Data reveals rising rate of women in jail across region

The Prison Reform Trust said the unnecessary imprisonment of women remained a “postcode lottery” across the two nations, with a significant north-south divide clear in the figures.

Analysis of local court data by the charity found 406 prison sentences were given to women in West Midlands last year – equal to 36 per 100,000 who live in the area. This was an increase on the rate of 35 per 100,000 in 2018 and much higher than elsewhere in England and Wales.

While 132 prison sentences were given to women in Staffordshire last year – equal to 29 per 100,000 who live in the area. This was an increase on the rate of 25 per 100,000 in 2018.

The rate of female imprisonment in Surrey was just nine per 100,000 inhabitants, meaning women in West Midlands are four times as likely to be in prison and around three times as likely in Staffordshire.

South Wales had the highest rate, with 62 women in prison for every 100,000. The 10 areas with the highest rates of female imprisonment were in the north of England, the Midlands or in Wales, with almost all the lowest 10 in the south of England.

Impact

Peter Dawson, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said progress is being made at the national and local level to reduce the unnecessary imprisonment of women, but described the statistics as evidence of a “postcode lottery”.

He added: “The majority of women sent to prison are still being sent there for non-violent offences to serve sentences of less than one year.

“These sentences can have a devastating impact on women and their children without doing anything to address the causes of offending.

“Worryingly, the latest prison population projections suggest that recent progress could be undone with numbers of women in prison predicted to rise by 1,300 within six years.

“Sustained investment in community alternatives for women and a sharp reduction in the use of short sentences are urgently needed.”