Loose Women viewers left divided by debate over pregnant female offenders being jailed – as Janet Street-Porter insists there are ‘very few reasons any woman should be locked up’
- Loose Women viewers across the UK were left divided by today’s TV debate
- READ MORE: Princess Kate pens heartwarming message to women
Loose Women viewers were left divided today as the panel engaged in a fierce debate over whether pregnant women who commit crimes should go to jail.
Janet Street-Porter argued that ‘there are very, very few reasons why any woman should be locked up in prison’, while Kate Piper agreed expectant mothers should be shown leniency.
However, Coleen Nolan and Brenda Edwards worried about the implications of the suggestion.
The audience were torn, with some insisting that mothers should ‘think about their kids before committing the crime’ whereas as others said it depends on the offence.
The discussion started when Coleen brought up the Princess of Wales’s heartwarming message to women in the justice system yesterday when she opened a community-based centre which will house five women who are deemed ‘low risk’ after committing a non-violent offence.
‘I think pregnant women and women with families are two categories that definitely should not be incarcerated unless they really present a danger to the public,’ Janet insisted.
Janet Street Porter said that ‘there are very, very few reasons why any woman should be locked up in prison’
She added that a large number of the UK’s female prisoner population have suffered domestic, emotional and sexual abuse as well as coping with drug and alcohol addiction.
‘Can prison really be the right place for these people?’ she asked.
‘And bear in mind that the vast majority of women in prison have not committed violent acts.
‘They’re more likely to be in prison for fraud…a very small number are in prison for being drug mules and then they would’ve been coerced into that…’
Katie Piper, who has a series about the topic – Jailhouse Mums – currently out, was in full agreement.
‘It’s a subject I’ve been exploring since January. I’ve been flying back and forth to the States.
‘I volunteer in UK prisons but I’ve been filming in America for a new series, Jailhouse Mums… and actually what Janet said is right.
‘People think you go into jail and meet tons of Myra Hindleys, Rose West – you don’t, you know, that’s why they’re such high profile prisoners, because those violent crimes from women are so very rare.
Katie Piper, who has a series about the topic – Jailhouse Mums – currently out, was in full agreement
‘And it’s like Janet said, where people aren’t left with many choices, they are born into violence, they’re born into addiction and they find themselves in the prison system… and it’s not working, the reoffending rates after custodial sentences are so high.’
The presenter, 39, praised Kate Middleton’s work on the subject.
‘I’m really pleased that Kate’s doing this,’ she told the programme. ‘She’s shining a light on perhaps a section of society that doesn’t have much of a voice sometimes.’
She added that ‘the child is always the victim in this case’ and stressed that current incarceration systems can only reinforce harmful cycles in the baby’s future.
Coleen, 58, and Brenda Edwards, were less supportive, saying they understood the sentiment but didn’t think women should be ‘excused’ prison just because they’re with child.
Audiences took to Twitter to take part in the debate, some insisting that mothers should ‘think about their kids before committing the crime’
‘It depends on the level of crime,’ Brenda, 54, added.
‘But… I don’t agree with when you’re saying people going through domestic abuse or violence… there are lots of people who have gone thorough that and they don’t necessarily get to that point… everybody does have a choice to make.’
She added that she believes more should be done to help rehabilitate prisoners once they are out and ready to re-enter society.
Dozens of commenters rushed to Twitter to take part in the debate.
Some slammed the notion that women who commit crimes should be prepared to face jail time.
‘Seem to be trying to justify crimes committed by women,’ one wrote.
‘If men go to prison for the same crime, why should women be let off?’ a second asked.
A third penned: ‘Don’t do the crime if you’re not prepared to do the time.’
But others were more welcoming of the idea, given the right circumstances are in place.
‘Totally depends upon the crime,’ one wrote. ‘If they have inflicted neglect, abuse etc.’
Loose Women also read out a statement from the Ministry of Justice, which said: ‘While independent judges decide sentences, we are clear that custody should always be the last resort for pregnant women.
‘We’ve since improved care for expectant mums in prison including specialist mother and baby staff in every women’s jail and renewed pregnancy training for frontline staff.’
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