Prison isn’t working for women, Labour says, as it unveils plans for alternatives

Shabana Mahmood tells conference she wants more help in community for offenders and fewer cases going to court

Shabana Mahmood, the lord chancellor, has declared that prison isn't working" for women as she announced a package of measures to reduce the number of females in the prison estate.

Plans to treat more women in the community, resolve cases involving women before they get to court and drive down the number of young women self-harming will be drawn up by a new body of experts, the justice secretary said in a conference speech on Tuesday.