Self-Harm Increases Among Female Prisoners In England During Pandemic

Self-harm has increased among female prisoners during the coronavirus pandemic and some are being released without anywhere to go, inspectors have said. Inspectors, who carried out scrutiny visits on 19 May, said they were troubled by the impact of new restrictions at three female-only prisons – Bronzefield, Eastwood Park and Foston Hall. The restrictions were aimed at helping to control the spread of the virus but the inspectors were concerned about the suspension of specialist support for some of the most vulnerable women. Peter Clarke, the chief inspector of prisons, said: “We found that self-harm had increased from the high levels seen prior to the restrictions being implemented.” Despite enhanced welfare checks and support in place at Bronzefield and Eastwood Park, Clarke said: “We were concerned about the impact of the very sudden withdrawal of a range of interventions from a small number of prisoners with very high levels of need.” An inspectors’ report noted: “Despite the work of staff, the very restricted regime meant prisoners at risk of self-harm felt isolated from others and craved more human contact.” Prisoner release schemes were “undermined by the lack of accommodation for many on release”, according to Clarke.

Read more: Guardian, https://is.gd/bZH0VP