Liberal Democrat Justice minister Simon Hughes has highlighted the importance of rehabilitating female prisoners.

Work and educational opportunities are crucial to helping rehabilitate women offenders.

Commenting, Simon said:

“I’m not prepared to accept a situation where female offenders don’t have the chance to turn their lives around and support themselves and their families.

“As part of our reforms, all women’s prisons are to become resettlement prisons to keep women as close as possible to their homes and families, as well as prepare more effectively for their release back into their local community.

“We are also supporting female offenders through training and education opportunities in custody, as well as linking up with local employers to help more women find employment on release.”