Tag: Ministry of Justice

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 27 October 2025.

Dame Lynne Owens will lead the independent investigation to determine how Hadush Kebatu was mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford on Friday 24 October, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has announced today.

• Dame Lynne Owens will chair independent investigation to get answers public deserve
• Mandatory new, stronger checks also brought in from today for releases to keep our streets safe
• Deputy Prime Minister pledges immediate action to prevent another mistaken release

The investigation will establish the full facts of the incident, which shocked the public, and look at the serious issue of releases in error across the prison estate. The Deputy Prime Minister has asked for Dame Lynne Owens to report back within eight weeks.    

Speaking in the House of Commons today, David Lammy set out how the investigation will get to the bottom of what happened and stop similar unacceptable mistakes in future.   

It will ask what went wrong, consider whether appropriate protocols were followed, assess whether staff had sufficient experience, training and resources, and make recommendations to reduce further releases in error.  

The Deputy Prime Minister has also confirmed immediate measures to strengthen release checks across all prisons – making them the strongest release checks to ever be in place. From today, the Duty Governor must be physically present for the release of any foreign criminal who is being removed from prison early to be immediately deported and there will be a clear checklist with governors required to confirm every step has been followed before any release takes place.  

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said:  

I am livid on behalf of the victims and the public that this mistake was allowed to happen.   

Any release in error is one too many. That is why I have taken immediate action to introduce the strongest release checks ever and launched an independent investigation to get to the bottom of what went wrong and to tackle the rise in accidental releases which began rising under the previous government. 

We’re ending the prison crisis we inherited – investing billions, reforming sentencing and building the prison places needed to keep the public safe. This Government will not rest until our jails deliver the safety and security the British people deserve.

Dame Lynne Owens is a former Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and former Director General of the National Crime Agency, bringing her extensive expertise to the investigation.   

Kebatu, an Ethiopian national, was set to be transferred to an Immigration Removal Centre and deported back to Ethiopia. Instead, he was mistakenly released into the community. 

Following an intensive manhunt involving the Metropolitan, Essex, and British Transport Police, he was arrested and returned to custody on Sunday 26 October. He will now be deported to Ethiopia as quickly as possible.  

Releases in error have been increasing for several years and are another symptom of the prison system crisis inherited by this Government, with jails dangerously full and close to collapse.   

The Government is taking decisive action to address this crisis, building 14,000 additional prison places and reforming sentencing to make sure we have enough prison places to lock up dangerous criminals and keep the public safe.   

The Government has already delivered 2,500 new places in just over a year, as part of the biggest prison expansion programme since the Victorian era.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 27 October 2025.

From next month, survivors of violence and domestic abuse will no longer have to pay over £300 to ensure their abuser cannot track them down via public records.

• Person at Risk of Violence (PARV) Order fees will be scrapped, saving victims hundreds of pounds
• Changes will remove costs as a barrier to safety and protect survivors facing debt and financial hardship 
• Move part of Government’s Plan for Change to stand up for victims and halve violence against women and girls

Ministers have today confirmed plans to scrap the Person at Risk of Violence Order fee. The move means from November, vulnerable people involved in debt proceedings will no longer have to pay £318 to have their personal details – including name and address – removed from the Insolvency Register and the official public record, the Gazette.

For women fleeing domestic abuse, having the peace of mind that their abuser can’t search public records to find their new address is invaluable – yet the steep cost is a barrier to many. Today’s announcement will mean this cost will no longer be an obstacle to their safety.

The abolition of this unnecessary fee is the latest measure in the Government’s mission to halve violence against women and girls within a decade – and a key part of the Plan for Change to protect victims and restore faith in the justice system.

Minister for Courts and Legal Services, Sarah Sackman KC, said:

Women who experience domestic abuse can spend their lives on the run. They deserve protection. The publication of victims’ personal details on the Insolvency Register must not be another tool perpetrators can use to torment their victims.

This simple change can be the difference between a life of peace and one of fear. I hope that abolishing this fee gives some degree of relief to the people who need it.

As part of our Plan for Change, we are determined to protect more victims from abuse and halve Violence Against Women and Girls in the next decade.

