This week, the Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said that her ‘ultimate ambition’ was to close women’s prisons, saying they were simply ‘forcing women into a life of crime’.
As a former inmate who spent 14 months behind bars, it’s a welcome change to hear any mention of female prisoners in the political debate, especially given the unique challenges we face.
In my experience, women’s prisons simply don’t function as places of rehabilitation
I spent time in Europe’s largest female prison, HMP Bronzefield in Surrey, where I witnessed daily struggles with overcrowding. Women were constantly moved between cells to accommodate new arrivals, and we often shared tiny spaces designed for one person. Weekends frequently meant being locked in our cells due to staff shortages, which meant there was never a consistent routine, or exercise and time out.
Women make up less than 5 per cent of the prison population, yet we’re more likely to be sentenced to prison for non-violent, less serious crimes.
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