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

84 Women offenders: after the Corston ReportGaps in provision for women offenders10. Witnesses painted a picture of large gaps in service provision, particularly in relationto specific groups of women, and in the provision of suitable accommodation, thelynchpin of support. The lessons of the Bradley Report have not filtered through andmental health provision remains remarkably poor despite a widespread need. Liaisonand diversion schemes are not yet developed sufficiently to impact systematically onthe treatment of women offenders, and the impact of the strategy for themanagement and treatment of female offenders with personality disorders issimilarly difficult to discern. These gaps in mental health and accommodation will becostly to overcome. We ask the Government in its response to this report to set outthe extent to which existing diversion and liaison schemes are making provisionspecifically for women; how Ministers intend to ensure that new schemes meet theneeds of women; and, why the new strategy for the management of treatment ofwomen offenders with personality disorder does not appear to have made anydifference to service provision. (Paragraph 107)Funding for women’s community services and commissioningarrangements11. NOMS should publish its analysis of the provision that probation trusts have madefor women as an alternative to women’s centres. (Paragraph 115)12. We are concerned about the potential impact of significant changes tocommissioning arrangements on the volume, range, and quality of specialistcommunity provision for women offenders and those at risk of offending. The factthat responsibility for preventing women being drawn into the criminal justicesystem lies within a department focused on criminal justice is particularlyproblematic and inhibits the development of a more holistic approach. The currentpriority must be to preserve existing services for vulnerable women and theirchildren. The Advisory Board should urgently clarify how the various interconnectedcommissioning agendas will be coordinated and funded and how tomitigate the risks that services will not be afforded sufficient priority or thatdesignated resources will be stretched too thinly across too many commissioningbodies. (Paragraph 119)13. Women’s community projects are central to providing a distinct approach to thetreatment of women offenders. They offer a challenging environment for women toserve their sentence as well as a broad range of practical and emotional support toenable them to change their lives for good. These centres also play an integral role insupporting women at risk of criminality who need to access other communityservices. Their effectiveness therefore depends to a considerable extent on theavailability and appropriateness of other services for vulnerable women. Thenetwork of women’s community projects must be retained. Funding and referralprocesses should have the flexibility to allow for referral at every stage in the system;including for women at risk, pre-court, post-court, as part of an order, and followinga custodial sentence. The Government must find an alternative approach to fundingthese centres to avoid the criminal justice system being the primary gateway throughwhich vulnerable women can access appropriate support. At the very least women’s