‘Green shoots’ in drive to cut number of women in England and Wales prisons

Prisons minister says more women should be diverted away from jail – and new board aims to bring about that change Pat had been in trouble with the police before, when she was 16 and had been spat out of the care system with no qualifications, no housing and no support. Nearly 50 years later, she heard a knock on the door again. There had been a fire in the estate where she lived, and another resident said she had seen Pat start it. “I was in the police station for nearly two days before I go...

By Alexandra Topping Political correspondent