We welcome the recommendations made by the Women’s Justice Board (WJB) in their report, published yesterday. In particular, we support the highlighting of issues facing Black and racially minoritised migrant women in the criminal justice system (CJS) and the need for anti-racist approach to be taken in policy and implementation. Through our work with Black and racially minoritised migrant women in the CJS, we agree that this is a vital necessity. 

The report, therefore, represents a high standard of evidenced insight: not implementing the WJB’s recommendation would mark a significant missed opportunity. 

Women who find themselves in contact with the CJS are often amongst the most vulnerable in society. A significant number have experienced violence against women and girls (VAWG), trauma, mental illness, addiction and poverty. Many are also mothers and primary carers. For many, such as Black and minoritised migrant women, identities and vulnerabilities intersect to put women at additional risk of criminalisation and harm by the CJS. 

As the WJB have explained, central to this approach are specialist women’s services that provide trauma-informed, gender-responsive support and help women address the underlying causes of offending. Alongside the report’s publication, the Ministry of Justice made an announcement for 31.6 million investment women’s centres and organisations supporting women who have been criminalised.   

Responding to the announcement, Baljit Banga, Hibiscus; CEO, said: 

Prison harms and retraumatise Black and minoritised migrant women. Urgent and radical change is needed to end women’s imprisonment and unjust criminalisation. By implementing the recommendations set out in the WJB’s report, the government could advance an approach that prioritises prevention, early intervention, diversion from prosecution, and effective community‑based alternatives to custody.  

We welcome yesterday’s funding announcement. Investing in specialist organisations that understand women’s needs and provide tailored support, including the safety nets required to flee abuse safely, is a vital step forward. Working with women who have been systemically excluded, we know that tackling the root causes of ‘offending’ means placing women’s economic justice and access to non‑discriminatory support systems at the centre.” 

For more information, please contact: elizabeth@hibiscus.org.uk