Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : Deal reached on interim Fiscal Framework for Northern Ireland [May 2024]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 21 May 2024.

Fair deal delivers on commitment made within the Northern Ireland Executive’s restoration financial package.
- UK Government delivers on plan to support sustainable public finances and services in Northern Ireland with boost to capital borrowing powers and long-term security of needs-based funding to come into effect this year.
- Interim framework provides further clarity on delivery of funding within the unprecedented £3.3 billion spending settlement confirmed by the UK Government in February.
The UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive have today, 21 May, reached agreement on an interim Fiscal Framework.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Laura Trott met with Northern Ireland’s Finance Minister Caoimhe Archibald this afternoon to sign the deal, which represents an early and significant step in realising the commitment towards new funding arrangements for the Northern Ireland Executive and investment in its future – as committed in the UK Government’s Northern Ireland Executive restoration financial package and Safeguarding the Union Command Paper.

The deal gives the Executive greater security in funding public services while enabling investment in infrastructure to grow the economy, driving jobs and opportunity across Northern Ireland.

It is headlined by a new needs-based funding formula which will also mean that Northern Ireland will get a 24% uplift in the Barnett formula if its funding falls short of its relative need per head. It also contains an immediate £20 million boost to the Executive’s annual capital borrowing powers, which will rise in line with inflation from 2025-26 onwards.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Laura Trott said:

This significant deal will provide the Executive with further certainty and resources to deliver for the people of Northern Ireland.

We’ve moved at speed to deliver our plan to address the most pressing issues facing Northern Ireland’s funding and will continue to work with the Executive to secure a fair and final Fiscal Framework made possible by the strength of our Union.

The text agreed between the two governments today also provides further clarity on the new approach to support stability, prosperity, and sustainable public services in Northern Ireland.

The interim Fiscal Framework sets out progress with other elements of the Executive’s restoration financial package. As part of a commitment for the UK Government to write off £559 million in debts incurred while there was a governance gap, the Northern Ireland Executive agreed to publish a plan to deliver sustainable public finances by August 2024. The scope of this plan has now been agreed with HM Treasury ahead of publication in August.

The Executive is also required to publish a comprehensive and costed long-term Strategic Infrastructure Plan by Autumn 2024. The Framework sets out that the Plan will cover the priority areas for action on infrastructure and how it will support prosperity and growth.

A new Public Service Transformation Board, comprising officials from the Northern Ireland Civil Service and UK Government supported by independent experts will provide approval on £235 million ringfenced funding for the purpose of public sector transformation.

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris, said:

Our priority has always been to support the stability and fiscal sustainability of Northern Ireland through a restored Executive.

Today is a significant moment for Northern Ireland and honours this Government’s commitment to a new fiscal framework. It is an example of the better outcomes that are achieved when the UK Government and the Executive work together.

There’s much work to still be done and we stand ready to support the Executive to deliver on the priorities in both this interim framework, and the financial settlement as swiftly and strategically as possible to ensure the full benefits can be realised.

The UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive have committed to agreeing a final Fiscal Framework. Today’s meeting marked the inaugural Joint Exchequer Committee between the two governments. As was committed to within the Safeguarding the Union Command Paper, this will be the forum for discussions on further tax devolution going forward.

Further information
- All documents connected with the interim agreement on the Northern Ireland Executive’s Fiscal Framework and today’s inaugural Joint Exchequer Committee are available online here.
May 23, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Children at heart of D-Day 80 with ultimate history lesson [May 2024]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 21 May 2024.

30 children visited 10 Downing Street and HMS Belfast for the ultimate D-Day history lesson, transported on a Second World War-era red London bus.

Schoolchildren were given the ultimate history lesson for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, with a behind-the-scenes tour of 10 Downing Street and Second World War Royal Navy ship HMS Belfast.

Akshata Murty welcomed 30 schoolchildren to Number 10 as the Ministry of Defence announced a range of initiatives to inspire a new generation with the story and legacy of D-Day.

The children from Hayfield Cross School near Kettering met two D-Day veterans – George Chandler and Bernard Morgan – during the visit to 10 Downing Street, where they received a tour and a lesson on the role of Prime Minister Winston Churchill in planning the Normandy Landings.

Following the visit, Akshata Murty said:

It was a privilege to welcome George and Bernard to Downing Street today. They along with all our brave veterans are truly inspirational. It was wonderful that the pupils from Hayfield Cross Primary School were given the unique opportunity to hear their incredible stories first-hand.

