UK Prison Scandal: Women Forcibly Stripped 400+ Times Amid Unmet Mental Health Crisis

Investigation Reveals Women in English Prisons Forcibly Stripped and Restrained 424 Times Amid Soaring Mental Health Needs

(Source: openDemocracy, by Sian Norris)

Introduction: A Disturbing Revelation in Women's Prisons

A new investigation by openDemocracy has brought to light a deeply concerning practice within English prisons: women, many grappling with severe mental health problems, were "punitively" restrained 424 times in 2024 using "anti-rip" clothing. This alarming figure translates to approximately one in every eight women in the English prison estate being subjected to this "last resort" measure at some point last year. Disturbingly, the use of this specialized, thick material clothing, designed to prevent self-harm, often involves women being forcibly stripped against their will, sparking widespread concern from mental health advocates and prison watchdogs.

The HM Prison Inspectorate, responsible for overseeing prisons in England and Wales, had previously warned earlier this year that this clothing was being used "punitively" and "without good reason," signaling a potential misuse of a measure intended solely for extreme risk scenarios.

UK Prison Scandal: Women's Unmet Mental Health Crisis

The Alarming Scale of Anti-rip Clothing Usage

Ministry of Justice data, obtained by openDemocracy through Freedom of Information requests, reveals the scale of this practice. In 2024, anti-rip clothing was deployed on 424 occasions in women's prisons across England. While this type of garment is meant for women at real risk of self-harm, suicide, or violence during a mental health crisis, its frequent application raises serious questions about the adequacy of mental health support within the prison system.

UK Prison Scandal: Women's Unmet Mental Health Crisis

Specific prisons showed particularly high usage rates:

· HMP Styal in Cheshire, housing around 450 women, recorded 127 instances of anti-rip clothing use.

· Eastwood Park, home to approximately 350 women, reported 113 instances.

· HMP Bronzefield saw anti-rip clothing used 81 times in 2024.

The Ministry of Justice only began centrally tracking the use of these garments partway through 2023, making it difficult to assess year-on-year trends but highlighting a new level of scrutiny on this practice.

"Deeply Concerning": Trauma and Unmet Needs

Nicola Drinkwater, Director of External Affairs and Campaigns for Women in Prison, a national charity, expressed profound concern over these findings. "The frequency with which anti-rip clothing is being used in some prisons is deeply concerning and signals that women are experiencing severe distress and unmet mental health needs; needs that cannot be addressed in the unsafe environment of prison," she stated.

UK Prison Scandal: Women's Unmet Mental Health Crisis

Drinkwater further emphasized the traumatic impact: "From our work in prisons, we know that being forcibly stripped and made to wear anti-rip clothing is a traumatic experience for a woman already in crisis. We are concerned that in some cases, this practice is being overused, when other, less distressing de-escalation techniques could and should be employed."

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson responded to openDemocracy, stating: "The Prison Service is working to reduce the use of force and new guidance makes clear that anti-rip clothing should only ever be used as a last resort to keep someone safe. The prison system that this government inherited is not working for most women." They added that a new Women’s Justice Board has been launched to reduce the number of women in prison and better support those who remain incarcerated.

"Worse Than Cancer": A Glimpse into the Prison Mental Health Crisis

The widespread use of anti-rip clothing is a stark symptom of a pervasive mental health crisis within the women's prison estate. Nadia (whose full name is withheld), a woman held on remand with charges later dropped, recounted her harrowing experience. "Arriving in prison was worse than the day I was diagnosed with breast cancer," she shared. "I was in a real mess and I couldn’t stop crying. I wanted to die."

UK Prison Scandal: Women's Unmet Mental Health Crisis

Her initial arrival on the prison wing was akin to "walking into One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest," with "so many women there who were clearly unwell. They were screaming and crying, banging doors and windows. There was so much noise." Many of her cellmates struggled with addiction and withdrawal symptoms, yet staff responsiveness was severely lacking. Nadia reported that ringing the bell for help often took 20 minutes for staff to answer, a delay that could have devastating consequences. This aligns with prisoner survey data from the HM Prison Inspectorate (2021-2025), which found that only 34% of women inmates said their cell bells were answered within the regulation five minutes, dropping to a mere 12% at HMP Styal.

The psychological toll of imprisonment left Nadia with severe depression and anxiety. She continues to suffer from PTSD, experiencing nightmares and a racing heart at the sound of banging doors or jangling keys.

Self-Harm Surge and Unmet Needs

Nadia's experience is tragically representative of a broader crisis. Latest government figures on prisoner safety reveal a shocking 21,412 incidents of self-harm in women’s prisons in the year to September 2024 – a 7% increase from the previous year. Women account for over a quarter of all self-harm incidents in English and Welsh prisons, despite comprising only 4% of the total prison population.

UK Prison Scandal: Women's Unmet Mental Health Crisis

OpenDemocracy's analysis of prisoner survey data (2021-2025) highlights the depth of unmet mental health needs:

· 71.5% of imprisoned women reported having a mental health problem.

· An average of 34% said they did not receive support for their mental health needs.

· At HMP Styal and Foston Hall, this figure rose to 43% of women not receiving mental health support.

Prisons as "Places of Safety": A Flawed Solution

A significant driver of this mental health crisis is the practice of using prisons as "places of safety" for vulnerable women. Due to a severe lack of community-based mental healthcare options, seriously unwell women, sometimes without having committed any crimes, are incarcerated for extended periods until suitable mainstream services become available.

UK Prison Scandal: Women's Unmet Mental Health Crisis

The Ministry of Justice does not centrally record the number of women sent to prison specifically on mental health grounds, making precise measurement challenging. However, inspection reports offer stark clues:

· HMP Styal, which had the highest usage of anti-rip clothing, received 39 women last year "due to their acute vulnerabilities and the absence of specialised support in the community." The report explicitly stated that "prison was clearly not the right place for them."

· Eastwood Park, with the second-highest use of anti-rip clothing, held 25 women in the eight months leading up to June 2023, with warrants specifically mentioning 'place of safety,' 'own protection,' or mental health problems.

· HMP Bronzefield saw a 110% increase in women held on mental health grounds, with 19 women in 2023-24 compared to nine the previous year.

These findings underscore a critical failure in the system, where prisons, ill-equipped to provide specialized mental healthcare, are becoming de facto mental health institutions, often leading to traumatic and counterproductive outcomes for vulnerable women. The pervasive use of "anti-rip" clothing is a chilling indicator of a systemic crisis demanding urgent reform.