Women offenders: after the Corston Report - United Kingdom ...

Women offenders: after the Corston Report 75accommodation should be available in every local area. Home Group argued that bailaccommodation, which is currently used for women on bail and on post-release homedetention curfew could be used for a broader range of community based sentences. 413 Theyalso suggested that women with complex needs could benefit more from specialist supportaround mental and emotional health in semi-secure housing in the community, thanprison. 414 We also heard from women’s centres, like Eden House, which felt that they hadthe capacity to diversify their provision. 415195. We are encouraged that the Government is open to considering small custodial units,which were widely supported by our witnesses. We would like to see any suchconsideration being undertaken in the context that it was initially proposed byBaroness Corston, in other words accompanied by an effort to reduce the prisonpopulation by reserving custody for those women who pose a serious threat. The reviewmust also, as a matter of urgency, find a solution to the unacceptable lack of secureprovision for women in Wales. We consider that the situation in Wales provides anideal opportunity to test the combination of residential alternatives to custody and asmall custodial unit.196. Sometimes being required to live away from a home area can provide the break witha set of circumstances which, if a women were to return to them, would be likely toperpetuate the problems that caused her to offend in the first place. Having only sixapproved premises for women limits the number of women who can benefit from theirconstructive regimes and support. More women could benefit from safe, secure andsupervised accommodation. Approved premises have the expertise and experience ofworking with female offenders across the full risk of harm continuum and we considerthat the approved premises estate could usefully be expanded to manage more womensafely and cost-effectively in the community. We would like to see the review considerhow existing approved premises regimes could safely be adapted for a broader range ofwomen, and how more creative use of a greater number of approved premisesprovision could be funded.197. We would like to see a gradual reconfiguration of the female custodial estate,coupled with a significant increase in the use of residential alternatives to custody,including approved premises and supported bail accommodation, as these are likely tobe more productive than short custodial sentences. Prison is an expensive andineffective way of dealing with many women offenders who do not pose a significantrisk of harm to public safety. We urge the Government to consider the merits of takingan ‘invest to save’ approach, which could involve diverting some resources from theprison building fund. They should also consider the savings that could be made ifresidential options are used to prevent children needing to be cared for by other people,including the state.413 Ev w28414 Ibid.415 Ev w63