Evening Post political column
I AM delighted with the news that Swansea has been chosen as the location of a new Women’s Residential Centre for South Wales.
Such a centre is long overdue as women who are within the criminal justice system will now be able to serve a custodial sentence closer to their homes and families. Until now, they have been sent many miles to centres in England or even gone into prison.
I am pleased that the UK Government has made this decision with the Ministry of Justice collaborating with Welsh Government and local authorities to find a suitable site. This facility will mean that women will be able to see their children more often and that those children along with other relatives will not have to endure long and difficult journeys in order to visit. Swansea seems a sensible choice with its excellent rail and road connections.
It seems fairly obvious that every effort should be made to ensure women who end up with custodial sentences are able to maintain ties with their children and families. It has always seemed very wrong that innocent children were punished by being separated from their mothers by long distances.
The Prison and Probation Services have been fully involved in this decision and the new centre will provide a therapeutic and rehabilitative service for vulnerable women locally.
I understand that a search was undertaken to find a suitable site and one has been identified in Cockett. My only reservation concerns whether or not consultations have taken place with members of the local community and also with Swansea Council to ensure that putting the centre on this site will not create any disruption to the lives of local people.