The team from the Imperial War Museum also provided the kids with a powerful lesson in the Cabinet Room that helped to highlight the unparalleled sacrifice that so many made 80 years ago.

They then boarded a Second World War-era red double-decker bus adorned with the D-Day 80 logo and travelled to HMS Belfast – the only British ship remaining from the bombardment fleet of D-Day.

Onboard, they met Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and Education Secretary Gillian Keegan, learned more about HMS Belfast’s role in D-Day, participated in a hands-on Morse code lesson and had the special privilege of asking the two D-Day veterans questions about their experiences 80 years ago.

As part of a range of new education initiatives, the Ministry of Defence and its partners are working to ensure the inspiring message of D-Day is passed down to a new generation.

On 3 June, D-Day veterans will gather in Portsmouth to meet local schoolchildren and modern-day Royal Marines personnel to pass on their wisdom to a new generation.

At the national commemorative event in Portsmouth on 5 June, a total of 900 schoolchildren and cadets will hear directly from the veterans of D-Day. They will hear powerful testimonies from D-Day veterans and military personnel, as well as musical performances by a military orchestra.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps highlighted the importance of the commemorations:

Remembering D-Day is a crucial step to ensuring we appreciate the hard-earned peace and freedom we enjoy today.

It was an honour to speak with George and Bernard, and to meet the inquisitive class from Hayfield Cross School.

I hope the ultimate history lesson has worked to highlight the significance of D-Day and to help keep the memory of those that fought alive.

The Normandy Memorial Trust has published a D-Day 80 Teacher Resource Pack which was compiled in collaboration with the British Council and GCHQ.

The printed pack will be handed to schoolchildren taking part in D-Day 80 activities in Portsmouth on 3 June, ahead of the veterans’ departure to Normandy. Packs will also be available at The D-Day Story Museum in Portsmouth, thanks to generous funding from The Spirit of Normandy Trust.

The Normandy Memorial Trust’s ambition to share the lessons of the past with generations of the future will be fulfilled by The Winston Churchill Centre for Education and Learning, thanks to funding from principal sponsor BAE Systems, the Ministry of Defence and others.

The new facility, at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, France, will officially open on the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

As part of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission ‘Lighting Their Legacy’ programme of events, a torch of commemoration is being passed from veterans to young people to represent the passing on of the legacy of D-Day to a new generation.

Three Canadian mechanical engineering students at McMaster University in Ontario designed the torches as part of a degree project allowing them to reflect on why the commemoration is important, and why the Second World War continues to be relevant for future generations.

The torch will now travel to the capital cities of the Home Nations and cities up and down the country including Manchester and Plymouth, before joining veterans on a ferry to Normandy for the 80th anniversary.

May 23, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : UK strengthens ties with Finland in vow to support Ukraine [May 2024]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 May 2024.

The UK and Finland have signed a strategic partnership declaring Russia as the most significant and direct threat to European peace and stability.
- UK and Finland set out commitment to bolster ties and highlight risk of Russian aggression for European security
- Foreign Secretary will sign new Strategic Partnership with Finnish counterpart to deepen bilateral cooperation
- Declaration sets out the 2 countries’ ambition to work together on global security challenges and support Ukraine until the war is won
Finland and the UK will declare Russia as the most significant and direct threat to European peace and stability in a new Strategic Partnership signed today.

The agreement, which will bolster the relationship between the 2 countries, will be endorsed by Foreign Secretary David Cameron and his Finnish counterpart Elina Valtonen at an event in London.

The UK and Finland already share a long history of defence cooperation, including through military exercises and training, with the UK instrumental in securing Finland’s NATO accession. Today’s renewed partnership will expand cooperation across a range of other areas.

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said:

As long-standing partners and new NATO Allies, the UK’s relationship with Finland is going from strength to strength.

As we stand together to support Ukraine, including through providing military aid and training, we are clear that the threat of Russian aggression, following the war it started, will not be tolerated.

This Strategic Partnership, built on our shared values, will see the UK and Finland step up cooperation to bolster European security as well as seize new opportunities, from science and technology to closer energy ties.

A joint statement between the 2 foreign ministers will set out how Russia’s illegal, full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine has fundamentally changed the European security environment.

It will underline the importance of the bilateral partnership, working together to deny Russia any benefit from the war it started, counter Russian disinformation, malicious cyber activities, and hybrid threats, and support Ukraine’s recovery, reconstruction, and modernisation.

