WALES will host the UK Government's first residential women’s centre, an alternative to custody focused on rehabilitation for women convicted of low level crime.

A provider and a site for the project remain to be identified, but the Ministry of Justice will work with the Welsh Government and partners with the aim of opening the centre by the end of 2021.

The announcement comes on the same day that details are revealed of a funding boost in England and Wales to help steer more women away from crime.

Some £2.5m will be made available to community services later this year, to help cover core costs such as wages, rent and bills.

The residential women’s centre in Wales will provide accommodation for women with complex needs who would otherwise be sentenced to custody.

Many women are sent to prison, often for low-level summary offences, where the impact of incarceration has a catastrophic impact on them and their families.

The centre will offer services which tackle underlying causes of offending, such as substance misuse and mental health problems, and enable Welsh women to stay closer to home, benefitting their children and wider family ties, which are known to be key to reducing reoffending.

The service will also provide support for women as they transition from the centre to life back in their communities.

Justice minister Lucy Frazer said the centre will offer "a robust alternative to short prison sentences".

Of the £2.5m investment, she said it builds on that already awarded under the Government’s Female Offender Strategy, which has "enabled some truly inspirational organisations to expand what they do and support more women in need".

“These services have shown great creativity and resilience to continue their support through the lockdown, and I want to reassure them this extra £2.5m will be available when those measures can be safely relaxed," said Ms Frazer.

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Directors of regional probation areas will assess which types of service are most needed. They could include focusing on domestic abuse support, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, or working with particular groups, such as women from ethnic minorities or in a specific age range.

They will evaluate bids and make funding recommendations to the Ministry of Justice.

Welsh Government Deputy Minister and Chief Whip Jane Hutt welcomed the funding and residential centre plan.

"Welsh women need a safe and secure facility that is fit for purpose, while allowing them to maintain contact with their families, particularly children. The current Covid-19 outbreak has highlighted this even further," she said.

“The Welsh Government has pressed hard for a new women’s residential centre in Wales and I’m delighted we’ve now received confirmation these plans will go ahead."