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THREAD: Yesterday, @klparadine was on
@BBCWomansHour opposing the Govts plan to build 500 new prison places, but why is this such a terrible idea?
@BBCWomansHour opposing the Govts plan to build 500 new prison places, but why is this such a terrible idea?
1/ It flies in the face of all the evidence. Police, probation officers, experts, and the Government's OWN strategy all agree that prison doesn’t work for women and instead exacerbates issues such as ill mental health.
2/ This is especially cruel in a pandemic. Coronavirus has exacerbated the situation for women in crisis both inside and outside of prison. As we see a rise in domestic violence, ill mental health, & poverty this is only set to continue unless something changes.
3/ Inside prison women are facing incredibly strict regimes many spending 23hrs a day in their cells. Self-harm stats show we are in a desperate situation with incidents requiring hospital attendance increasing by over a third (35%) to 331 in women’s prisons in the past year.
4/ The investment in prison places is even starker when you realise Women’s Centres are facing a funding cliff edge in April. Women’s Centres are an anchor that stop women being swept up into crime and help address the root causes of crime. We need sustainable funding.
5/ It doesn’t have to be like this. Join us in calling the Government to #Release2SaveLives, vaccinate those who aren’t eligible and for this Budget to pledge to protect women and provide long-term investment in Women’s Centres.
6/ The Govt. is justifying this because it says more police = more women in prison. But that isn't necessarily true. Diversion schemes work by preventing women from entering the criminal justice system. By investing in these and other community interventions we can stop the cycle