The text will also outline the shared ambition to scale up collaboration on science and technology, trade and investment and tackling illegal migration.
May 23, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Warring parties must fully comply with international humanitarian law and protect civilians – UK statement at the UN Security Council [May 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 May 2024.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on the protection of civilians in armed conflict.

Thank you, President. Let me start by thanking Mozambique for convening this important debate and thank all our briefers, today, for their powerful presentations.

The Secretary-General’s latest report on the protection of civilians presents a stark picture: a 72% increase in civilian deaths in armed conflict from 2022 to 2023; 117 million people experiencing conflict-related hunger; and a ten-fold increase in persons with disabilities in Ukraine due to conflict.

The United Kingdom is also concerned about escalating violence in El Fasher, Sudan, the deaths of civilians in Israel and Gaza, and the shocking levels of conflict-related sexual violence in the central Sahel and the DRC, among many other grave situations.

We should reverse these trends by taking a comprehensive approach to protection. I wish to make three points today.

Firstly, warring parties must fully comply with international humanitarian law and uphold their obligations to protect civilians. They must respect the special rights, needs, and vulnerabilities of children affected by conflict. We call on states to protect their populations from genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing. This includes in Sudan where the UK’s atrocity monitoring work investigates attacks against civilians and infrastructure, and monitors hate speech and incitement of violence across the country.

Second, we urge all states to take practical steps to improve international humanitarian law implementation, which in turn will enhance protection. The UK is updating our voluntary report on domestic implementation of IHL, with a strong focus on the protection of civilians. We encourage others to undertake similar exercises.

Third, the protection of civilians should always be prioritised in peacekeeping missions. The UK is supporting peacekeepers with training on preventing conflict-related sexual violence, and our programming is increasing the participation of women in uniformed roles and helping to address misinformation and disinformation about missions. We call on member states to deepen their support to peacekeepers to ensure that UN peacekeeping remains an effective tool to protect civilians.

President, to conclude, I stress the importance of working to prevent conflict. And I note that in his long list of events in Ukraine, our Russian colleague forgot to mention the fact that this all could have been avoided without the illegal invasion and aggression against Ukraine.

We must invest in anticipating the risks, working in partnership with national governments and local organisations to address the drivers of conflict. Progress in this area would go some way to ending the harm facing civilians around the world.

May 23, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : UK Government working hand in hand with Australia to promote trade in legal and tech services [May 2024]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 13 May 2024.

Legal and technology professionals on opposite sides of the world are set to benefit from bolstered connections between the UK and Australia through the UK Government’s GREAT Legal Services campaign’s latest programme of events.
- Minister Freer visits Australia as part of GREAT Legal Services campaign to promote the UK legal and tech sectors
- Trip to build on a free-trade deal between the UK and Australia to reduce trade barriers and promote further economic prosperity
- Last year’s conference generated millions of pounds of business deals for lawtechs
Taking place over the next 2 days (13 and 14 May 2024), Justice Minister Mike Freer will lead a delegation of UK professionals specialising in legal tech services – and builds on the success of last year’s conference which resulted in millions of pounds worth of business deals.

They will interact with Australian professionals through a series of workshops, roundtables and networking events arranged in partnership with the Department for Business and Trade.

This will support UK lawtechs – companies which make technology or software to provide legal services – to win business and grow their market presence in Australia. Figures show UK legal services providers already exported £88 million worth of business to Australia in 2023.

The trip will help develop a pipeline of Australian legal tech firms to be set up or expand in the UK, further cement the UK’s position as a world leader in legal services and legal technology and support smaller regional firms to trade internationally.

Built around Sydney’s annual Legal Innovation and Tech Fest, this is the second year in a row a programme of events to facilitate legal knowledge sharing between the legal sectors of both countries will take place. Companies who attended last May reported business wins of £16.5 million.

Justice Minister, Mike Freer, said:

I’m proud of our legal services’ world-leading reputation and that’s exactly why I’m visiting Australia as well as Singapore – so we can continue sharing our expertise with others and learn from them to maintain our competitive edge.

Importantly, promoting the UK’s legal and tech sectors abroad helps build connections and ultimately bring investment back to the UK – just as we’ve seen from the success of last year’s conference which resulted in millions of pounds worth of business deals.

The delegation is made up of legal tech firms from across the UK with a range of innovative solutions, including some already turning over £20 million a year. For example, Avvoka, a legal tech firm, are expert in legal document automation – meaning they create automated templates using software for legal documents such as contracts – and already have clients around the world, including in the US, Singapore and Australia.

