Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
New approach supports women in the criminal justice system across West Yorkshire
Policing, probation, health, councils, and the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector came together at Leeds Beckett University to shape the region’s ‘Women’s Whole System Approach.’
It aims to help women get support earlier and more easily, before problems lead to offending. It is based on evidence that many have experienced trauma, abuse, poor mental health, or poverty.
Talks were given by experts from Leeds Beckett University, the probation service, and others, who shared insight and best practice - as well as welcome speech from Professor Peter Slee, Vice Chancellor.
Dr Sarah Waite and Dr Alexandria Bradley, Leeds Beckett University say: "It has been a privilege to support West Yorkshire Combined Authority in bringing together such a diverse range of partners to begin shaping a shared blueprint for a Whole Systems Approach for Women.
“By combining research, lived and professional expertise, and collaborative working, we can help create more connected, evidence-informed services that better meet the needs of women across West Yorkshire."
West Yorkshire Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Alison Lowe OBE, says: “Our aim is to help more women stay out of the criminal justice system and rebuild their lives.
“By working together, we can step in earlier, offer the right support and stop problems turning into offending.
“This is about helping women build more stable, safer futures for themselves and their families.”
During the event, partners took part in workshops and group discussions to agree a shared vision for change. Women with lived experience of the criminal justice system were at the centre of the discussions. They shared personal stories about the challenges they faced in accessing help, particularly before reaching crisis point or after leaving prison.
One woman said: “I think no one catches it early enough. There were so many warning signs, even at primary school, but no one took it seriously until I was at crisis point”, whilst another added: “I wasn’t heard. I went through family abuse, and I reached out for help, but no one listened. I needed a safe place where I could disclose.”
Their insights will help shape how services are improved across the region.
In this article
Dr Sarah Waite
Dr Sarah Waite is a criminologist, Co-Director of the Centre for Justice, Law and Policy at Leeds Beckett University, and a leading researcher in gendered justice, participatory knowledge production, and criminal justice reform. Her work focuses on how knowledge about criminalised women is produced, whose voices are recognised within decision-making processes, and how research can contribute to more equitable, effective, and gender-responsive approaches to justice. Sarah's research sits at the intersection of criminology, feminist scholarship, and participatory methodology. She is particularly interested in working alongside criminalised women, communities, practitioners, and policymakers to co-produce knowledge capable of informing policy, practice, and systems change. Her work has contributed to debates on women's imprisonment, community justice, trust and relationships within criminal justice settings, and the development of gender-responsive approaches to justice.
Dr Alexandria Bradley
Alexandria specialises in Trauma-Informed and Responsive approaches across the Criminal Justice System and within Educational settings.
Alongside Dr Bill Davies, Alexandria is a co-director of the Leeds Beckett Educational Alliance with HMP Full Sutton (LEAF)- providing Higher Education to men in prison.
Alexandria worked in partnership with One Small Thing to develop the first Working with Trauma Quality Mark to provide a national benchmark for practitioners, schools, third sectors services and criminal justice institutions.
Professor Peter Slee
Professor Peter Slee joined Leeds Beckett University as Vice Chancellor in September 2015. Peter was educated at the University of Reading, gained his PhD in Modern History from the University of Cambridge and was a postdoctoral fellow at Manchester and Durham. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and an award-winning author, teacher and trainer.
Peter joined Leeds Beckett from the University of Huddersfield where he had been Deputy Vice Chancellor since 2010. He has held a number of senior roles in higher education management at Northumbria, Durham and Aston universities and at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) where he was Head of Education Policy.
