What is the Inquest charity's stance on women's prisons?

Inquest advocates for the closure of all women's prisons due to rising deaths and self-harm incidents.

How many women have died in prisons in England and Wales?

Since 2015, 97 women have died in prisons across England and Wales, according to a recent report.

What are the key issues highlighted by the Inquest report regarding women's prisons?

The report points to systemic failures, including ignored mental health issues, poor emergency responses, and inadequate suicide prevention measures.

Home / Crime and Justice / 97 Women Died: Charity Demands Prison Closure

97 Women Died: Charity Demands Prison Closure

3 Dec

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Summary

Nearly 100 women have died in English and Welsh prisons since 2015.
Self-harm incidents in women's prisons have reached a record high.
Charity Inquest calls for the closure of all women's prisons.

97 Women Died: Charity Demands Prison Closure

Inquest, a charity, has released a report detailing the deaths of 97 women in prisons across England and Wales since 2015. The report highlights a significant increase in self-harm incidents among female inmates, reaching the highest level on record.

These findings have led to calls for the radical closure of all women's prisons. The charity argues that current conditions are unacceptable and that further deaths are inevitable without decisive governmental action and brave political change.

Despite past reviews and strategies aimed at reducing the female prison population, numbers have increased by 12% between June 2020 and June 2024. The Ministry of Justice acknowledges the system's failures, particularly for women, and is exploring community-based sentences.

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