The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has come under fire after axing the domestic abuse advocate role in women’s prisons, despite its own statistics showing that 57% of female prisoners have experienced domestic abuse.
The decision, made without warning or public explanation, has drawn sharp criticism from campaigners, charities, and church leaders who argue that cutting such vital support services undermines rehabilitation and fails to address the complex needs of women in custody.
Freedom Programme and Other Courses Under Scrutiny
The MoJ has linked the cuts to the introduction of the 2023 National Framework for Interventions, which governs rehabilitation programmes designed to change offender attitudes and behaviours.
Under the new framework, several well-regarded courses — including the highly acclaimed Freedom Programme, which supports women affected by domestic abuse, and the Sycamore Tree Project, a restorative justice programme run by Christian charity Prison Fellowship — were judged to no longer meet the required standards.
The MoJ has said that the framework is based on “evidence of effectiveness from a range of countries,” suggesting that programmes must meet strict evaluation criteria to continue.
Criticism Over Axing the Sycamore Tree Project
The decision to drop the Sycamore Tree Project has been widely criticised. The course, delivered free of charge by volunteers, helps offenders reflect on the impact of their crimes on victims and communities.
Although there is no religious preaching involved, the project was reportedly deemed to fall short of diversity and inclusion standards due to being run by a Christian organisation whose volunteers are predominantly white.
The Right Reverend Rachel Treweek, the Church of England’s Bishop for Prisons, described the move as “bewildering,” while prisoners and officers alike have praised the course for its positive outcomes.
Data from the MoJ’s Justice Data Lab in September 2023 analysed 192 offenders who took part in Sycamore Tree and found a one-year proven reoffending rate of 27%, compared to 29% for a matched control group — a small difference that was not statistically significant.
However, a larger independent study by Sheffield Hallam University and Manchester Metropolitan University, involving over 5,000 participants across 51 prisons, concluded that the programme had a positive impact on attitudes to crime and reduced reoffending risk, particularly among younger adults.
Concerns Over Impact on Female Prisoners
Campaigners argue that cutting domestic abuse advocacy in women’s prisons is particularly damaging.
Catherine de Souza, Chief Executive of Prison Fellowship, called the decision “completely unacceptable,” highlighting that many women in prison have offended while in coercively controlling or abusive relationships.
She also defended the Freedom Programme, stating that the MoJ’s own reoffending analysis showed “very good outcomes” for participants. “It is bewildering to remove a programme that works,” she said.
Calls for a Rethink
Critics accuse the MoJ of prioritising bureaucratic frameworks over practical effectiveness. Many argue that programmes like Sycamore Tree and Freedom, praised by both prisoners and staff, provide proven benefits — yet they have been axed on technical grounds.
Prison Fellowship has announced plans to develop a new scheme to replace Sycamore Tree but has expressed disappointment over the outcome of its appeal against the decision.
With reoffending rates and prison overcrowding remaining key challenges, campaigners warn that removing impactful programmes could undermine rehabilitation efforts and leave vulnerable women without vital support.