Greater Manchester leading the way in preventing women’s offending

Prison Reform Trust

Greater Manchester is among a number of local areas leading the way in joining up services to help women get the support they need to stay out of trouble, according to a joint report by the Prison Reform Trust, the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, the Centre for Mental Health, and the Education Policy Institute.

Most of the solutions to women’s offending lie outside the justice system in treatment for addictions and mental health problems, support out of violent and abusive relationships, secure housing, money and debt advice, skills for employment, and assistance for families.

Local councils know and understand their communities. Their leadership can provide strategic oversight, and collaboration and coordination with other agencies to deliver necessary support to women in contact with, or on the edges of the criminal justice system. Existing partnerships bring together local organisations that have the means of transforming the lives of women and their families. This approach has the potential to make financial savings for local councils and improve outcomes for women and the wider community.

The report highlights areas where work is already taking place to join up budgets and promote effective joint working between different agencies. Places such as Greater Manchester have called for further devolution of criminal justice powers and a greater role for local government in meeting the needs of local populations.

The Justice and Rehabilitation Executive of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority is overseeing an integrated delivery model for women. It is supported by the Cheshire and Greater Manchester Community Rehabilitation Company, the Public Service Reform Team, NHS England, and nine women’s centres, located across the ten boroughs of Greater Manchester. Working with women, bringing to bear their unique insights and experience, helps to ensure local services are designed in a way that best meets women’s needs, as well as creating cost savings for local areas.

While the current context of reduced local authority budgets is challenging, there are opportunities for councils to rethink service provision to ensure vulnerable citizens receive necessary support, and for better coordination of existing arrangements. The Care Act, the Children Act and work with Troubled Families give further momentum for prevention and early support.

Many women in the criminal justice system have mental health problems, and almost half of women in prison report having ever attempted suicide. High numbers have experienced emotional, physical and/or sexual abuse as a child, and many report a history of domestic violence. Around 17,000 children are separated from their mothers by imprisonment. This has an often devastating impact on the lives of children, who are more likely than their peers to have poor mental health and insecure housing, and a high cost to local services.