Of particular interest to Australian counterparts is learning more about how the UK Government supports innovation in the lawtech sector and whether any initiatives such as LawtechUK – a government-backed initiative dedicated to driving digital transformation in the legal sector – could be replicated, where the UK is seen as a global leader.

British Consul General and Deputy Trade Commissioner Asia Pacific, Louise Cantillon said:

I am delighted to welcome Minister Freer and these eight UK legal tech companies, who epitomise the evolution of legal tech in the UK and are eager to understand and engage with the Australian market.

Australia and the UK have a long legal history together, and we have entered a new and exciting era in our bilateral relations as we approach the anniversary of the UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement’s entry into force. The FTA has created new legal and professional services opportunities for both countries, and strengthened the exchange of talent, ideas, and innovation.

A full programme of events is taking place from 9 to 17 May 2024 in Singapore, Sydney and Melbourne. In Singapore, Minister Freer will be looking at the latest technology on probate, court transcripts, AI and discussing how to reduce the legal services regulatory barriers for British lawyers. In Australia, the minister is leading a trade delegation of lawtech companies.

The visit progresses wider UK Government interests in boosting bilateral trade and cooperation with Australia, including the utilisation of a free-trade deal which came into force nearly a year ago to reduce the barriers to exchanging goods and services.

This is part of the government being able to secure unprecedented legal services market access commitments in four Free Trade Agreements (EU, EEA-EFTA, Australia and New Zealand) covering £2 billion worth of UK legal services exports.

Notes to editors
- The UK-Australia FTA provides certainty for legal-tech companies that UK lawyers can advise on home (UK), foreign and international law in Australia using their UK titles and qualification, without needing to requalify again Australia. The Legal Services Regulatory Dialogue, a forum of key representatives from both countries’ legal sectors which was established in the FTA, facilitates greater knowledge and expertise sharing, and has committed to exploring closer UK-Australia cooperation on emerging issues relating to legal technology and artificial intelligence. More information can be found on the GREAT website
- More information on the GREAT Legal Services campaign can be found on Linkedin
- The GREAT Legal Services campaign works to showcase the UK’s world-leading legal sector around the globe and make connections between UK legal professionals and counterparts in other countries. In the past year, this has included events in Singapore, Kenya, Tanzania, France and South Africa, as well as engagement with the legal sector in London, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Leeds, and targeted media and social media activity.
May 22, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : New prison punishments introduced to curb bad behaviour [May 2024]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 13 May 2024.

Prisoners who break the rules while behind bars face new community payback-style punishments like repair work and litter picking, under tough prison rules to be set out this week.
- community payback-style punishments to be imposed for the first time in prisons
- repairs, cleaning and litter-picking among new penalties for bad behaviour
- tougher penalties, including additional prison time, remain for more serious offences
For the first time, Governors will be able to impose “payback punishments” on prisoners who behave badly in jail, such as damaging prison property or being disrespectful to staff.

Punishments will vary from prison to prison, but could include repairing broken items, clearing shared or disused spaces, and litter picking. Offenders who refuse to carry out their payback punishment could have their prison work earnings blocked or privileges forfeited.

These new powers will build on the action Governors can already take if an offender commits a crime while behind bars.

It will remain the case that in the most serious incidents, for example sexual assault or selling drugs, tougher prison punishments could be handed out. In these cases, the crime will be reported to the police and perpetrators face the prospect of new convictions and time behind bars.

Prisons and Probation Minister Ed Argar said:

Discipline is the cornerstone of a prison that is safe for staff and where offenders are put on track to become law-abiding citizens.

Unruly behaviour is not tolerated and these new punishments will help force prisoners to realise their disruptive actions have tough consequences.

These punishments are inspired by the community payback schemes running in communities up and down the country where offenders are forced to clean up graffiti or fly-tipping and visibly atone for their crimes.
May 22, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Defra considers potential new fund in drive to maximise value from R&D and innovation spending on agriculture and nature [May 2024]

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 13 May 2024.

Experts can now apply to advise Defra on new ways to finance innovation and achieve a return on investment, including the possibility of a dedicated fund.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has today (Monday 13 May) announced the launch of a new expert advisory group to explore possible routes to generate commercial returns for the taxpayer from the department’s R&D and innovation spending, including through a potential new fund.

