Women in Prison respond to Lord Chancellor’s landmark announcement on justice

Tuesday 24 September 2024

Responding to Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood MP’s speech on women’s justice today, Director of External Affairs and Campaigns, Nicola Drinkwater said:

“Today’s announcement from the Lord Chancellor is long awaited and finally signals a recognition that women do not belong in prison.

With the highest self-harm rates on record amongst women in prison, failing care for pregnant women, and the death of 2 babies in prison in recent years, the situation has long been at crisis point.

We welcome the creation of the Women's Justice Board and it’s stated purpose to reduce the number of women going to prison, with the ultimate ambition of having fewer women’s prisons. We hope it will take immediate steps to address self-harm and poor maternity care in women’s prisons as a matter of urgency.

We have said for decades that the prison system doesn't work for women. Women in prison, alongside many of our partners, have long called for a future where the root causes of offending are addressed, and women can access the support they need in their communities. Given today’s announcement we are optimistic that this future can now be realised.”

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

For media enquiries, contact [email protected] 07823 412 090

Key statistics

According to the Ministry of Justice, the women’s prison population is projected to increase to 4,200 by November 2027 (1).

Self-harm incidents in women’s prisons increased by 11% in the 12 months to December 2023 (2).

The majority of women in prison (82%) report that they have mental health problems compared with just over half of men (59%) (3).

Seven in 10 women in prison reported that they had been a victim of domestic violence (4).

1. Prison Population Projections: 2023 to 2028, Ministry of Justice

2. Safety in Custody Statistics, England and Wales: Deaths in Prison Custody to December 2023 Assaults and Self-harm to September 2023

3. Bromley Briefings Prison Factfile, February 2024, Prison Reform Trust