About 40% of women are jailed for drugs offences

A recent study by the Prison Reform Trust shows the female prison population has reached nearly 4,500 - a record high.

The charity will use the event to call for for different ways of dealing with female offenders.

Figures show the number of women sent to jail has almost trebled over the last decade.

The charity said that at the end of February eight out of the 17 female prisons were overcrowded.

Friday's conference will highlight the work taking place at the Asha Centre, which provides a range of support services for disadvantaged women, including female offenders.

Drugs offences

The centre opened just under a year ago and has helped more than 160 women.

Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said the current system does not work.

"Locking up vulnerable women miles from home, and miles from the support they need, does little to prevent offending.

"It does much to break up families and reduce the chances of finding housing or employment on release.

"It doesn't have to be like this. Few women offenders present a real risk to the public.

"For all but the most serious and violent offenders, support and supervision centres in local communities offer the best chance for women offenders to get out of trouble and take responsibility for their lives."

The vast majority of women are in prison for non-violent crimes, with about 40% jailed for drugs offences.