HMP Bronzefield: Baby dies in private women’s prison after inmate ‘gives birth alone in cell’

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Police are investigating the death of a baby at a private women’s prison in Surrey amid reports the mother gave birth alone in her cell at night. South East Coast Ambulance Service were called to HMP Bronzefield, Europe’s largest female prison, at 8.30am last Friday. The prison’s operator, services company Sodexo, said that while investigations were ongoing it could not confirm or deny reports in The Guardian that the mother had been alone in her prison cell for the birth and death of her child. “It would not be appropriate to comment any further.” A statement from Surrey Police added: “The death is currently being treated as unexplained and an investigation is continuing to establish the full circumstances of what happened.” The prison has been subject to scrutiny in the past – including in 2016 when inmate Natasha Chin was found to have died in her cell less than 36 hours after arriving at Bronzefield.