Women in two English prisons are being held in poor conditions, with staff shortages affecting safety and mental health care, according to a Council of Europe report.
Inspectors also warned fire safety at HMP Styal in Cheshire needed urgent attention, claiming lives could be at risk.
Findings from the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) follow visits to HMP Styal and HMP Eastwood Park in Gloucestershire in December 2025.
The committee found many women were serving short sentences or had been recalled to prison, often for between 14 and 28 days. Recalls were frequently linked to breaches of probation, unstable housing or a lack of support in the community.
The CPT said short stays in prison left little time for intervention and called for greater investment in community services, including mental health support and social care.
There were no allegations of physical ill-treatment by staff, while violence between prisoners was described as relatively uncommon.
However, inspectors found several problems at HMP Styal. Some accommodation was described as dilapidated, with issues including heating and hygiene.
Staff shortages at both prisons were also affecting safety, activities and prisoner welfare, sometimes leading to prolonged lockdowns and limited supervision.
Mental health was another concern. While healthcare was described as generally good and trauma-informed, inspectors called for more specialist staff and said women with acute mental illness should be transferred to secure hospitals without delay.
The CPT praised measures to prevent self-harm and suicide, as well as the care provided in Mother and Baby Units.
Concerns were also raised about women held in segregation – where it lasts beyond 14 days, inspectors recommend at leats two hours of human contact each day.
The UK government said it had accepted and acted on many of the recommendations and remained committed to improving prison conditions and supporting women after release.
Photo: RDNE Stock project
In related news:
Introducing biodiversity net gain ceiling could trigger court dispute
Leave a Reply