Cat and Mouse Act

The Cat and Mouse Act was a law passed in the UK in 1913 aimed at dealing with hunger-striking prisoners. When prisoners protested by starving themselves, authorities would temporarily release them to regain strength, then re-arrest them once they recovered. This cycle continued to prevent the prisoners from gaining sympathy or achieving their goals. The law sought to balance maintaining order with humane treatment, allowing authorities to release prisoners temporarily during protests but re-capturing them afterward. It reflected the tension between law enforcement and civil rights during a time of significant social and political change.