Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 1
1
Accepted
Insufficient progress and investment undermine the Female Offender Strategy's aims for vulnerable women.
Conclusion
There has been a longstanding recognition, dating back to the 2007 Corston Report, that women who enter the criminal justice system, and those who go on to enter custody, are more likely to be complex and vulnerable individuals. We have heard how women often present with challenges such as substance misuse and mental health issues as well as complex histories of trauma and abuse, including domestic abuse. The 2018 Female Offender Strategy represented a welcome step forward in the Government’s recognition that a specific approach was needed to achieve outcomes for women. We are, however, concerned about the lack of progress the Government has made against the aims and objectives set out in the Strategy and note that the Female Offender Programme has lacked the investment needed to make the aims of the Strategy achievable in reality. (Paragraph 24) Reducing the number of women in Custody
Government Response Summary
The government accepted the recommendation, committing to review the effectiveness of Out of Court Disposals (OOCDs) for women and detailing an 18-month study by RAND Europe, Get the Data and Skills for Health and Justice on police use of OOCDs for adults with health vulnerabilities, including women, due to conclude in March 2023.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
We accept this recommendation. We will review the use and effectiveness of Out of Court Disposals (OOCDs), including their effectiveness in responding to the particular needs of women and opportunities to attach women specific conditions such as referral to a women’s centre for support to address her needs. This work will take into account that day to day decisions on the use of OOCDs is ultimately an operational matter for the police. We continue to engage with police forces on what female support services are available locally and encourage this to become a standard service available to be attached as a condition to an OOCD where it is appropriate. We will request updates on the availability and use of such services from police forces and via the National Police Chiefs’ Council, as well as through the publication of scrutiny panel findings. MOJ has commissioned RAND Europe, Get the Data and Skills for Health and Justice, to undertake an 18-month study on how the police use OOCDs to support adults with health vulnerabilities. The study involves structured service mapping of local services available in 29 of the 43 police forces in England and Wales for attachment to an OOCD to support adults with health vulnerabilities, including any specialist services for particular cohorts such as female offenders. The final phase of the study will include looking into improving use of service provision for women specifically in conjunction with an OOCD in seven case study police forces, with learning shared nationally. It concludes in March 2023, with the delivery of the final report.