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Anger at cuffing pregnant inmates | Anger at cuffing pregnant inmates |
(41 minutes later) | |
The handcuffing of pregnant prisoners in hospital has been branded "unacceptable" by Nicola Sturgeon. | The handcuffing of pregnant prisoners in hospital has been branded "unacceptable" by Nicola Sturgeon. |
The deputy first minister made the comment after Labour's Johann Lamont described in parliament how a heavily pregnant constituent was handcuffed. | The deputy first minister made the comment after Labour's Johann Lamont described in parliament how a heavily pregnant constituent was handcuffed. |
Prisoner Donna McLeish was shackled to a Reliance officer while attending appointments at hospital in Stirling. | Prisoner Donna McLeish was shackled to a Reliance officer while attending appointments at hospital in Stirling. |
A recent HMI report into Cornton Vale condemned the practice of handcuffing women before and after they gave birth. | A recent HMI report into Cornton Vale condemned the practice of handcuffing women before and after they gave birth. |
During First Ministers Questions, Ms Lamont said her seven-months pregnant constituent was handcuffed for both inpatient and outpatient appointments at Stirling Royal Infirmary. | During First Ministers Questions, Ms Lamont said her seven-months pregnant constituent was handcuffed for both inpatient and outpatient appointments at Stirling Royal Infirmary. |
The position of this government is very clear. "We consider the handcuffing of pregnant women in hospital to be absolutely unacceptable Nicola Sturgeon | The position of this government is very clear. "We consider the handcuffing of pregnant women in hospital to be absolutely unacceptable Nicola Sturgeon |
She called on Ms Sturgeon to outline the government's policy on the issue and called for action to address it with Reliance, the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) and health boards. | She called on Ms Sturgeon to outline the government's policy on the issue and called for action to address it with Reliance, the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) and health boards. |
But Ms Sturgeon said: "The position of this government is very clear. | But Ms Sturgeon said: "The position of this government is very clear. |
"We consider the handcuffing of pregnant women in hospital to be absolutely unacceptable and I hope that's something everybody in the chamber would agree with." | "We consider the handcuffing of pregnant women in hospital to be absolutely unacceptable and I hope that's something everybody in the chamber would agree with." |
Justice secretary Kenny MacAskill is due to meet Ms Lamont to discuss the issue. | Justice secretary Kenny MacAskill is due to meet Ms Lamont to discuss the issue. |
'Double-cuffed' | 'Double-cuffed' |
"I certainly hope that in the course of that conversation she will be reassured that this is something this government does take very seriously indeed," Ms Sturgeon added. | "I certainly hope that in the course of that conversation she will be reassured that this is something this government does take very seriously indeed," Ms Sturgeon added. |
When he published his report in Cornton Vale last year, HM chief inspector of prisons, Dr Andrew McLellan, criticised the cuffing of pregnant women, particularly during labour. | When he published his report in Cornton Vale last year, HM chief inspector of prisons, Dr Andrew McLellan, criticised the cuffing of pregnant women, particularly during labour. |
He said: "There is always a balance to be found between security and humanity, but in the case of women giving birth the security considerations would need to be extraordinarily high to justify this practice." | He said: "There is always a balance to be found between security and humanity, but in the case of women giving birth the security considerations would need to be extraordinarily high to justify this practice." |
He also said questions surrounded the practice of routinely "double-cuffing" woman. | He also said questions surrounded the practice of routinely "double-cuffing" woman. |
Staff at the prison also told of women refusing to go to hospital for medical treatment when they learned that they would be double-cuffed and women being handcuffed during labour. | Staff at the prison also told of women refusing to go to hospital for medical treatment when they learned that they would be double-cuffed and women being handcuffed during labour. |
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