Women offenders still being jailed despite pledge to cut prisoner numbers, say MPs

Justice committee says little progress made on developing alternatives to custodial sentences as female prison population predicted to rise by a third

Ministers have made little progress developing alternatives to custodial sentences for women, MPs have concluded, amid official predictions that the female prison population may rise by a third in the next three years.

The Conservative-led justice select committee said there is yet to be any clear evidence" that women are being diverted away from jail despite promises to develop other methods of punishment and rehabilitation.