NWJC welcomes Lord Chancellor’s announcement about the Women’s Justice Board

The National Women’s Justice Coalition is delighted to see collective campaigning efforts for a Women’s Justice Board pay off and we join our 26 partners and colleagues from across the criminal justice sector in welcoming the Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood’s announcement. 

The National Women’s Justice Coalition wrote to the Lord Chancellor and Lord Timpson, as Minister of State for Justice, in July to propose convening a Women’s Justice Board with a remit to reduce both the criminalisation of women and the number of women in prison. We were encouraged by Lord Timpson’s reply in which he wrote:

“I have noted your comments about the need to establish a Women’s Justice Board to provide direction and leadership in properly addressing the needs of women in or at risk of contact with the criminal justice system. I share your belief that achieving change will necessitate greater collaboration across government, relevant agencies and the third sector”.

The National Women’s Justice Coalition believes that any transformative plans for women’s justice will only be successful with women’s organisations at their heart. This radical new approach must include sustainable investment in women’s centres and specialist community-based support services, and centring the role of specialist women’s organisations and women with lived experience of the criminal justice system will be critical to the success of the Board. We look forward to influencing and contributing to its work in the months ahead.