Women should no longer be sent to prison unless they have committed a serious crime, the Justice Secretary says today, as he unveils a "step change" in the way the justice system deals with female offenders.

Ministers want to "break the cycle" of sending women to jail after it emerged less than 40 women behind bars in England and Wales have committed a violent offence and most others are serving just a few months for crimes like shoplifting.

David Gauke will today announce plans for five new residential women's centres where offenders will get help with drug and alcohol problems, educational support and counselling instead of being locked up.

Plans for new women's prisons have been scrapped and the focus will shift to keeping women out of jail after research showed the majority are caring for children who are left without a parent when they are handed a jail term.