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<p>On 1 September 2022, we announced new investment of up to £24 million in the period
2022 to 2025 to support women in or at risk of contact with the criminal justice system:
<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/millions-invested-to-support-female-offenders"
target="_blank">Millions invested to support female offenders - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a>.
This includes up to £12 million available to pay the core costs of women’s community
sector organisations, reflecting historic demand in the sector for running costs and
overheads, which are not always covered through wider local and national funding streams.
Core costs funding will be allocated to the twelve probation regions in England and
Wales in proportion to women’s community caseload in each region.</p><p>In addition,
up to £8.4 million is available to invest in new services and interventions.</p><p>The
continued existence and viability of the women’s community sector is vital to support
the delivery of the main aims of the Government’s Female Offender Strategy, particularly
fewer women entering the criminal justice system and fewer women in custody, especially
on short-term sentences, and a greater proportion of women managed in the community
successfully.</p><p>New accommodation that is decent, safe and secure and supports
the modernisation of the prison estate is under development to improve custodial conditions
for women. Should these places not be required in future we have committed to using
them to close down existing older, less suitable accommodation in the women’s estate.</p>
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