Women’s local data resource
We have produced a range of local resources to help inform understanding of local trends in the use of imprisonment for women in England and Wales.
These resources are intended to encourage informed debate about the operation of the criminal justice system at a local level and the steps all decision-makers can take to reduce re-offending, protect the public and improve outcomes for women in their area.
They include:
- An interactive map showing the rates of imprisonment for women in England and Wales by Police Force Area.
- ‘At a glance’ data tables summarising the use of custody for each local Police Force Area between 2014–2019.
- Fact sheets for every police force area of England and Wales.
If you think anything is missing, or you would like to discuss the data for your area in more detail please contact the team at womensprogramme@prisonreformtrust.org.uk.
Imprisonment rates for women by Police Force Area, 2019
Our analysis has found a significant north-south divide in rates of women’s imprisonment in England and Wales.
Local court data reveals a postcode lottery in women’s imprisonment rates, with women in the north of England, the Midlands and parts of Wales far more likely to end up behind bars than those in the south of England. For instance, women in South Wales are nearly seven times more likely to be imprisoned than women in Surrey.
You can explore the different imprisonment rates for women in each Police Force Area in England and Wales by using the interactive map below.
The data
We have also produced a number of ‘at a glance’ data tables that summarise the local picture for women in the criminal justice system in England and Wales.
The data tables rank each Police Force Area from highest to lowest, summarise trends over time and set out the percentage change from 2014–2019.
Data tables
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Rates of immediate custody for women in England and Wales by Police Force Area
DownloadThis table shows the rate of imprisonment for women in each Police Force Area. This is the number of women sentenced to prison relative to the population of the Police Force Area, allowing comparison between areas regardless of their size.
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Number of women sentenced to immediate custody in England and Wales by Police Force Area
DownloadThis table shows the number of women sentenced to prison in each Police Force Area from 2014–2019, and the percentage change during that time, allowing comparison between areas.
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Number of women sentenced to immediate custody for less than 12 months in England and Wales by Police Force Area
DownloadThis table shows the number of women sentenced to prison for less than 12 months in each Police Force Area from 2014–2019, and the percentage change during that time, allowing comparison between areas.
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Number of women sentenced to immediate custody for less than 6 months in England and Wales by Police Force Area
DownloadThis table shows the number of women sentenced to prison for less than 6 months in each Police Force Area from 2014–2019, and the percentage change during that time, allowing comparison between areas.
Police Force Area factsheets
We have also produced factsheets on the use of imprisonment for women in every police force area of England and Wales.
Each factsheet provides information on recent trends in the use of immediate custody for women, regional comparisons and a breakdown of the offence types for which women are sent to prison.
To support ease of navigation the fact sheets are organised regionally.
