Women and Girls Are Not Safe in Custody

New data* published by the Ministry of Justice shows that self-harm rates among women and girls in custody continue to soar and that for the first time, assault rates against staff are now higher in women’s prisons than in men’s.

Self-harming in prisons

In the last 12 months, the rate of self-harm incidents per 1,000 prisoners increased by 13% in women’s prisons, where in men’s prisons rates decreased (by 13%).  These shocking new figures show that on average a woman in prison self-harms more than twice as much as a man. This inequality was mirrored in the youth estate, where self-harm rates were much higher among girls.

Women are not only more likely to self-harm repeatedly, but the injuries they sustain are also more life-threatening, with women more likely to be hospitalised than men.

Assaults and use of force in prisons

For the first time since data was collected in this way, assault rates were higher in women’s prisons than in men’s prisons, with the majority (56%) of assaults against staff. Similarly, in the youth justice system, girls were much more likely than boys to be involved in assaults or fights, as well as be involved in separation incidents.

Figures also show that girls in custody are disproportionately subject to punitive and restrictive interventions. Use of force, including ‘Restrictive Physical Interventions’**, were used disproportionately against girls, particularly those aged 10-14 years old.

On the increase in self-harm, assaults and restrictive practices, Jessica Southgate, CEO of Agenda, the alliance for women and girls at risk, says:

“It is shameful that the Government has still not curbed the soaring levels of self-harm among women and girls in custody. Women and girls in contact with the criminal justice system face considerable disadvantage, with their experiences often underpinned by histories of violence, abuse and trauma. The increase in assaults is also deeply concerning – we need to understand why this is happening in order to reverse this trend.

“Over a year on from the first national lockdown, many women in prison have been forced to spend 23 hours a day in their cells, and have been cut off from their families, children and support networks. Without adequate mental health support, many women and girls in custody are re-traumatised and at crisis point. The increased use of restrictive practices will only make things worse.

“For women and girls to be safe in custody, the government needs to properly invest in mental health services in prison, as well as women’s community-based support, to help women address the root causes of their criminalised behaviour, and prevent them from going into prison in the first place.”

Statistics

• The rate of self-harm was 179.9 incidents per 100 children in custody amongst girls, compared to 17.0 for boys.
• Self-harm incidents requiring hospital attendance decreased in men’s prisons by 27%, but increased by 16% in women’s prisons.
• 57% of women who self-harmed during 2020 did so more than once during the year and 9% did so more than 20 times that year (compared to 51% and 3% of men respectively).
• Girls were much more likely than boys to be involved in assaults or fights (at 97.4 incidents per 100 children and young people in custody compared to 49.7 for boys). Black, Asian and ethnic minority children and young people were also more likely involved as assailants or fighters (at 57.1 incidents per 100 children and young people in custody, compared to 45.3 for White children and young people).
• Girls were far more likely to experience ‘Use of Force’ than boys (226.0 incidents per 100 CYP in custody compared to 79.2 for boys).  The rate of ‘Restrictive Physical Interventions’ (restraint) was largest for girls, and those aged 10-14 years old, with the rate for girls doubling in the last year.

*Data sets

• Youth Justice Statistics 2019/20
• Safety in custody quarterly: update to December 2020
• Safety in the children and young people secure estate: update to December 2020

**The Ministry of Justice notes that “All uses of Minimising and Managing Physical Restraint (MMPR) or Restrictive Physical Interventions (RPI) count as a use of force. It is possible that a use of force is neither MMPR or RPI, however all uses of MMPR and RPI are classed as use of force.”