It's not only a legal issue, it's about human rights and respect.

As the founder of It Takes A Village Crystal Palace, a local perinatal peer support organisation, I, and many other members of our group were appalled to hear about the unfortunate experience of a mother in our community who was treated unfairly by staff at Beckenham Spa pool. Whilst attempting to breastfeed her 6 month old baby during a family swim session, this mother was unjustly asked to leave the pool by a member of staff and breastfeed elsewhere. Our community expects better.

Breastfeeding is not a privilege, but a human right protected under the 2010 Equality Act. The Act clearly dictates that it is entirely lawful for mothers to breastfeed in public places anywhere in the United Kingdom, and treating anyone unfavourably due to breastfeeding constitutes sex discrimination (Equality Act 2010).

We know that breastmilk does not pose any health hazard to other swimmers.  If it did then pools would need to ban all lactating women from using them. Breastmilk is antibacterial and antimicrobial, and won’t cause any problems even if some did get into the water. Urine, hair, sweat, mucus, saliva, even faecal matter are found in pools, not to mention the various products people have put onto their skins. Swimming pool water is chlorinated for the purpose of killing bacteria and so arguably breastmilk is something swimmers need to least worry about.

The male staff member’s reasoning was that the mother should breastfeed elsewhere for the sake of the other children in the pool. If it is a question of decency, we know that nursing a baby is unlikely to mean showing anymore flesh, and most likely a lot less, than many other people in the pool - this includes men as well as women. The attitude displayed here not only conveys a disregard for the child who is needing to be fed, but also a disregard for the dignity of the mother who was made to cut short her enjoyable swim session with her baby and asked to leave. The preparation it takes for a new for a mother to get out of the house and take a young baby swimming, alone, should not be underestimated. Confonting incidents such as this can have a detrimental impact on a mothers confidence and mental health. Staff members must be made aware of not only the legality of the situation but also the personal impact of their actions. 

There is a need for increased awareness and respect for the rights of breastfeeding mothers. Knowledge of such laws is critical for establishing safe, inclusive environments. This incident is evidence that staff at Beckenham Spa need comprehensive training to understand and respect well established laws that protect breastfeeding mothers.

By signing this petition, we are advocating for Beckenham Spa swimming pool to respect the 2010 Equality Act, provide necessary training for staff regarding the rights of breastfeeding women, and provide their services with respect, empathy, and understanding. Stand with us to ensure everyone using their facilities are treated with equality. Please sign this petition today.