Cat and mouse
The 'Cat and Mouse' Act (more formally known as the 'Prisoners' Temporary Discharge for Ill Health' Act of 1913), was a government response to the public outcry over prison brutality and the harsh force-feeding of female prisoners.
The act allowed prisoners to be released when they were too weak or ill through lack of food to be kept safely in prison. This was only temporary; once the prisoner had regained her health, she would have to return to prison to relive the ordeal over again.
The WSPU took advantage of the act where possible. Many of their members were able to escape and evade capture during their temporary release.
Much of the public were divided. Many felt force-feeding of suffragettes was excessive, whilst others had little sympathy for militants who were becoming more violent, making bombs, starting fires and other criminal damage, especially those on temporary release.
It was not until the outbreak of war, when militancy was suspended and suffragettes were granted amnesty, that these episodes of force-feeding, hunger strikes and questionable methods used by the police authorities were brought to an end.
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- Copyright Museum of London
Standard Poster 50.82/1546