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

88 Women offenders: after the Corston Reportenvironment for vulnerable women with multiple and complex needs who havecommitted serious offences. (Paragraph 182)Small custodial units and the female custodial estate27. We are encouraged that the Government is open to considering small custodialunits, 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. Thereview must also, as a matter of urgency, find a solution to the unacceptable lack ofsecure provision for women in Wales. We consider that the situation in Walesprovides an ideal opportunity to test the combination of residential alternatives tocustody and a small custodial unit. (Paragraph 195)28. 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 fromtheir constructive regimes and support. More women could benefit from safe, secureand supervised accommodation. Approved premises have the expertise andexperience of working with female offenders across the full risk of harm continuumand we consider that the approved premises estate could usefully be expanded tomanage more women safely and cost-effectively in the community. We would like tosee the review consider how existing approved premises regimes could safely beadapted for a broader range of women, and how more creative use of a greaternumber of approved premises provision could be funded. (Paragraph 196)29. We would like to see a gradual reconfiguration of the female custodial estate, coupledwith a significant increase in the use of residential alternatives to custody, includingapproved premises and supported bail accommodation, as these are likely to be moreproductive than short custodial sentences. Prison is an expensive and ineffective wayof dealing with many women offenders who do not pose a significant risk of harm topublic safety. We urge the Government to consider the merits of taking an ‘invest tosave’ approach, which could involve diverting some resources from the prisonbuilding fund. They should also consider the savings that could be made if residentialoptions are used to prevent children needing to be cared for by other people,including the state. (Paragraph 197)An integrated approach to vulnerable women and their families30. We are unconvinced about the extent to which the approach set out in theGovernment’s strategic priorities for women offenders is truly integrated acrossDepartments, and there is need for clarification about what a ‘whole system’approach means in practice. The Advisory Board should map the confusing array ofGovernment initiatives that together have the potential to benefit vulnerable womenand girls at risk of offending and specify how these should integrate with the strategyfor women offenders. (Paragraph 202)