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Safety of women in mixed-sex and single-sex medium secure units: staff and patient perceptions

St George’s,University of London, London, UK

Correspondence: Dr Gillian Mezey, St George’s,University of London, Department of Mental Health (Forensic), Jenner Wing,Ground Floor, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, UK. Tel: +44(0)208 725 5568; fax: +44(0)208 725 2475; e-mail: gmezey{at}sgul.ac.uk

Declaration of interest None.

Background The development of single-sex medium secure units for women has been driven by concern about the vulnerability of womento sexual abuse and exploitation in mixed-sex secure settings. Less is known about how women patients and staff perceive gender segregation and their experiences in single-sex units.

Aims To examine the impact of gender segregation on the safety of women patients detained in medium secure psychiatric facilities.

Method A qualitative study was conducted involving individual interviews with 58 male and female staff and 31 women patients in single-sex and mixed-sex medium secure units throughout England and Wales.

Results Women patients in both types of units reported high levels of actual and threatened physical and sexual violence. Women in single-sex units reported intimidation, threats and abuse by other women patients, although they were less vulnerable to sexual abuse and exploitation and serious physical assault.

Conclusions Further development of single-sex secure units for women may not be justified on the grounds of safety issues alone. Risk assessment of forensic psychiatric patients must include a full assessment of their safety within the psychiatric setting.

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