The move builds on the actions the government has already taken to meet its commitment to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) in a decade.

These include a National Centre for VAWG and Public Protection; Raneem’s Law which embeds domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms in the first five police forces to improve the police response to domestic abuse; and the rollout of Domestic Abuse Protection Orders – the strongest order of its kind yet to protect victims from perpetrators.

Sam Smethers, CEO of Surviving Economic Abuse said:

We welcome the government’s decision to abolish the fee for Persons at Risk of Violence Orders when applying for insolvency solutions.

Until now, survivors have been forced to pay extra just to stay safe and avoid having their names and addresses published on a public insolvency database. This blocked many from accessing vital insolvency options because the perpetrator’s economic abuse left them unable to afford the fee. Removing this cost is an important step towards ensuring survivors can seek protection without taking on yet more financial burden when trying to resolve coerced debts. 

We commend Money Wellness for their work in securing this vital change but it does not stop here. SEA will continue to advocate for systemic changes that tackle economic abuse at the root and ensure victim-survivors are better protected.

Adam Rolfe, Policy and Public Affairs Officer at Money Wellness, said:

We are delighted the government has listened to our campaign and taken this important step to protect survivors of abuse. Scrapping the PARV order fee removes a huge financial barrier for people already facing unimaginable hardship. It means survivors can focus on rebuilding their finances and moving forward without the fear that seeking debt help could put them at risk.

We now hope to build on this progress to make sure the entire insolvency system truly supports people to recover from an abusive relationship safely and with dignity.

ENDS

Further information

• When someone applies for an insolvency debt solution, such as bankruptcy, a debt relief order, or an individual voluntary arrangement, their name and address are published on the Insolvency Register as a statutory requirement.
• A PARV Order is the only legal route to prevent personal details from being published.
• Individuals must demonstrate that disclosure of their address would reasonably expect to lead to violence. Currently, to apply for a PARV Order, individuals must complete an application form which is accompanied by a witness statement, attend court, and paying the applicable court fee.
• They do not have to prove that they have experienced violence, only that they reasonably believe they may.
• On its mission to halve VAWG in a decade, the government has also actioned:

o   Nearly £20 million in funding for specialist VAWG services which support victims of abuse including a range of vital helplines.

o   A new criminal offence for spiking and new spiking training for thousands of pub, club and bar staff to ensure they have the skills to support victims and prevent incidents.

o   New measures to tackle stalking, including giving police guidance on a victim’s right to know the identity of online stalkers for the first time and widening the use of Stalking Protection Orders.

o   The roll out of The Drive Project across England and Wales which, backed by £53 million, will target high-harm, high-risk domestic abuse perpetrators – taking the responsibility for the abuse away from the victim and putting it firmly on the perpetrator where it belongs.

o   Criminalising pornography that depicts acts of strangulation through the Crime and Policing Bill.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 20 October 2025.

Thousands more children will be protected from vile sex offenders under amendments to the Victims and Courts Bill tabled in Parliament today (Monday 20 October).

• Parental responsibility to be automatically restricted where a child is born of rape
• Reforms to also apply to parents convicted of serious sexual offences against any child – not just their own
• Amendments to the Victims and Courts Bill part of Government’s Plan for Change to protect children and restore faith in justice system

Thousands more children will be protected from vile sex offenders under amendments to the Victims and Courts Bill tabled in Parliament today (Monday 20 October).

The new measures will see parental responsibility automatically restricted in cases of children born of rape, and when a parent is convicted of serious sex offences against any child. This means a parent can no longer take active steps in their child’s life, including making decisions over their schooling, medical care or trips abroad.

The move delivers on the long-term campaign of Natalie Fleet MP, Baroness Harman and Jess Asato MP and will provide greater protection for vulnerable children.  

Deputy Prime Minister, David Lammy, said: 

These reforms mark a crucial step forward in restoring faith in our justice system. Automatically restricting parental responsibility in cases of rape where it has led to the birth of a child and serious child sexual offences sends a clear message: the rights and safety of children come first.  

This Government is committed to standing up for victims and ensuring that those who commit the most vile crimes against children are never in a position to cause further harm.