Defra is inviting leading experts in academia, business and the financial sector to apply to join the group, which will explore how to best deliver funding to support innovative projects while increasing value for money for the taxpayer. Those appointed will provide constructive and open challenge on a range of potential financing mechanisms, including a new dedicated fund supporting groundbreaking initiatives in the agri-tech and environmental sectors. Other arrangements could include joint ventures, revenue sharing arrangements, and the licensing of intellectual property to maximise the benefits of Defra’s agricultural and environmental R&D and innovation spending, while boosting productivity and economic growth.

Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said:

Science and technology are fundamental to strengthening our food security, enhancing nature and protecting our environment.

From new technologies driving more productive and sustainable farming to maps and models for managing invasive species, research and development has the potential to transform the way we manage our land and feed our nation.

We are now recruiting for a specialist advisory group to explore options for a more commercial approach to Defra’s R&D and innovation funding, from revenue sharing to setting up a dedicated new fund for innovation whilst offering the taxpayer a return on their investment.

I encourage anyone with expertise in the fields of finance, venture capital, intellectual property and innovation to apply.

Defra’s R&D budget supports the development of new technologies and innovation, often via grants. However, organisations can face challenges accessing finance for scaling up and commercialising their products or services, causing them to miss commercial opportunities or lose out to international competition. The new Advisory Group will explore how Defra can support innovators to overcome barriers such as these, whilst examining how taxpayers could benefit from a share in their commercial success, where this has resulted from public funding.

A Chair and seven members will be appointed ahead of an inaugural meeting later this year and an expected committee duration of three months. Apply for the Chair’s role here and/or to join the board here. The deadline for applications is midday on Monday 3 June.

May 22, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : UK fishing industry to benefit from cutting-edge technology to help manage fish stocks [May 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 13 May 2024.

Use of cameras, gear sensors and GPS units will help improve the sustainability of UK fish stocks.

The sustainability of UK fish stocks will be better safeguarded through the use of technology to monitor and manage fishing activity in English waters, the government has announced today (13 May).

The technology – known as Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) – involves using camera, gear sensors and GPS units to make sure that catches are accurately recorded and fish are not unlawfully thrown back into the sea. The data captured will support the fishing industry to manage stocks sustainably and give retailers and consumers greater confidence about the sustainability of our fish.

Volunteers within five priority fisheries will begin to use REM systems from this summer, with their work helping to refine the UK’s monitoring objectives and ensure the technology works for fishers.

Once monitoring objectives have been finalised and the REM systems are demonstrated to be working well, REM systems will become mandatory for all vessels in those fisheries – including non-UK vessels.

The information delivered through REM will support the long-term profitability of the sector and help to build the UK’s food resilience and security.

Fisheries Minister Mark Spencer said:

Leaving the EU has given us the opportunity to take a new approach to fisheries management that is in the best interests of the UK fishing industry.

By harnessing this technology, we can sustainably manage our fish stocks, to benefit the industry, future generations, and our marine environment.

A different approach to managing discards will also be adopted in England, with changes to be made to better account for catches. From 2025, landings and discards will both be counted against quota allocations, and the amount of quota used to cover discards will vary and will depend on the type of vessel and gear types used.

In addition to this, discard reduction schemes will be established to identify ways to reduce unwanted catch in the first instance. Working collaboratively with regulators and the industry, the schemes will identify and resolve barriers to improved gears being used.

Fishers will start to see both approaches implemented at the start of next year.

Further information:
- Link to the remote electronic monitoring consultation response.
- Link to the discards reform consultation response.
May 21, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : World-leading 3D printer used by British Army in the field for first time [May 2024]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 13 May 2024.

A cutting-edge 3D printer is being used by the British Army for the first time in the field on the largest NATO deployment in Europe in a generation.

9 Theatre Support Battalion, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers, are using the technology to make spare parts for vehicles as well as print vital modifications to battle-winning equipment on NATO exercise Steadfast Defender – the largest NATO deployment in Europe in a generation.

The Army’s use of both metal and plastic mobile printers in the field, which can be easily transported between locations, is the first time in the world the technology has been used by any military in direct support of a large-scale NATO Exercise.

With the ability to produce metal parts from the back of a truck in less than an hour, 3D cold metal printing can eliminate the need for parts to be shipped out for repair, saving on transport costs and time.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said:

This world-leading technology is another excellent example of how Britain is at the very forefront of innovation in Defence, providing our exemplary Armed Forces with a faster way to respond flexibly in the field.

