CAMPAIGNERS are warning of rise of women in prison through a “revolving door” of release and return to custody.

Figures show the number of women recalled to custody following their release has increased by 68 per cent since the end of 2014, according to analysis by the Prison Reform Trust published today.

Under the Offender Rehabilitation Act 2014, licence supervision was expanded so that anyone sentenced to more than a day in jail is subject to at least 12 months’ supervision on release.

The charity also said that probation reforms risk driving up the number of female prisoners.

Jenny Earle, director of the charity’s programme to reduce women’s imprisonment, said: “Despite widespread and cross-party support for reducing women’s imprisonment, there is a real risk women’s prison numbers will be pushed up as the revolving door of breach and recall to custody spins faster.

The report said the female prison population more than doubled between 1995 and 2010.