Women in Prison respond to Safety in Custody statistics, January 2025

Thursday 30th January

Content warning: Self-harm, mental ill-health

Four women took their own lives in prison in 2024. Self-harm incidents are at the highest levels ever recorded.

• Four women took their own lives in prison in 2024.

• One in three women in prison are self-harming.

• Despite the rate of self-harm per 1000 women in prison decreasing by 2%, the instances of self-harm remain at the highest levels ever recorded over the 12 months to September 2024.

• The self-harm rate is almost 8 times higher in women’s prisons than in men’s prisons.

Sonya Ruparel, CEO of Women in Prison, commented:

“That 4 women took their own lives in prison in 2024 is deeply saddening and represents the worst failings of the criminal justice system. Our thoughts and sympathies go out to the family and friends of those women who lost their lives.

The devastating levels of self-harm among women in prison are a stark reminder of the urgent need for change across women’s justice.

While the latest numbers from Ministry of Justice show a slight decrease in incidents, the number of women and levels of self-harm in prisons are alarming.

From our 40 years of work with women in contact with the criminal justice system, we know that mental ill-health is a key driver of women’s offending. Yet, instead of addressing this, prison exacerbates the problem.

Women tell us that self-harm can be a coping mechanism in response to the dire conditions they face, including lacking access to the basics like essential healthcare, clothing, and toiletries.

Rather than criminalising and punishing women for their mental ill-health, we must invest in robust community-based support services. For those already enduring the damaging effects of prison, we urge the government to act immediately to ensure women are safe and properly supported.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

• Women in Prison (WIP) is a national charity that delivers support for women affected by the criminal justice system in prisons, in the community and through our Women's Centres. We campaign to end the harm caused to women, their families and our communities by imprisonment

• Ministry of Justice released its quarterly Safety in Custody statistics 30th January 2025