{"id":7369,"date":"2026-03-02T12:00:56","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T12:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prisonersadvice.org.uk\/wordpress\/?p=7369"},"modified":"2026-03-02T12:01:03","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T12:01:03","slug":"inspectors-share-improvements-and-concerns-across-womens-prisons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prisonersadvice.org.uk\/wordpress\/2026\/03\/02\/inspectors-share-improvements-and-concerns-across-womens-prisons\/","title":{"rendered":"INSPECTORS SHARE IMPROVEMENTS AND CONCERNS ACROSS WOMEN\u2019S PRISONS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>A year ago, Prison Inspectors highlighted widespread inadequacies in the support available for women prisoners via their \u2018Time to Care\u2019 report. &nbsp;Twelve months on, however, there are \u2018clear signs of improving practice\u2019, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Improved staff-prisoner relationships &#8211; Specific training had been introduced for new officers and the ongoing rollout of \u2018Behind the Behaviour\u2019 training helped staff to better understand how life experiences shaped behaviour.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keeping families connected &#8211; Noticeable progress had been made in helping women maintain family ties, which for many was a top priority.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Increased peer support\u00a0\u00a0&#8211; Peer-led initiatives were developing, with the aim of helping women cope and contribute meaningfully to prison life.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Creating decent environments and building communities &#8211; Women could now wash their underwear in washing machines and sanitary and hygiene products were readily available on the wings of several prisons.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this, the following concerns remain:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>High rates of self-harm incidents &#8211; more than eight times higher than in men\u2019s prisons<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Inappropriate use of force<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The number of women sent to prison due to the lack of spaces in mental health hospitals \u2013 including delays in transfers once sectioned under the Mental Health Act<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Last minute cancellations of planned accommodation on release &#8211; including places in approved premises for vulnerable, high-risk women<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The supply of illicit drugs and the lack of enhanced gate security<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Limited time out of cell<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lack of technology, such as in-cell laptops to help women to get basic things done.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Inspectors maintain that addressing these concerns will help to reduce women\u2019s frustrations, improve their chances of coping in prison, and better prepare them for life upon release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For more information,&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/hmiprisons.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk\/news\/time-to-care-one-year-on\/\">click here.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A year ago, Prison Inspectors highlighted widespread inadequacies in the support available for women prisoners via their \u2018Time to Care\u2019 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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