Natalie Fleet MP said:

This amendment will finally offer protection for not only children born of rape, but also the mothers, who have until now always lived in fear of their rapists interfering in the lives of their children through their parental responsibility rights. This change will end that fear.

It puts the rights of survivors above the rights of rapists and signals a landmark shift in how this country’s legal system values safety, dignity, and truth. It will deliver powerful, lasting change for thousands of women and children and I am delighted that this Government has listened to our concerns and acted so swiftly.

To ensure swift protection for families, restriction will happen immediately following sentencing, removing the necessity to apply through the family court. 

Restricting parental responsibility for children born of rape protects two victims – the mother and the child – from the influence of abusive and undeserving fathers, whereas removing the right for those convicted of serious sex offences against any child builds on the existing measure to restrict responsibility for those who have abused their own child.

Minister for Victims and Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls, Minister Davies-Jones, said: 

These reforms will shield both mothers and children from the heinous actions of predatory parents as part of our mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade under our Plan for Change.  

I’m proud to support these amendments, which build on the tireless campaigning of Natalie Fleet MP, Baroness Harman, and Jess Asato MP who have been unwavering in their advocacy for the protection of children and women.” 

This move follows the expansion of the government’s innovative Pathfinder pilot, which aims to improve the court experience and outcomes for children and parents involved in private family law proceedings – including those who have experience of domestic abuse. 

ENDS 

Further information 

• At the introduction of the Bill Clause 3 required the Crown Court to make a prohibited steps order restricting the exercise of an offender’s parental responsibility where they have committed a serious child sexual abuse offence (this includes crimes such as rape, assault by penetration and sexual assault) against a child for whom they hold parental responsibility and have been sentenced to four our more years in prison. The restriction will apply in respect of any child for whom the offender holds it. 
• Where it appears to the Crown Court that an automatic restriction would not be in the interests of justice they must not make an order.
• The Government’s amendment to Clause 3 will mean that the provision will now apply to offences committed against any child, not only a child for whom the perpetrator holds parental responsibility. The wider drafting of the provision will remain the same.
• The Government will also table a separate amendment to provide for the restriction of a perpetrator’s parental responsibility where they have been convicted and sentenced for a rape that resulted in the birth of a child. In these instances the restriction would only apply to the specific child that has been born.
• This amendment will require the Crown Court to make a prohibited steps order, at the point of sentencing for rape where the court is satisfied that a child for whom the offender holds parental responsibility was conceived as a result of that rape, unless it appears to the court that it would not be in the ‘interests of justice’ to do so.
• Where it has not been established in criminal proceedings that the child was conceived by rape, the Crown Court must refer the case to the relevant local authority when:
  • An offender is convicted of rape
  • The court considers that the child may have resulted from the rape The offender has parental responsibility for that child.
• If the Crown Court is satisfied that the child may have been conceived from rape then they must refer the case to the local authority within 30 days. In these circumstances the local authority will have 6 months in which to obtain the consent of the mother for them to initiate family court proceedings. The local authority will have 30 days from receipt of consent to apply to the family court who will then consider whether any orders (including prohibited steps orders) should be made in the best interests of the child.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 6 October 2025.

From today (Monday 6 October 2025), changes to the Criminal Procedure Rules reinforce open justice by explicitly stating parties who apply for discretionary reporting restrictions in criminal cases, should notify the media of applications.

The updated Rules clarify that the responsibility for notification lies with the applicant, ensuring that journalists are informed and able to challenge reporting restrictions order applications where appropriate.

This formal recognition of the media as interested parties aims to prevent unjustified limits on Crown and magistrates’ Court reporting and improve transparency across the justice system. The changes follow collaborative work between the Criminal Procedure Rule Committee and media organisations including the Media Lawyers Association and News Media Association, with support from HMCTS’ Media Working Group.  

The shared goal has been to ensure the Rules reflect the media’s vital role in holding the justice system to account.

Georgia Jerram, Chair of HMCTS’ Media Working Group, said:

As a society, we often rely on the media to be our eyes and ears in courtrooms. When journalists aren’t given clear and timely information about requests to the court for a reporting restriction, they are denied the opportunity to make a challenge. These changes will help ensure that open justice is not undermined in this way.  

