Women’s Prison Crisis: Staff Inexperience & Rising Use of Force

Rising Employ of Force Against Women in English and Welsh Prisons Sparks Concern

The use of force against women in prisons in England and Wales has more than doubled in three years, raising serious questions about safety, staffing levels, and the treatment of vulnerable inmates. Data obtained from His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) reveals a significant increase in incidents involving handcuffs, restraint, and “pain-inducing techniques,” prompting calls for urgent reform.

Escalating Incidents: A Three-Year Trend

Between 2021/22 and 2024/25, the total number of use-of-force incidents against women in prisons surged from 3,268 to 6,932, according to Freedom of Information data. This includes a 70% rise in physical restraints – such as being held face down – and a 264% increase in handcuff usage, climbing from 502 to 1,826 occasions. The use of force against pregnant women also increased, with 11 recorded cases in 2024/25.

Staffing Concerns and De-escalation Skills

Lucy Russell, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Women in Prison, suggests a link between the rising figures and a high turnover of prison staff. “We know there is a trend in increasing numbers of newer and less experienced prison staff, and this seems to shift the culture,” Russell said. “Where an experienced member of staff was skilled to de-escalate a situation or judge risk, newer staff may lack that knowledge.”

Ministry of Justice data indicates that almost 30% of full-time prison staff have been in post for less than three years, including a third of band 3 to band 5 prison officers – roles responsible for security, rehabilitation, and management. As of June 2024, only 25% of band 3-5 prison officers had been in the job for more than 10 years, down from 30% the previous year.

Mental Health and Vulnerability

The increase in force is occurring against a backdrop of high rates of mental ill health among female prisoners. More than 80% of women in prison struggle with mental health issues, and self-harm is nine times more prevalent in the female estate than in male prisons. Self-harm was identified as the third most common reason for using force, following non-compliance and preventing harm to others, according to a Ministry of Justice review.

Humiliating Treatment: Handcuffing During Medical Examinations

Concerns have been raised about the degrading treatment of women during medical appointments. One former prisoner, Beatrice, recounted being handcuffed during an intimate examination at HMP Bronzefield in 2023/24. Despite being sentenced for a non-violent crime, she was subjected to the policy of being handcuffed even while attending a hospital appointment.

“I was handcuffed to two female officers and escorted through the hospital,” Beatrice told openDemocracy. “It was very degrading and humiliating…You are stripped of your dignity in prison, but this is a hospital and I am pulling my leggings down and I am attached to a stranger. I felt like the doctor was embarrassed, and therefore everything was very rushed.”

Russell of Women in Prison stated, “Handcuffing a woman for a medical examination is humiliating, degrading and unnecessary. It will harm her relationship with her medical professional and may reduce her willingness to attend medical appointments. We know medical screening rates for women in prison are poor and this is exacerbating the situation.”

Use of Pain-Inducing Techniques

The data also reveals an increase in the use of “pain-inducing techniques,” rising from 232 incidents in 2021/22 to 397 in 2024/25. This includes the use of PAVA, a synthetic form of pepper spray, which has been deployed at least three times since 2023.

Calls for Reform and Improved Training

Experts emphasize the need for improved staff training in de-escalation techniques and a better understanding of the complex needs of female prisoners, many of whom have experienced domestic abuse – with over half reporting such experiences. Emily Evison, women’s programme lead at the Prison Reform Trust, noted “signs of progress” with the introduction of a use-of-force specialist to strengthen training.

Government Response

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson stated that the government is committed to reducing the number of women in custody by expanding community-based alternatives and that force is only used as a last resort when there is a clear and serious risk to safety.