Government Plans For Increasing Women's Prison Places is Not the Answer

On Saturday 23rd July, Government announced plans to build 500 new prison places for women, alongside pledging almost £2m in funding to 38 charities so their "vital work in steering women away from crime can continue".

In response Interim CEO of Agenda, Jess Southgate, said:

“Building more prison places is the wrong way of achieving the government’s own policy aim of reducing the women’s prison population, as set out in the Female Offender Strategy.

“Community alternatives to custody offer effective support that help women turn their lives around, and prevent them entering prison in the first place. Whilst the proposed investment in community services is welcome, it still falls far short of what is needed.

“Agenda’s Voices from Lockdown research has shown women have been amongst those hardest hit by the pandemic, and many of the services supporting them face a funding cliff-edge in April.

“Many of the factors that lead to women being drawn into the criminal justice system – poverty, domestic abuse and mental health problems – have been exacerbated by the current pandemic, leaving them at even greater risk. Black and minoritised women, already disproportionately represented in prisons, are at particular risk of facing further inequalities by these measures.

“Rather than planning for an increase in prison numbers, Government must refocus on diverting women away from custody, and develop a clear plan to support the long-term sustainability of vital women’s community services.”