The requirement applies to discretionary reporting restrictions, such as those protecting vulnerable witnesses or ensuring fair trials and does not affect automatic restrictions (which are imposed by legislation and the court has no power to vary or remove) already in place for youth cases and certain offences. You can read the updated Criminal Procedure Rules or find out more about this work in a recent Inside HMCTS blog.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 2 October 2025.

In the biggest overhaul to marriage law since the 19th century, reforms are set to give marrying couples greater freedom and boost the economy by £535 million.

• Marrying couples to gain freedoms to get married in new locations – from beaches to castles
• Reforms to deliver £535 million injection into the economy creating up to 12,000 jobs
• Part of Plan for Change to kickstart economic growth

Marrying couples to have more freedom over how they say ‘I do’, with reforms allowing them to get married on beaches and at heritage sites.

Announced today (2 October), it is estimated that the biggest overhaul to marriage law since the 19th century could also open up 12,000 jobs and add over £100 million to the public purse.   

The reforms will give couples more choice in how they get married, making the process simpler, fairer and less costly, while ensuring the dignity and integrity of marriage is protected.  

Under the reforms, couples will be able to marry in a wider range of locations provided venues meet strict standards of being appropriate and dignified. 

These changes will mean marriage law reflects modern Britain, making it more straightforward for couples to have legally binding religious ceremonies – including Sikh, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu weddings – and allow non-religious groups, such as Humanists, to conduct legally binding ceremonies for the first time. 

This will also be a significant boost to the economy as it is estimated the reforms could lead to a 3% increase in weddings in England and Wales, adding £535 million to the economy over the next 10 years, supporting 1,800 more businesses and delivering on the Plan for Change to kickstart growth.  

Minister for Family Law, Baroness Levitt KC said:  

Marriage is one of our country’s most celebrated traditions and our plans will allow couples to have the wedding day of their dreams.  

Our reforms will protect the solemnity and dignity of marriage while providing more choice for couples and unlocking untapped opportunities for the economy.

Minister for Victims and Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls, Alex Davies-Jones said:   

Mine and my husband’s wedding day was incredibly special – personal, meaningful and an unforgettable celebration of our love. Every couple deserves the same.   

Our wedding laws should match our country’s needs. These vital reforms will mean couples from all walks of life can celebrate their commitment without outdated restrictions getting in the way. 

The reforms announced will see regulation of weddings shift away from buildings and onto the officiants running the ceremony, offering couples greater freedom to shape their big day.  

ENDS

Further information:

• Planned changes follow Law Commission recommendations from July 2022 to modernise marriage law and break down unnecessary barriers to weddings for engaged couples.
• The Government will undertake a consultation early next year.
• Legislation to reform marriage law will be introduced when parliamentary time allows.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 1 October 2025.

Victims will get faster justice thanks to the courts sitting for a record number of days, the Deputy Prime Minister will announce in a speech today at the opening of the legal year (Wednesday 1 October).

• More trials will be heard as Deputy Prime Minister funds an extra 1,250 Crown Court sitting days
• Funding will help more cases to be heard this year, speeding up justice for victims
• Part of this Government’s Plan for Change to get the justice system back on its feet

The Crown Court will be able to sit for a total of 111,250 days this year – up by 5,000 compared to last year and reaching the highest levels on record. This follows an announcement from the Deputy Prime Minister later today that the government will fund an extra 1,250 days. 

This will mean more trials can be heard – tackling the backlog of cases, making sure victims see their day in court more quickly and holding more criminals to account.

Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Justice, David Lammy, said:

The Crown Court backlog we inherited stands at over 78,000 and behind each case is a real person, waiting years for justice.  

That is why we are acting with the biggest investment on record as part of our Plan for Change. An additional 1,250 sitting days will be allocated to the Crown Court this financial year, allowing it to hear many extra cases. 

We know there is more to do, and generational reform that cannot wait, but this investment will help ease the torment and bring swifter justice to many more victims.

While extra sitting days will help to bring the backlog down in the short-term, only major reform will address the crisis in our courts.

