronaldo protest group flies banner naming his rape accuser over Old Trafford

A BANNER bearing the name of Cristiano Ronaldo’s alleged rape victim has been flown over Old Trafford in protest against the Portugal captain. The 36-year-old football sensation today made hi…

More than half of young women using Facebook have 'experienced harassment'

MORE than half the young women using Facebook have been harassed, including some being stalked, a study found. Sixty per cent have received offensive, graphic or insulting messages. Some were sent …

Ronaldo protestors fly banner in support of rape accuser on Man Utd debut

The Portuguese forward was making his first appearance for Manchester United since 2009 but feminist group Level Up aimed to "disrupt the fanfare" with the banner

Young mum, 18, slams 'cruel' prison system as baby dies in her arms inside cell

Rianna Cleary was six months pregnant in the biggest women's prison in the country when she gave birth alone in a prison cell before her baby Aisha died in her arms

Piden a L’Oreal retirar productos para el cabello que, al parecer, causarían cáncer

Una carta de activistas británicas se suma a las demandas que ha recibido la empresa francesa por el presunto uso de químicos peligrosos.

Fewer pregnant women to be jailed after major shift in sentencing policy

Two babies died in UK prisons after their mums were jailed. The new sentencing guidelines, which come in to force on April 1, will see fewer women who are pregnant or have recently given birth behind bars

Teen found holding dead baby in cell after biting through umbilical cord

WARNING: DISTRESS CONTENT An inquest into the death of a baby who was found dead in her mother's arms inside a prison cell, has slammed both the prison and hospital involved in looking after her pregnant teenage mother

‘Unsurprising’: Expert’s damning verdict on teenager whose baby died after giving birth in cell alone

Campaigners Warn Media Is Failing Domestic Homicide Victims As They Launch 'Dignity For Dead Women' Petition

"Every bad article on domestic violence is a missed opportunity to help prevent further deaths."

Pregnant in prison: What it's like to be an expecting mum behind bars in the UK

Rianna Cleary gave birth alone in a prison cell and had to endure the death of her baby.

What is it like to be pregnant in prison?

Three women bravely share their stories of motherhood behind bars

Protesters gather at HMP Bronzefield to call for end to pregnant women in prison

It comes as the latest in a sequence of public protests over mothers in prison, organised by campaign groups No Births Behind Bars and Level Up.

Mum whose baby died in prison blasts 'cruel system' as coroner rejects report

An inquest found “clear evidence” of “systemic failings” in the death of Aisha Cleary

Jailed women in UK five times more likely to suffer stillbirths, data shows

Call for system overhaul amid increasing concerns for women who give birth while behind bars

The truth about hair relaxers: in the US, lawsuits over cancer. In Africa, soaring sales

Despite criticism for the use of potentially harmful chemicals, companies are still selling the products around the world

Cristiano Ronaldo: plane banner protest as striker returns to Manchester United

Feminist group Level Up says it flew message over Old Trafford in support of woman accusing footballer of sexual assault

T-shirts are all very well. But its unions that win rights for women | Janey Starling

Feminism was forged in the struggle to escape the sweatshop, says campaigner Janey Starling

Facebook, listen to your users and stop tolerating hatred | Carys Afoko

The social media giant said sorry about Cambridge Analytica but is silent about sexual harassment

Her husband murdered her. Then the media took away her dignity | Janey Starling

Melanie Clark’s case highlights the shameful reporting of domestic violence deaths. A new press code would save lives, says Janey Starling of feminist organisation Level Up

I run a feminist group, but today I am celebrating International Men’s Day-Carys Afoko

It´s time we stopped being part of a culture that vilifies men, says Carys Afoko, founder of a feminist organisation

L´Oreal urged to stop selling hair relaxers after studies find cancer link

Female activists also asked the company to invest in research on the long-term use of chemical relaxers, which make hair easier to straighten

Pregnancy and maternity to be new mitigating factor for sentencing offenders

The Sentencing Council will replace the existing reference to pregnancy with a dedicated factor for pregnancy, childbirth and post-natal care.

HMP Bronzefield Surrey protest calls for 'no more babies in prison'

The protest was set up like a child's birthday party with dancing and people singing nursery rhymes.

Activistas piden a L'Oréal que retire sus productos para alisar el cabello por vínculo con cáncer | BI Noticias

Podría haber un vínculo entre el cáncer y productos que contienen lejía, señalan

The #NoMoreLyes Hair Relaxer Petition, Explained

An explainer breaking down Level Up's #NoMoreLyes petition, which calls on beauty brands including L'Oréal to remove toxic chemicals — including sodium hydroxide — from hair relaxers used predominantly by Black women, following research linking these products to cancer and fibroids.

