Section one Context In contrast with much of the men’s prison estate, general outcomes for prisoners in the women’s estate remained reasonably good. However the high number of self‑inflicted deaths in the women’s estate in England and Wales gave cause for concern. In the 12 months to June 2016 there were 11 self‑inflicted deaths, accounting for more than 10% of all self-inflicted deaths in the period, despite women representing less than 5% of the prison population. In addition, two transgender women held in men’s prisons also killed themselves during the year.19 Women also continued to have much higher rates of self-harm than men.20 The closure of the London women’s prison Holloway was announced in November 2015. In Scotland members saw a year of relative stability in inspected establishments, though there were also concerns about NPS use.21 In Northern Ireland an inspection highlighted significant concerns at the high security Maghaberry prison. Maghaberry Prison In May 2015 CJINI, HMI Prisons, RQIA and the Education and Training Inspectorate for Northern Ireland conducted an unannounced inspection of Maghaberry Prison. Their report was highly critical and detailed significant failures in the prison, which holds separated paramilitary prisoners from Loyalist and Republican backgrounds as well as others. The prison was in crisis, with leadership failing to ensure safety and stability, to the extent that inspectors were concerned that serious disorder or loss of life could occur if the issues identified were not addressed urgently. Inspectors were concerned that the repercussions of operating a separated regime at Maghaberry were having a significant negative impact on the daily life for the 900-plus men who represent the majority of its population. Given the severity of their concerns, inspectors returned for a follow-up inspection in January 2016. They found that many of the issues within the prison had stabilised, but there was still significant work to be done. 19. HM Inspectorate of Prisons ( July 2016) Annual Report 2015–16, available at: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/ hmiprisons/inspections/annual-report-2015-2016/ [accessed 01/11/16]. 20. There were 7,781 incidents of self-harm by female prisoners in the year up to March 2016, at a rate of 2,034 self-harm incidents per 1,000 prisoners, compared to 328 incidents per 1,000 male prisoners. See NOMS ( July 2016) Safety in Custody Statistics Bulletin, Deaths in prison custody to June 2016, Assaults and Self-harm to March 2016, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/safety-in-custody-statistics [accessed 01/11/16]. 21. HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland (February 2016), Report on the inspection of HMP Open Estate, paragraph 4.13, available at https://www.prisonsinspectoratescotland.gov.uk/publications/report-hmp-open-estate-22-29-february-2016 [accessed 22/11/16]. 17