Statistics released last week showed that there are now 78,329 Crown Court cases waiting to be heard. This means that victims are often waiting three or four years for their case to come to trial.

Sir Brian Leveson is conducting an Independent Review of the Criminal Courts to identify ways to reform the courts system. The first phase of his review has already been completed – the Deputy Prime Minister is carefully considering its proposals and the Government will respond in due course.

The review forms part of the government’s commitment to safer streets by reducing the court backlog, speeding up hearings for victims and defendants, and rebuilding public confidence in the criminal justice system.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 5 September 2025.

The Secretary of State has approved the appointments of Parole Board Members. These comprise psychologist, psychiatrist and retired judicial members as set out below.

The Secretary of State has approved the appointments of 29 Psychologist members, 5 Psychiatrist members, and 7 Judicial members.

Parole Board members are appointed, by ministers, under Schedule 19 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003. The appointment of Parole Board members – save for judicial members – is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments (CPA). Recruitment processes comply with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

The Parole Board is an independent body that works with its criminal justice partners to protect the public by risk assessing prisoners to decide whether they can be safely released into the community.

The Parole Board was established by the Criminal Justice Act 1967. It is an executive Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by the Ministry of Justice

New member appointments

The following members below have been appointed for five-year terms from 4 November 2025 to 3 November 2030:

Psychologist Members

• Eleni Belivanaki
• Catherine Bell
• Carol Bond
• Lucy Courtney-Brisbane
• Kate Geraghty
• Charlotte Griffiths
• Madeleine Hamilton
• Eliza Harris
• Ionnie Henry
• James Jackman
• Nicola Jackson
• Rupi Johal
• Sharon Jones
• Jacqueline Kennedy
• Sarah Khan
• Suzanne Lee
• Leiya Lemkey
• Avril McAlees
• Amy Meeson
• Khyati Patel
• Emma Pearce
• Sanjit Saraw
• Samantha Scott
• Diarmuid Sheehan
• Yvonne Shell
• Annita Tasker
• James Taylor
• Nicola Wallis
• Rachael Wheatley

Psychiatrist Members

• Jonathan Barker
• Christine Brown
• Caroline Mulligan
• Samrat Sengupta
• Rosalyn Tavernor

The following members below have been appointed for five-year terms from 20 January 2026 to 19 January 2031:

Judicial Members

• Andrew Bright KC
• Francis Burrell KC
• Patrick Fields
• Michael Hopmeier
• Judith Hughes KC
• Richard Parkes KC
• Caroline Wright

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 2 September 2025.

More people will be tagged and monitored as part of the Government’s Plan for Change as the Sentencing Bill is published.

Tens of thousands more criminals will be tagged and monitored over the next three years as part of the Government’s Plan for Change to make streets safer.

It is the biggest expansion of tagging since the adoption of curfew tags in 1999 with an extra £100 million being invested into electronic monitoring – an increase of 30%.

The Government is also introducing, for the first time, a presumption that all prison leavers will be tagged on release as part of intensive supervision with the Probation Service keeping a closer eye on offenders’ behaviour. This means, unless Probation Staff specifically decide not to, any offender leaving prison will be tagged.

A new pilot launching next month will also see offenders tagged before leaving the prison gates, rather than days later as is currently the case ahead of a planned wider rollout to end the surveillance gap in the crucial time after release.

It comes as legislation to end the prison crisis inherited by the Government and prevent the collapse of the justice system is introduced to Parliament today (2 September).

Alongside the construction of 14,000 more prison places, the Sentencing Bill delivers urgent reform to a system on the brink. Together, this will ensure the country never runs out of prison cells, there is always space inside jails for dangerous offenders, and punishment cuts crime.

Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said:

Last year, the criminal justice system was on the verge of collapse. Since being elected, the Government has worked rapidly to repair the damage, starting with investing £7 billion in 14,000 more prison places as part of our Plan for Change.

A historic increase in tagging and record investment into probation will make our streets safer.

And this Sentencing Bill will ensure that our prisons never run out of space again, we can always lock up dangerous offenders, and that punishment cuts crime rather than creating better criminals.

The Sentencing Bill follows on from the Independent Sentencing Review led by David Gauke published in May.

