A BREASTFEEDING campaigner who took her fight to Downing Street was collared on the doorstep of No 10 by an armed policeman ... for breastfeeding.
Stella Onions, 43, who was campaigning with other mothers in London, said the policeman made her feel her actions were "indecent".
She was about to start feeding her 21-month-old son Zac after a petition calling for a law to be introduced to allow women to breastfeed in public was handed to the government. She was allowed in to Downing Street because of the petition.
She said the officer told her he could lose his job if he allowed her to continue.
Stella, a mum of two from Prestwich, near Bury, said: "His tone of voice and attitude was like I was trying to commit an obscene act. I felt very humiliated.
"I was not trying to be disrespectful. We thought it would be a positive breastfeeding message for mothers across the country."
Common sense
Stella, who works for Lancashire-based breastfeeding support group Little Angels, said: "I agree places should be determined by common sense but the reality is that women are being asked to move on.
"We want mothers to have a right to feed their babies in public.
"It was so ironic. There we were, presenting a petition calling for the right of a mother to be able to breastfeed in public, and a policeman stopped me."
The incident followed a demonstration by 30 mothers outside the Department of Health's headquarters to mark National Breastfeeding Awareness Week.
Campaigners are supporting a Bill calling for mothers to be given the right to breastfeed in public. It is an offence to ask a woman to stop in Scotland but under English law they can be told to cover up.
The Department of Health said breast milk provides infants with the best nutrition.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "A woman delivered a petition and was asked to move from the front of 10 Downing Street for restricting access. She was not arrested."
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I agree that women should be able to breast feed pretty much anywhere, but on the doorstep of Number 10? This act does nothing to help her cause.
Well done!!! This just highlights the need for breastfeeding to be seen as the norm.
The Big Feed on Saturday 20th May supports breastfeeding in public.
What did she expect.
I think mums should be allowed to breastfeed in public - provided they do it discreetly. I've had enough of mums feeling the need to show their breasts while they feed their kids. Cover up, please!
I breast fed my 2 children & a bond between mother & baby is special, BUT it should not be inflicted on other people. I think it is gross when I see mothers breast feeding as if it is their 'right' to get their boobs out in public, especially if you are dining. They don't even try & do it discreetly. So NO TO BREAST FEEDING IN PUBLIC!
I also agree that women should be able to breast feed pretty much anywhere but her 21 month old son? That's a bit too far for me
You wouldn't eat your lunch on the steps of No 10 so why should she do this. Breast feeding is natural but this stunt was silly and going over the top.
The policeman said " I could loose my job over this" Why! what law was the lady breaking?
Are we running out of issues to protest about? (Stella Onions) Great comedy name though...
What's with these women wanting to take their clothes off in public - to feed their babies. Couldn't they have done it before they left the house? Or can't they fill up the milk bottle and bring it with them. They say breast milk is best for babies which I totally agree on but bottle milk is only a one off anyway so it won't do much harm. MUMS, GET A LIFE
Officer was dead right. Could have been a suicide bomber.Lucky she wasn't shot!
I am one of the directors of Little Angels, and was with Stella when this happened, we found the whole episode farsical all we wanted to do was to raise the awareness of breastfeeding, whilst we where there, no one came in or out of dowing street, MP David Kidney was with us and he had no objections to stella feeding her child. it is cases like this that we are trying to overcome. i would be more than happy to speak to people in more detail on this subject.
If a passer-by were to be offended by this I'm sure this would be either a public order or public decency offence. At the end of the day this was a public awareness stunt and to that end it has worked. Well done! The issue should be debated and clear guidelines set out.
What tits those policemen are.
She will milk this story for years.
Shame she can't get out the bigger tits behind the door of No 10!
I took this picture and was hoping for a positive and interesting image to illustrate the breastfeeding bill campaign in the Baby Milk Action newsletter and perhaps something that could be used in our breastfeeding calendar. Instead the policeman intervened. Police and others have asked mothers to stop breastfeeding in the past when women have been in more usual places, such as on a park bench, which is why this law is necessary.
I bet he felt a right tit, he he
I thought laws were to prevent things, not to allow them. I'm all for breastfeeding, but I don't think it's a matter for the law.
Of course women should be allowed to bear their breasts in public for whatever reason (feeding, fresh air, conversation pieces, objects d'art, attention grabbers) - unless they are mingers
This was not a planned publicity stunt, but a spontaneous decision to try to get a photo to illustrate that if you can feed at No 10, you can feed anywhere! It was intended to send a very positive message to nervous new mums. Of course, following the incident, it is only right to 'milk' it for what it is worth!
As for breastfeeding in public, I (and most other breastfeeding mums) have never got our boobs out at all and you will see more flesh in the town centre on a hot day!
And to boring John from Manchester, it is my real name!
Breastfed Babies should be allowed to breastfeed whenever they are hungry, wherever that might be. No restrictions
There is nothing wrong with breastfeeding in public - that's what boobs are for, after all. What should be outlawed is flabby men going topless and flaunting their hairy man-boobs at the first sign of a sunny day. Now, that IS gross!
well done stella! I think it is sad in this day and age that to breastfeed your baby needs so much debate, the world had gone mad breast feeding is normal, natural and what all babies need. So let mums do it anywhere!!
Nothing against breasfeeding per se, but the actions of a "militant" few who think it fit to shove their ideas down our throats AND their boobs in public anytime and anywhere they wish so is akin to the behaviour of some religious fundamentalists - for instance: "accept the one and only true Lord/Saviour or be damned/burnt in Hell!"
And I find their telling off some gawkers rather ggalling. You just cannot force the general public to accept your ideals. Period. Oh and my peers who were breastfed didn't turn out to be rocket scientists, nor exceptionally bright.
Breastfeeding should be protected by law and I signed the petition that these ladies were delivering. I am an active Breastfeeding advocate and I work with breastfeeding ladies...I am not sure that I am happy to see this Mum camped out on the doorstep of Number 10. Perhaps this could have been better illustrated. I am sure that the same policeman would say the same things to someone who was not breastfeeding. Sitting on the PM's door step is just a no no.
Okay I would have never have gone this far, but its the only way to highlight peoples ignorance.
Mankind did this before bottles were actually invented and is the most natural thing in the world.
I wouldn't mind but Most mothers are self consious and you cant see anything anyway!!
I never flashed my boobs,people never knew I was doing it half the time!!
If i cant complain about some bloke sat next to me on the train reading the sport then why this???
The World has gone mad!