‘I woke up in handcuffs’: Prison isn’t safe for pregnant women, so why are they there?

Two babies have died in England’s prisons in recent years, and pregnant women have appalling stories to tell

Premier League teams are playing footballers facing abuse claims

Alleged victims tell the BBC top clubs prioritise commercial interests over the safety of women.

Why people are suing L'Oréal over hair relaxers

Some are worried about ingredients in products used to style afro hair - but the science isn't clear.

These headlines show how not to report on domestic homicides

This kind of reporting is not just lazy or cliched, it’s dangerous - and hopefully we’ll see an end to it soon, with UK press regulators publishing new guidelines on how journalists should report fatal domestic abuse.

More than half of young women have been abused on Facebook

From unwanted pictures of penises to full profile hacks, women continue to be a target for harassment.

Majority of Black women experienced 'scalp burns or hair loss' from relaxers

Campaigners are demanding beauty brands remove dangerous chemicals from Black hair products.

Breastfeeding mums demand end to prison for pregnant women in protest

Two babies are known to have died in women’s prisons in the past three years.

Protesters in London demand an end to the imprisonment of pregnant women

Armed with signs, the group sang nursery rhymes in the London drizzle as they called for change.

IPSO to discuss potential for new media guidelines on reporting of domestic violence deaths with feminist group

The UK’s largest press regulator will enter discussions over potentially introducing guidelines on the reporting of domestic violence deaths.

Petitioners call for ban on domestic abuse victim-blaming in Editors' Code

A voluntary approach to improving reporting of domestic abuse stories in UK newsrooms is no longer enough, according to feminist campaigners.

Cristiano Ronaldo: Plane protest over sex assault claim

A plane showing support for a woman who accused the player of rape flies over Old Trafford.

Women on remand more likely to self-harm | Prison Reform Trust

New data from the Prison Reform Trust reveals that women held on remand — not yet convicted — are disproportionately likely to self-harm in custody, highlighting the mental health crisis caused by unnecessary pre-trial imprisonment, including of pregnant women.

UK press regulators back feminist group's new guidelines on reporting domestic violence deaths

The UK’s two press regulators have endorsed a feminist campaign group’s new set of guidelines on the reporting of domestic violence deaths.

Campaign urges beauty firms to pull ‘toxic’ hair products aimed at Black women

If the lives of Black women and girls matter to these companies, they’ll take these poisonous products off the shelves.

Woman left to give birth alone in prison cell despite calling for help, report finds

Ms A had to bite through umbilical cord herself before trying to wipe up blood from floor, say investigators

Revlon Faces Hair Relaxer Cancer Claims as Bankruptcy Nears End

On Tuesday, Revlon’s bankruptcy judge extended the deadline by which customers with certain types of cancer can file claims against the company.

Dozens of women accused of illegal abortions face police investigations

Women who have abortions after legal cut-off are ‘always in desperately vulnerable situations and are victims not criminals,’ prominent doctor warns

Abortion is healthcare: why decriminalisation must come with real access

Decriminalising abortion is just the first step — access, funding and support must follow for the law to mean anything for women.

Abortion law: What does it mean to decriminalise abortion?

An explainer on what decriminalisation of abortion means in practice and why campaigners say it matters for women's healthcare rights.

Majority of Black British women suffer side effects from hair relaxers such as burnt scalp, study finds

Exclusive: Major study into impact of products containing lye, a harsh chemical used in drain unblockers.

Beauty brands face backlash on race

Activists press companies to match social media commitments to anti-racism with action on products and hiring policies

Banner protests Ronaldo over rape accusation

Gender justice group Level Up flew a plane over Old Trafford on Saturday in protest of Cristiano Ronaldo's debut for Manchester United.

Are hair relaxers damaging to health?

Different chemistries have been designed to turn curly hair straight, but in all cases questions remain about their safety, finds Rachel Brazil

Aisha Cleary: Baby died after ‘vulnerable’ Black teenage mother gave birth alone in prison cell

Aisha Cleary: Baby died after ‘vulnerable’ Black teenage mother gave birth alone in prison cell

Ministers urged to end jailing of pregnant women under amendment to policing bill

Exclusive: One ex-prisoner tells The Independent she was forced to sleep on top bunk of bed in double room

Plane with sign reading ‘Believe Kathryn Mayorga’ flies over Manchester United stadium

The plane flew overhead to reject the "culture of silence around abuse from the football community"

Over half of women reporting Facebook abuse get no response or action

More than half of women who have reported harassment on Facebook claim they got no response or were told there would be no action as it did not violate community guidelines, research suggests.

