Nacro responds to new report on HMP Styal women’s prison

“It is shocking that this report reveals most women were released from HMP Styal homeless or without sustainable housing. At Nacro we witness first-hand how homelessness makes women particularly vulnerable to abuse, often trapping them in a vicious cycle, which can in turn lead them back to prison. Failure to secure a safe space for women upon release not only endangers them at a moment of immense vulnerability, it also fundamentally undermines efforts to rebuild their lives after prison.

The report also details that ¾ of respondents in the women’s prison had a mental health problem. This reflects a concerning trend across the country in which we see soaring rates of poor mental health occurring alongside increased instances of self-harm and substance misuse across the women’s estate. It is deeply troubling, yet unsurprising, that in the vacuum created by a lack of adequate staffing to support increasingly complex needs, more women in prison are turning to substance misuse and self-harm to cope at HMP Styal.

If the Government is serious about addressing the number of women in prison, it must recognise the gender-specific needs and risks that these women experience and build access to essential services both in prison, and in the community. This looks like prioritising adequate housing provision, access to mental health support and the facilitation of connection with family. ”