The Government has already announced it will introduce a new “earned progression model” that will see prisoners who break the rules spend longer than the minimum of 33 or 50 percent in prison, ending automatic release for badly behaved offenders. It was inspired by changes in Texas where crime has since fallen to levels last seen in the 1960s.

To enforce this, the Government is toughening the prison punishment regime, so prisoners face up to three months extra in jail for violence or being found with illicit items like phones. Multiple incidents will see punishments added consecutively with constantly violent prisoners potentially spending their whole sentence behind bars as a result.

Offenders released from prison will enter a period of “intensive supervision” tailored to their risk and the type of crime they committed. Probation officers will maintain discretion to tag offenders based on their risk to the public and their victim. Those subject to Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements will remain in this “intensive supervision” stage for the duration of their sentence. Others will progress into a licence phase, with strict conditions on their behaviour remaining.

This “earned progression model” will apply to prisoners serving standard determinate sentences only. Some offenders on standard determinate sentences will spend at least one-third of their sentence behind bars. Those serving standard determinate sentences for more serious offences will serve at least half in prison. Dangerous offenders will be unaffected with those serving extended determinate sentences or life sentences continuing to spend as much time behind bars as they do now.

The Government is also ramping up deportations of foreign criminals, freeing up vital space in our prisons and keeping the public safe – with deportations 14 percent higher since July 2024. This Bill will drive this work further with measures to see immediate deportation after sentencing for foreign criminals, rather than having their bed and board in prison covered by taxpayers as currently.

The Bill also introduces a presumption that prison sentences of a year or less will be replaced with tougher sentences in the community that better punish offenders and stop them reoffending. Currently, 62 percent of those receiving a prison sentence of under 12 months reoffended within a year, which is higher than similar offenders given sentences in the community.

Offenders who pose a significant risk of harm to an individual or who have breached a court order – including breach of a previous suspended sentence order – will be exempt from this change, meaning judges always have the power to send dangerous offenders or prolific law breakers to prison.

For those offenders who will be punished outside of prison, the Government is toughening up community sentences with a series of new measures:

• Punishments that restrict offenders’ freedom in the community. Judges will be handed new powers to bar criminals from pubs, concerts and sports matches, curtailing offenders’ freedoms as punishment.
• Tough unpaid work orders that force offenders to give back to society. Develop new ways in which offenders can undertake tough, unpaid work. This includes working with local authorities to determine how offenders could give back to their communities, whether by removing graffiti or cleaning up rubbish. Publishing the names and photos of those subject to an unpaid work requirement will demonstrate to the public that justice is being delivered and increase the visibility and transparency of community payback.
• Financial penalties that force offenders to pay back for their crimes. Work to deliver new “income reduction orders” which will see judges able to order offenders to forfeit some of their income as a form of punishment during their sentence.

The Government will follow the most recent evidence on how to use punishment to reduce reoffending and cut crime. This includes expanding the use of “intensive supervision courts”, which target the root causes of offending amongst prolific offenders. Despite significant addiction issues at the start of the sentence, offenders tested negative for drugs over two thirds of the time. Across the world, particularly in Texas and across America, this approach has driven down reoffending rates. Early signs from four pilot sites in England are positive, and the Government has announced it will expand to more sites.

The Sentencing Bill also introduces measures to better support victims of crime, including:

• New “restriction zones” – welcomed last month by victims’ campaigners Diana Parkes CBE and Hetti Barkworth-Nanton CBE, co-founders of The Joanna Simpson Foundation, and Doreen Soulsby – which will restrict offenders to a certain area, allowing victims to travel without fear of seeing them.
•  A judicial finding of domestic abuse in sentencing which will allow criminal justice agencies to identify domestic abusers, ensure they are better monitored, and the right measures are in place to protect victims.

Chief Executive Officer of We Are Survivors, Duncan Craig OBE, said:

I very much welcome the presentation of the Sentencing Bill today and whilst there will be much debate and scrutiny to come, we’re certainly moving towards a new and modern response to dealing with those that cause harm.

As a victim/survivor, I have long been frustrated with the binary and repetitive way we think and respond to victims and offenders. Whilst victims must be a priority in our response, it’s vital we take action to reduce the number of future victims which means reducing offending in the first place.

