Behaviour and treatment in prison

Extract from suffragette policy on hunger strikes from Mrs Pethick Lawrence; Mrs Pankhurst’s demand to have the same treatment accorded to political prisoners and Winston Churchill’s concessions, 1911-1912 (Catalogue ref: DPP 1/23)

Transcript

[…]

Hunger Strike

The Committee have decided that the Hunger Strike is inapplicable to the present conditions. This for two reasons:

1. The concessions given by Mr. Churchill have rendered the strike against present prison conditions unnecessary, and the time for a strike against prison itself has not at this juncture arrived. It is a weapon which the W.S.P.U. can always take up if it is judged expedient to do so, but when it is taken up it must be done in a thoroughly organized way and the agitation must be organised outside as well as inside. Moreover every volunteer must know exactly what she is committed to for before she is arrested. The Committee hope therefore that no individual of this Deputation will resort to the hunger Strike in prison. For any individual to act in this matter upon her own account would be unfair to others and a breach of that discipline which is incumbent upon us all and which is none the less binding because it is voluntary.

The Policy of the W.S.P.U, must not be forced and the Hunger Strike if ever resorted to against must be organised as a political policy with utmost deliberation.

Yours,

EMMELINE PETHICK LAWRENCE

COPY OF THE DEMANDS MADE BY MRS PANKHURST DURING HER IMPRISONMENT BASED ON THE TREATMENT THAT HAS BEEN ACCORDED ON THE PAST TO POLITICAL MALE PRISONERS.

  1. To be allowed newspapers and books for her own selection.
  2. To be allowed to do literary work and needlework of her own selection.
  3. To see her Secretary and deal with correspondence relative to the Suffragist work.
  4. To associate with other ladies imprisoned for the Cause.
  5. To wear her own clothing.
  6. To provide her own food.

COPY OF CONCESSIONS GRANTED BY MR. CHURCHILL TO RELIEVE CERTAIN PRISONERS NOT GUILTY OF OFFENCES INVOLVING MORAL TURPITUDE, OF THE DEGRADING CONDITIONS OF THEIR CONFINEMENT

——————————————–

I propose to relieve them of the compulsion:-

  1. To wear prison dress.
  2. To be specially searched.
  3. To have their hair cut.
  4. To be compelled to take a regular prison bath.
  5. To be relieved of cell cleaning.
  6. To be permitted to obtain their food from outside.
  7. To exercise in the morning and afternoon.
  8. To converse, subject to good behaviour with other prisoners when at exercise.
  9. To have such books not bearing on current events.
Return to Suffragettes on file