'Sexist jails are failing women'

The prison system is "institutionally sexist" and is failing female inmates, a women's equality group said today.

The Fawcett Society called for urgent changes to tackle offending by women who were being "shoe-horned" into a system designed for men.

A commission set up by the group concluded that the Government needs community sentences tailor-made for women in a bid to keep them out of jail.

The law must be changed to ensure that public bodies such as the police and prisons promote sex equality, they added.

Fawcett Society director Dr Katherine Rake said that in 1993 only one woman committed suicide in jail while this year 13 have killed themselves.