Women’s ‘mini prison’ could be created in Fife or Tayside

Justice: Plans for new units to house offenders closer to their homes

A women’s ‘mini prison’ could be opened in Fife or Tayside as part of plans to replace Cornton Vale.

With the Stirling jail due to start a phased closure this summer, five new facilities are planned across the country so female offenders can stay closer to home and maintain contact with family.

Anne Pinkman, chief officer of Fife and Forth Valley Community Justice Authority, said: “These new mini prisons are much more community-facing prisons.

“We know these facilities will be developed as close as possible to where women offenders come from.

“It is likely that we could potentially have a new facility built in either the Fife or Tayside area.”

In 2012, the Commission on Women Offenders report by Dame Elish Angiolini called for a major overhaul of the way women are treated by the criminal justice system.

The report said early intervention and support, and alternatives to custody, should be developed to prevent low-level offenders going to prison.

Dame Elish was scathing about the conditions at Cornton Vale and said it should be replaced with a smaller specialist unit for those who present a risk to the public.

The Scottish Government and Scottish Prison Service are planning a prison for 80 offenders, in addition to the five community units.

An event will be held in Dunfermline next month as part of the consultation.

Fife had the second highest number of imprisoned female offenders in Scotland earlier this year.

Glasgow had the largest female prisoner population.

The average number of women from Fife behind bars each month is 30, with five remanded.

There are plans to replace Cornton Vale prison.