Former Inmate Describes Bail House as Unsafe for Women

Dainya Ebanks characterized her experience in a bail house following her release from prison, stating, “It really wasn’t a safe place for a female.” According to recent figures from the Ministry of Justice, over 50% of women exiting prison were released without secure housing, and more than 10% experienced homelessness upon re-entering society. Ms. Ebanks, who was released from HMP Holloway on licence in July 2008 at the age of 20 after serving a sentence for drug-related crimes, indicated that the findings did not surprise her. She informed BBC London, “I have not felt settled since.” Upon her departure from HMP Holloway, Ms. Ebanks was required to reside at her family’s residence in Acton and wear an electronic tag, in accordance with her licence stipulations. However, she reported feeling overwhelmed and anxious regarding her reintegration into the family environment. She stated, “I didn’t even last the three to four months. I did not settle into that environment from being in prison.” “It was so surreal and all in one space and time. A lot of clashes were happening in the family home,” she added. She mentioned that she “took it upon myself to contact my probation officer and let him know my situation” but discovered that “he was not helpful.” “I almost felt alone, without any support,” she recounted. Ms. Ebanks indicated that she threatened to violate her licence terms, which subsequently led to her receiving assistance in locating alternative housing. Consequently, she was allocated a ground floor room within a bail hostel situated near her family in Acton, a situation that presented its own difficulties. She explained, “I’m a female and I lived on the ground floor in a building full of men.” “There was one other girl and the rest of them were men,” she continued. “There was no security, it wasn’t really a safe place for a female,” she asserted. Ms. Ebanks stated that she had anticipated receiving support at the hostel, but this expectation was not met. “With this bail hostel, there were stepping stones that would enable you to get your flat at the end, but they weren’t following those, so I wasn’t either. All of that support was gone,” she elaborated. She added, “They put me back into a similar situation where the people around me and my peers are not good.” The 36-year-old explained that this environment led to a sense of apathy, stating, “you just start not to care, you don’t look for a job, you start mixing with the wrong crowd.” She reflected, “I used to think, I’m only 20, I’ve only just stepped out of my teenage years. I don’t feel like there was enough support for me.” In 2009, Ms. Ebanks relocated to private accommodation with a friend, and she has continued to rent since that time. Nevertheless, she stated that she understood “why some women will reoffend because they have that stability within the prison system.” “Sleeping rough isn’t safe. That alone can make somebody end up right back where they started,” she warned. On Tuesday, the housing committee of the London Assembly convened to address the challenges encountered by some women upon their release from prison. John Plummer, who serves as coordinator at London Prisons Mission, informed the gathering that 50 women in the capital are released into homelessness each month. He noted, “That is exactly the same number as when we started [in 2017-18].” “I am deeply ashamed of the fact we have made no improvement in that. That is two or three per borough per month,” he expressed. The London Assembly’s session also revealed that women’s housing requirements post-incarceration are frequently compounded by other problems such as domestic abuse, compromised mental and physical health, financial obligations, parental concerns, and immigration matters. Rachel Ozanne, director of programmes and partnerships at the national charity Women in Prison, commented, “Sometimes going into temporary accommodation is not suitable.” “It needs to be a supported accommodation, but across the boroughs it really varies as to what those options are,” she added. Mr. Plummer further stated that the problem was “by no means a London problem alone.” Sam Julius, representing Clinks, an organization for the criminal justice voluntary sector, observed that numerous women experienced a greater sense of safety and security while incarcerated. He explained, “You are away from potential perpetrators of domestic abuse, you have a roof over your head.” “That’s why one of the biggest issues within the current prison overcrowding crisis is the incredibly high level of recalls,” he noted. “You see the same people going in and out of prison,” he concluded. The Ministry of Justice has previously indicated that the government is “working with partners, including local councils and charities, to avoid anyone being released on to the street.” Ms. Ebanks recalled that when she considered breaching her licence conditions, her thoughts turned to the routine and structure that prison offered. “I felt safe,” she stated. “I didn’t feel like my life was at risk. I didn’t feel like there was no support, because there was always an officer that you could speak to or another inmate.” She added that after her release, there was “no sense of security.” “I almost felt like a prisoner within society. I didn’t have help,” she expressed. “I’m a grown woman now with two children. I’ve changed my whole life around and still you get looked down upon because you have a criminal record,” she observed. “I have not felt settled since coming out of prison,” she concluded.