PRISON reformers today welcomed a review into the placement of girls following public outcry over a girl being forcibly strip-searched by male staff at a boys’ prison.

The Ministry of Justice announced that it had commissioned Susannah Hancock to lead the three-month independent review after a HM Inspectorate of Prisons report in March detailed the incident at Wetherby prison.

This led to a campaign by the Howard League urging the government to end the “wholly inappropriate” placements of girls in Wetherby and other prisons.

Charity chief executive Andrea Coomber KC said: “After the election we wrote to the new government emphasising our concerns and calling on ministers to establish a proper review of the ongoing placement of girls. 

“Girls in contact with the criminal justice system deserve much better.

“The Howard League stands ready to contribute to the review’s investigations and we look forward to engaging with Susannah Hancock and her team in the coming weeks.”