Recommendation 21

The self-harm rates at HMP Eastwood Park and HMP Styal, which hold the vast majority of Welsh women offenders, are deeply concerning. While we recognise that the self-harm rates are higher in the women’s estate than the men’s estate generally, the fact that there are such high rates at the two prisons that hold the most Welsh women suggests that there may be a correlation between distance held from home and tendency to self-harm or engage in other destructive behaviours. The Department must determine the extent to which distance held from home is a contributing factor in instances of self-harm in prison. In the meantime, the Department must continue to invest in supporting Welsh women and making it easier for them to maintain familial contact. (Conclusion, Paragraph 78) 69