The recent increase in Defence spending is crucial to ensuring that our people have the right kit, at the right time. Examples like this demonstrate that we are leading the way in developing new technologies to empower our Armed Forces and give them what they need to defend our nation.

The metal printed technology works by using computer-aided design to digitally produce a component. A fine metal powder, such as copper, aluminium, or steel, is then fired through a nozzle at three times the speed of sound as a mechanical arm shapes the component, building the object one layer at a time. Once constructed, the component is then subjected to post-processing such as heat treating, milling, and finishing.

The printer is currently being used to maintain older vehicles such as the Land Rover by printing harder-to-obtain spare parts. Ambitions for the future include having catalogues of components for new fleets of vehicles such as BOXER and AJAX, so parts can be printed on demand in the field.

Lieutenant Colonel John Anthistle, Commanding Officer of 9 Theatre Support Battalion, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers said:

This equipment gives the Army the flexibility it needs to make spares, components, and modifications to our equipment in the field, at point and time of need. Not only does it save us weeks and sometimes months of having to wait for replacement parts, it also enables us to print components which aren’t available anymore; conduct battle damage repair, and modify equipment to match changing threats.

If you have a broken-down vehicle which needs to be back in the field the next day because it’s a vital piece of equipment, that’s where this technology comes in. It can reduce logistical issues, save money and critically, speed up getting battle-winning equipment back into the fight.

The Australian military were the first to trial the technology on low level exercises, but whereas other countries also utilise 3D printing, it has remained static and employed in laboratory type environments. The British Army, along with industry-leading manufacturers have ‘ruggedised’ the high-tech process so that it can work in the field as a tactically deployed asset.

The information to make certain metal parts can also be stored in a computer and shared with NATO partners.

May 21, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Government backs record numbers of female offenders into work [May 2024]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 13 May 2024.

More female offenders than ever recorded before are in work 6 months after their release from prison as a direct result of government action – cutting crime and keeping the public safe.
- female offenders steered away from crime thanks to targeted support
- over £14 million invested to address root causes of female offending
- part of government strategy to reduce number of women committing crime
More than £14 million has been invested into women’s services in the community as part of the government’s Female Offender Strategy and Delivery Plan, helping female offenders get clean, move away from abusive relationships, and find work and stable accommodation.

One year on since its launch, hundreds of female offenders have been supported into employment after their release from prison – up four per cent on the previous year.

Specialist services have also provided female offenders with tailored mental health or drug treatment support. The number of female offenders being sent to prison has reduced by over a quarter since 2010.

This support is key to cutting crime as around one-third of female offenders have a history of drug abuse and more than three-fifths of women have experienced domestic abuse.

Prisons and Probation Minister, Edward Argar, said:

We know many female offenders have suffered trauma in their lives or are battling addiction issues and it’s key that we tackle those underlying factors to help stop their offending and to make positive choices about their futures.

Our approach is clearly working as the number of women serving short sentences is falling and more women are now in work, giving them the best chance to truly turn their backs on crime and keep the public safe.

Tackling the root causes of female offending and providing women with the specialist support they need is a key part of the delivery plan, which aims to steer women away from prison. The Government has completed over a third of the commitments since it was published last year.

This is alongside the launch of a new Intensive Supervision Court for women at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court which uses a problem-solving approach to divert low-level female offenders away from short prison sentences.

The women sentenced through the court will have one-to-one meetings with judges to track their progress as well as access to wraparound multi-agency support to target the root causes of their offending.

Without this wider support, around half of women who have been in prison will go on to re-offend, hitting taxpayers in the pocket to the tune of a total of £1.7 billion a year.

Willowdene Residential Women’s Centre in Shropshire is one organisation that is receiving nearly £690,000 in funding between 2022 and 2025 to continue their support for vulnerable women through employment and life-skills training.

Matt Home, Director of the Willowdene Rehabilitation Centre, said:

Our approach has demonstrated that when we focus on the reasons why people commit crime or live a chaotic lifestyle then lives are transformed.

The majority of women referred to Willowdene for committing an offence are victims and we believe that if we can deal with the trauma of their past then lives can be rebuilt – and that everyone should have the opportunity to realise their full potential.

Notes to editors
- the publication and the data dashboard can be viewed on GOV.UK
- in 2022 to 2023, 233 women were employed at 6 months post-release, compared to 164 in 2021 to 2022. This is the highest the number has been since this data was first recorded in 2020
- over 250 mental health treatment requirements were undertaken between April to June last year; an increase of 53.6% from the same period in 2022
May 21, 2024