Herts research sparks parliamentary call to review sentencing guidelines for pregnant women

Earlier this month, MP Carolyn Harris welcomed guests to an evening dedicated to The Lost Mothers Project, led by Dr Laura Abbott, a midwife and an Associate Professor at the University of Hertfordshire. The project explores the often overlooked experiences of women who give birth while in prison and are subsequently separated from their babies.

The event brought together policymakers, researchers, advocates, and women with lived experience to hear the findings of the research and witness a moving performance of Scenes from Lost Mothers, a play written by acclaimed playwright Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti. Developed in collaboration with Clean Break theatre company and the charity Birth Companions, the play draws directly from interviews with 29 imprisoned mothers and 47 prison and maternity staff, vividly portraying the trauma of maternal separation.

Dr Abbott, a long-standing advocate for the rights of pregnant women in custody, opened the evening by highlighting the urgent need for reform. “This event was a powerful moment of recognition for women whose stories are too often hidden,” she said. “It’s time for their voices to shape policy.”

The following day, Carolyn Harris MP raised the issue in Parliament, stating:

“I was delighted to host the Lost Mothers Project in Parliament last night to share their report on the consequences for offenders who experience pregnancy and give birth in prison. We were joined by the Clean Break Theatre company, who performed a play based on the report, dramatising the struggles and trauma caused by maternal separation. Will the Leader of the House encourage her Ministry of Justice colleagues to read and consider the findings of the Lost Mothers Report when making changes to sentencing guidelines?”

Her remarks were met with support, signalling growing political momentum to address the injustices faced by pregnant women in the criminal justice system.

The evening concluded with a panel discussion exploring the research’s implications for policy and practice, reinforcing the call for systemic change.

Professor Wendy Wills, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at the University of Hertfordshire, said:

“The Lost Mothers Project drives forward the University of Hertfordshire’s commitment to research that achieves real-world change. By bringing hidden injustices into the spotlight and prompting parliamentary action, the project is influencing the national conversation about how we treat pregnant women in the justice system.”

The full Lost Mothers Project report can be read on the Lost Mothers website.