In a powerful display of commitment to justice reform, Durham Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Joy Allen visited the Wise Group’s Women’s Support Hub this past week. The visit marks a renewed focus on community-based alternatives to custody and the importance of trauma-informed support for women in or at risk of entering the criminal justice system.
The Wise Group is a leading social enterprise working across the North East and Scotland. It provides tailored support for vulnerable women — many of whom are facing poverty, domestic abuse, addiction, homelessness, or involvement with the criminal justice system. Allen’s visit highlighted not just the essential work the group carries out, but the critical role such services play in long-term crime reduction and rehabilitation.
The Growing Need for Gender-Responsive Justice
Women in the justice system often experience deeply rooted trauma. According to research, over 60% of women in prison in the UK have experienced domestic abuse, and many have suffered from mental illness or substance dependency. Unlike their male counterparts, women often commit non-violent offenses linked to survival—such as shoplifting or minor drug offenses.
Yet the consequences for women are disproportionately severe. Short custodial sentences frequently result in homelessness, loss of child custody, unemployment, and a cycle of reoffending. Recognizing this reality, Durham’s PCC Joy Allen has repeatedly championed preventative, community-led approaches that deal with the causes of crime rather than merely its symptoms.
“Locking up women for low-level offenses often creates more problems than it solves,” Allen explained during her visit. “We need to address the root causes—poverty, abuse, trauma—and provide real pathways to recovery.”
The Wise Group’s Impact: Real Lives, Real Change
The Women’s Support Hub run by the Wise Group offers a lifeline to women seeking to rebuild their lives. Far beyond a standard service provider, it operates with empathy, trust, and dignity at its core. Its holistic approach includes:
- One-on-One Mentoring: Women are paired with dedicated mentors, many of whom have lived experience, creating a strong peer support system rooted in understanding.
- Mental Health and Trauma Support: Services are designed around the principles of trauma-informed care to help women safely confront and recover from past trauma.
- Domestic Abuse Support Services: Safe housing, legal assistance, and emotional counseling are offered to survivors fleeing abusive environments.
- Through-the-Gate Services: The Wise Group supports women transitioning from custody back into the community, helping with housing, benefits, and social reintegration.
- Employment and Skills Training: Women are empowered through vocational programs that enhance their confidence, employability, and long-term independence.
During her visit, Joy Allen took the time to sit with participants and hear their stories. One woman shared how the support hub had changed her life after years of addiction and domestic violence.
“I didn’t know how to start over,” she said. “But here, they helped me feel human again. I have a place to stay, a mentor who believes in me, and hope for the first time in years.”
Policy in Action: A Commissioner’s Vision for Reform
Commissioner Allen’s visit isn’t a one-off photo opportunity—it reflects her broader policy vision for reshaping the criminal justice landscape for women. She has long advocated for the development of women’s community hubs as a preferred alternative to custodial sentencing.
The Commissioner is also working with national organizations and the Ministry of Justice to increase funding for women’s services in the region. This includes:
- Supporting diversionary programs that intervene early before women enter the court system.
- Enhancing partnerships between police, health services, charities, and housing providers.
- Campaigning for investment in women’s trauma recovery and mental health care.
Her visit to the Wise Group reinforces her dedication to tackling the complex web of issues that draw women into crime—and more importantly, helping them escape it permanently.
The Cost of Incarceration vs. The Value of Community Support
A key theme discussed during the visit was cost-effectiveness. Research consistently shows that short prison sentences do little to reduce reoffending and cost the taxpayer far more than community-based support.
For example:
- It costs over £47,000 per year to incarcerate a woman in the UK.
- Community-based alternatives like those offered by the Wise Group can cost a fraction of that and deliver far better outcomes in terms of reducing crime and improving wellbeing.
Moreover, supporting women to stay out of custody helps preserve families, especially when children are involved. Stable homes, consistent parenting, and the presence of strong community ties play a major role in preventing intergenerational cycles of trauma and crime.
From Harm to Healing: A Holistic Model
What makes the Wise Group unique is its holistic model of care. The organization doesn’t simply provide “support”—it builds trust and fosters transformation. Their mentors, some of whom have overcome similar challenges, offer practical advice and emotional validation that professional services often struggle to deliver alone.
The group’s trauma-informed model ensures that every service offered is rooted in compassion. Whether a woman is fleeing domestic abuse or facing the uncertainty of post-prison life, the Wise Group meets her where she is, with no judgment.
Joy Allen emphasized the need for this model to become standard across the UK.
“What I’ve seen today is what works,” she said. “These women are rebuilding their lives not because they were punished—but because they were given the tools, the respect, and the support they needed.”
Conclusion: A Model Worth Expanding
The visit of Durham PCC Joy Allen to the Women’s Support Hub isn’t just symbolic—it sends a powerful message about the future of justice for women. The Wise Group stands as a proven model of how compassion, community, and accountability can come together to rebuild lives.
It offers a roadmap for national reform: one where prison is no longer the default, where trauma is understood—not punished—and where women are seen as survivors, not statistics.
As Joy Allen continues to push for system-wide changes, the hope is clear: that hubs like this won’t be the exception, but the norm.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who is Joy Allen?
Joy Allen is the elected Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Durham. She oversees policing strategy, community safety initiatives, and justice reform across the region.
2. What is the Women’s Support Hub?
It’s a community-based initiative operated by the Wise Group that offers trauma-informed support to women affected by crime, abuse, addiction, or incarceration.
3. Why focus on women specifically
Women in the justice system often have unique needs due to trauma, caregiving roles, and vulnerability to abuse. Tailored support offers better outcomes for women and their families.
4. What does trauma-informed care mean?
It means recognizing the impact of past trauma on a person’s behavior and recovery. Services are delivered in ways that avoid re-traumatization and promote healing
5. What are Through-the-Gate services?
These services support people leaving prison to reintegrate into society by helping with housing, employment, benefits, and mental health support.
6. Is prison always the best response to crime
No. Research shows that short sentences for low-level crimes often do more harm than good. Community-based alternatives are usually more effective and humane
7. What kind of crimes do most women in prison commit?
Most are non-violent crimes like theft, fraud, or minor drug offenses, often driven by poverty, abuse, or addiction.
8. How can I support organizations like the Wise Group?
You can donate, volunteer, share their work on social media, or advocate for justice reforms in your local area.