CORSTON REPORT

That this House welcomes the publication of the Corston Report on women with particular vulnerabilities in the criminal justice system; notes the devastating effect that imprisonment has on the children of women offenders; expresses serious concern at the fact that only five per cent. of children whose mothers are imprisoned are able to remain in the family home; believes that imprisoning mothers can cause irreparable damage to children and is a decision that should not be taken lightly; welcomes evidence from the organisation Smart Justice that 73 per cent. of the public do not think mothers of young children who commit non-violent crime should be locked up; and calls on the Government to implement Baroness Corston's recommendations and where possible facilitate the creation of small, local custody units.