UK Justice Secretary announces Women's Justice Board to reduce female prison population, focusing on early intervention and community alternatives.

UK Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced plans to reduce the female prison population by establishing a Women's Justice Board. This board aims to explore early intervention, community alternatives to incarceration, and address self-harm issues. Mahmood emphasized that the current system is ineffective for women, many of whom are victims of domestic abuse and non-violent offenders. The initiative seeks to preserve family units and ultimately reduce the number of women's prisons.