Necessities in women's prisons

[DreamingBe]

I've seen this post doing the rounds on Facebook, and I'm wondering if it's actually the case that women in our prisons don't have access to basic underwear and necessities: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1JpuGiX3bb/

I googled to see if this is an issue or just a rage bait social media post, and found a few sensationalist articles talking about there being inadequate underwear, nightwear, winter clothing and sanitary products for women in Styal, and standard issue prison clothing all being mens clothing, but there didn't seem to be sources quoted so I wondering if anyone here has insight into the actual situation?

I had a look at the standard government product list available to inmates to buy through commissary in our prisons: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/items-prisoners-can-buy-in-prison-national-product-list IMHO the product list is woefully inadequate in the sanitary product selection - only one type of sanitary towels, one type of panty liner and two types of tampons; orders of these seem to be limited to a number lower than I'd use in a heavy period and don't include the type of products I need to manage night time or flooding, and are so expensive that two packs of tampons seem to cost almost the entire amount I've read a prisoner gets paid in a week. If prisoners want to buy something unnecessary like fizzy drinks there's a far larger selection, which seems totally wrong.

Is this an issue in this country that needs campaigning to get sorted out, and does anyone know how we suggest improvements to the product list?

I saw this on twitter posted by Kerry Daynes, who I follow & who writes a pretty good substack.

i think it’s legit.

In what universe are tampons/towels “non-essential items” (as in the link).

These should be free. It is inequitable if women have to pay for these things in prison and men can keep their money for other more “non-essential” items.

Contact the prisons minister?

Well they used to have luxury tax on them for years, so it's not surprising.

Wow. That's terrible.

I'm not clued up on prisons, so do prisoners have to buy toilet rolls and hand soap too? Or is it just women who have to pay for their hygiene?

It’s really shocking, especially when you consider almost all adult women who are in prison and are aged between about 18 to their mid-50s will need, yes need, period products every month.

It is really unfair that they are treated as luxury, non-essentials like sweets or chocolate.
Male prisoners do not have to set aside money each month to pay for necessary ‘medical’ items (for want of a better expression.)

I have no idea but aren’t toilet rolls provided actually inside the toilets? And hand soaps or liquid dispensers similarly, inside and attached to bathrooms?
Or do all prisoners have to supply their own?

Have you contacted Women in Prison, to see what can or should be done? https://www.womeninprison.org.uk/

I think there are other campaign / support groups, but just remembered this name.

I know someone who has visited women's prisons as part of her job and she says sanitary towels are everywhere. In many ways women prisoners are treated a lot better than male ones - although you could argue many should not be in there in the first place. B

I decided to see what I could find out - PQ answer on womens clothing here https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-10-29/86354

Women are allowed to take in personal clothing, "in possession" is limited to 2 boxes. prisonreformtrust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Information-for-women-in-prison-for-the-first-time.pdf I havent yet found the size of the boxes or whether they will store more and you can switch stuff in and out. Some women dont turn up with much clothing, the PQ suggests some is provided.

Another PQ says sanitary items provided but you can buy branded items if you want. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2021-11-16/76040/ Only one complaint in almost 5 years https://cdn.websitebuilder.service.justice.gov.uk/uploads/sites/14/2026/02/FOI-693-website-redacted.pdf

Sending knickers for those who may not arrive with much doesnt seem to be necessary but nice for prisoners to have something of their own.

More disturbing is that this is the case in NHS mental health wards where women have done nothing wrong & are ill.

They should be available (after much campaigning) but very often aren't or are inadequate or short supply. Toilet paper is restricted to a few sheets at a time for most patients.

There are no sanitary bins allowed so you have to find a member of staff to dispose of your item & request a replacement. You aren't allowed to keep a supply in your belongings.

The most vulnerable women in anti - lig clothing are not allowed to wear underwear even on their period.

What I notice is that there is no range in absorbancies for the tampons. No regular, no super plus, no ultra.

In order to minimise the risk of toxic shock syndrome, you shouldn't use a higher absorbancy than you need, which means you should aim for a level that lasts for 4-6 hours before needing to be changed. I know that for many women this is a minimal concern because super plus tampons barely last 2 hours, but some women have lighter flow than that. Through my teens and twenties I always used regular, and I still use regular at the beginning and end of a period.

What the hell?!

As a PP said, sanitary towels and tampons are EVERYWHERE in female prisons and are free to access, as are soap toilet rolls. Tampons generally only come in two sizes, regular and super. It may come as a shock to Mumsnet, but the supply never runs out and, in my experience, wasn’t used massively because a lot of women in prison don’t have periods due to extensive drug addiction. Underwear is freely available too, but they’re probably not the most fashionable in design.

I think one of the issues in women's prisons (as it is in men's) is that severe staff shortages means that what is theoretically possible doesn't always happen as quickly as it should.

And some may remember reports in the past of women prisoners giving birth whilst handcuffed.

These are 2 recent reports on different women's prisons

https://hmiprisons.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/news/recall-release-repeat/

https://hmiprisons.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/news/time-to-care-one-year-on/

Why are not sanitary products freely available in a prison? They are as necessary as food, not luxury items, which is what I thought prisoners were able to spend the money they earn on.

I'm glad for @Creepybookworm 's post saying that this isn't the case in the prison her friend has visited, but I think I may contact the organisations / politicians listed and ask if this provision is consistent and universal, and whether such provision offers enough variety for female prisoner's varying bodily needs.

I've heard about the problems on mental health wards, it sounds shockingly bad. I understand the issues with ligature risks but surely there are alternatives to free bleeding that could be offered which pose less of a risk?!

I am confused if there is an issue or everything is fine from this thread! If someone is able to look into this further and come back to the thread with evidence, it would be very interesting.