Stop sending pregnant women to prison' petition aims to change sentencing laws for mothers

One woman shares her story as campaigners say prisons will never be safe for pregnant women, new mothers and babies

I gave birth to my son as a prisoner

Anna was terrified she might lose her first-born while pregnant in prison. She says the BBC show Time is an accurate representation of her harrowing experience

‘I was terrified I would miscarry in prison’: The plight of pregnant women behind bars

As the inquest into the death of Aisha Cleary, born in her 18-year-old mother’s cell in 2019, comes to a close, Lauren Crosby Medlicott speaks to other women who have given birth while locked up

‘I Had No Idea How Much Time I Would Get With My Newborn Son’

As a new campaign launches to prevent pregnant women being sent to prison, an anonymous mother describes her experience of being pregnant in prison, being in labour in handcuffs and looking after a newborn behind bars. Read more at Graziadaily.co.uk

It’s Impossible To Overstate The Significance Of Sally Challen’s Retrail

Last night, a BBC Two documentary aired detailing the case of Sally Challen, a...

It’s 2021 – why are women birthing behind bars? | Power 2021 | The Flock

It’s 2021 – why are women still birthing behind bars in Britain? Lauren Crosby Medlicott on the campaign to keep pregnant women out of prison

Woman whose baby was stillborn in HMP Styal praises sentencing changes

Louise Powell says she hopes new guidance means fewer pregnant women are jailed and it can be the legacy of her child Brooke

Cristiano Ronaldo: 'Believe Kathryn Mayorga' banner flown over Man Utd stadium to protest sexual assault allegations

Feminist group Level Up were responsible for the banner, which read: Believe Kathryn Mayorga. Kathryn Mayorga alleged that Cristiano Ronaldo raped her in a Las Vegas hotel room in the summer of 2009. He has denied these claims.

Ronaldo's United homecoming is met by feminist protest

Cristiano Ronaldo's return to Manchester United was met with a feminist protest in the sky above Old Trafford relating to rape allegations brought by an American woman he met in Las Vegas in 2009.

Hair relaxers could be harming Black women - we're calling on big brands to stop selling them

An Oxford University report found that women repeatedly using hair relaxers containing lye could be 30 per cent more at risk of breast cancer

Pregnant in prison

Pregnant women are being forced to give birth in prison, affecting their own and their children’s life chances. Janey Starling explains why no woman should be imprisoned in pregnancy.

Hair relaxer use may affect ability to conceive

A first-of-its-kind study showed that use of chemical hair straighteners was associated with a slight reduction in the likelihood of pregnancy, and that Black and Hispanic individuals were more likely than other racial and ethnic groups to use these products early in life, more frequently, and for longer durations.

Pregnant women are facing poor conditions in UK prisons - here’s one woman’s story

“Putting a pregnant woman, or a mother and child behind a locked door is never going to be a safe place.”

These new guidelines will change how the media reports domestic violence deaths

For the families of women killed by violent current and former partners, it couldn’t come a moment too soon.

How collective care can change society | Janey Starling & Seyi Falodun-Liburd | TEDxLondonWomen

What would the world look like if we prioritised building the emotional and physical structures we all need to live more loving and liberated lives? Inspired...

L’Oréal Urged to Withdraw Hair Relaxers After Studies Find Cancer Risk

In an open letter, coordinated by the UK feminist group Level Up, campaigners also ask the company to invest in research on the long-term use of chemical relaxers, which make hair easier to straighten.

Status of Hair Relaxer Lawsuits Discussed at MDL Conference

A joint status conference is being held today for hair relaxer lawsuits consolidated as part of a multidistrict litigation in federal court.

Feminist Community Calls for L’Oréal to Remove Toxic Ingredients from Hair Relaxers

As the litigation against hair-relaxing product manufacturers heats up, the United Kingdom (UK) feminist community Level Up has called for beauty products manufacturer L’Oréal to either make these products safer or take them off the shelves. In an

Should pregnant women be spared jail? Sentencing Council reviews the impact of prison on unborn babies

Sky News has spoken to three women who've experienced pregnancy in jail and describe it as a frightening, isolating and humiliating experience.

Child's birthday party' protest outside prison to demonstrate against jailing pregnant women and new mothers

It comes as the latest in a sequence of public protests over mothers in prison, organised by campaign groups No Births Behind Bars and Level Up.

The whole experience was traumatic': The reality of pregnancy in prison

As a campaign launched today calls for an end to prison sentencing for pregnant women in the UK, one woman shares her experience

I've met a lot of wife killers and murder is never a 'crime of passion', believe me

As a forensic criminologist, I’m regularly aghast at the way we report on and talk about men who murder their wives.

When we jail a mother, we condemn her child too

The legal system can strip innocent children of their home and carer - sometimes, in cases like Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, with tragic effect