David Heath says "too many women in prison"

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 18th Sep 2007

Heath calls for reduction in number of women in prison

Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, David Heath yesterday led calls at the Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference for the Government to implement Baroness Corston's recommendations for the treatment of women in prison.

The proposals include commitments for:

Ensuring a strong consistent message from the top of government (in line with stated policy) that prison is not the right place for women offenders who pose no risk to the public

The creation of an inter-departmental ministerial group for women who offend or are at risk of offending

Radically transforming the way criminal justice agencies deliver services for women

Ending routine strip searching in women's prisons

Improving sanitation conditions in women,s prisons as a matter of urgency

David Heath said: "For too long, as a small minority of the prison population, women in the penal system have been ignored. These proposals from the Liberal Democrats, based on the Corston Review, would finally offer these vulnerable women the support they need.

"The number of women in prison has doubled over the last decade, but there has been no corresponding rise in women committing more serious crime - nine out of ten are convicted of non-violent offences.

"Prison is simply not the right place for female offenders who pose no threat to the public. Instead they should be given tough community sentences and better support from all aspects of the criminal justice system.

"Repeat crime is best combated by helping women overcome addictions and mental health problems and prison is not the best place to do this. Alternatives to prison are both more economical and more effective at reducing the rate of reoffending."

back to top of the page