PCC Spotlight 3: Women
This is the third in a series of spotlights highlighting promising strategies, schemes and approaches developed by Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) on key issues. This spotlight focuses on promising practice by PCCs on working with women in contact with the criminal justice system. We highlight examples from a number of PCC areas and draw together key lessons from their approach. We note that levers for delivering a more effective approach for women in contact with the criminal justice system increasingly lie at a local level. With their strategic partnership role, PCCs can play an important role.
Women’s offending has a distinct profile compared with men, with women making up just 15% of the probation caseload and 5% of the prison population. 81% of women entering prison under an immediate custodial sentence have committed non-violent offences. Women involved in the criminal justice system are likely to face poor mental health and multiple and complex needs, often including victimisation and abuse. Local leadership is key to improving responses for women in contact with the criminal justice system. PCCs should be advocates for a women-specific approach in their area, and champion improving responses as a key partnership priority locally.
Several themes emerge from this review that could inform such an approach:
- Supporting women’s centres, initiatives for woman and girls at risk and women’s victim services
- Promoting diversion and earlier intervention
- Taking a distinct approach for young adult women (18-24)
- Using community sentences more effectively
- Taking a strategic partnership approach.
