Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many female offenders received an immediate custodial sentence of (a) less than six months and (b) more than six months in each police force area in each of the last five years for which data is available.

The number of custodial sentences issued to female offenders in England and Wales, by police force area, from 2012 to 2016, can be viewed in the table attached.

We are committed to doing all we can to address the issues around female offending so we can better protect the public and deliver more effective rehabilitation. That is why we plan to set out a strategy for female offenders, to improve outcomes and services for women in both the community and custody.