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Prevention, early intervention and community service should replace imprisonment for most women offenders, according to a Scottish executive report.

'A Better Way', the report of the ministerial group on women's offending, was chaired by the deputy justice minister, Richard Simpson. Among its findings it concluded that most women were short term prisoners (84 per cent in 2000 served less than 3 months), almost half were untried and held on remand, and for the past decade more than 50 per cent of women prisoners have been in custody due to non-payment of fines.

The female prison population in Scotland has increased steadily since 1991.

Simpson said the executive was determined to reduce the female population and added: "It is vital we address the individual needs of women offenders in the criminal justice system, and understand the problems which often lead women to offend. We need to take practical measures to tackle the root causes of crime, and break the cycle which leads women into criminal behaviour."

Among many recommendations for a new strategy are increased community disposal options, early intervention with younger women, tackling drugs and alcohol problems outside the penal system and greater use of diversion from prosecution schemes.

The report concludes that an earlier Scottish executive target of halving the number of women held in Cornton Vale, the country’s only prison for women, is unrealistic, but does propose a series of annual targets for preventing further increases in the female prison population in Scotland.

To reduce the number of women in prison for minor offences for short periods of time by up to 300 admissions a year; 250 less women to be held on remand; 300 fewer women jailed for fine default; the number of young women offenders jailed to be reduced by 75 per year; and community based projects to design specific alternative action for those aged 16 and 17 years of age.

Simpson said: "The female prison population in Scotland is slowly rising and the social implications, especially for children, of this must be urgently addressed when so many of those imprisoned are mothers or carers."

www.scotland.gov.uk