We have to have a grown-up conversation about offending behaviours, ensure we better understand the cause of offending, and design responses to offending that supports opportunities for people to change. We have to have a paradigm shift to reduce the creation of victims and equally reduce the number of offenders. It is too important not to.

To support the implementation of the Sentencing Review, the Government is investing an extra up to £700 million in the Probation Service by 2028/29 – an increase of around 45 per cent on top of the current budget.

The probation workforce is also being bolstered, with the number of probation officers already up seven per cent in the last 12 months.

In addition to the 1,000 trainee probation officers recruited last year, the Government has commitment to recruit a further 1,300 by March next year. This will increase capacity whilst new technology will lighten the administrative burden and free up time for staff to focus on managing offenders and keeping the public safe.

Further information

• The Government response to the Independent Sentencing Review can be found here: Landmark sentencing reforms to ensure prisons never run out of space again – GOV.UK

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 2 September 2025.

The Sentencing Council will be unable to issue new guidelines without the explicit approval of the Justice Secretary, strengthening democratic oversight of the body. The approval of the Lady Chief Justice will also be required before new guidelines are issued.

Today’s news follows a disagreement between the Justice Secretary and Sentencing Council earlier this year over planned new guidelines which the Justice Secretary argued would result in “a clear example of differential treatment” and risked “undermining public confidence in a justice system that is built on the idea of equality before the law”.

While a new law introduced in June blocked these sentencing guidelines, the Justice Secretary is clear the Council should not be allowed to stray into setting policy without the direction of Parliament and committed to “right the democratic deficit that has been uncovered”.

As part of the Sentencing Bill, introduced in the House of Commons today, both the Justice Secretary and the Lady Chief Justice will be given individual – and separate – powers requiring them to approve any future guidelines before they can be issued.

Enshrined in law, this means any new directive issued by the Sentencing Council will require the explicit approval of both. If the either oppose the guidance, it will not be issued.

The new powers will end a historic democratic deficit, ensuring Parliament’s legitimate role in setting the sentencing framework is recognised and upheld, while maintaining and strengthening judicial and democratic oversight.

Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Shabana Mahmood said:

Individual sentencing decisions will always be the responsibility of the independent judiciary – and this is something I will staunchly defend.

However, policy must be set by parliamentarians, who answer to the people.

Government and Parliament have a legitimate role in setting the sentencing framework. It is right that we now have greater democratic and judicial oversight of the direction of the Council’s work and the final guidelines they publish.

The move forms part of wider reforms to sentencing policy as set out in today’s Sentencing Bill. This landmark legislation also includes measures to ensure prisons never run out of space again, including Texas-style earned release sentences and bold new action to toughen up community punishment.

This comes alongside the Government’s prison building programme, the largest expansion in the estate since the Victorian era. The Government has already opened 2,500 new places since taking office, and has invested £7bn in construction, on track to deliver 14,000 places by 2031.

Tens of thousands more offenders will also be tagged and monitored thanks to a huge boost in investment for the Probation Service, with an increase of up to £700 million by 2028/29, up 45 percent from the current budget.

There will also be a requirement for the Council to seek approval from the Justice Secretary of its annual business plan. The reforms do not interfere with the independence of judges in making individual sentencing decisions.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 29 August 2025.

A Devon jail is set to almost double in size as the Government ploughs ahead with the largest prison building programme since the Victoria era.

• Two new houseblocks to be built at HMP Channings Wood by end of 2027
• Jail’s capacity boosted by 40 per cent to lock up dangerous criminals.
• Latest step in Government’s plans to build 14,000 prison places nationwide, as part of the Plan for Change.

Work is underway on the 500-place expansion at HMP Channings Wood, which will see the prison grow by around 40 per cent with two new four-storey houseblocks.

The new cells will be fully operational by the end of 2027 and will help ensure there is always enough space for dangerous offenders – cutting crime and keeping the public safe.

The major project will also include the construction of a new jobs and education workshop, training prisoners with the skills they need to turn their backs on crime for good.

Today’s news represents a significant milestone in the Government’s aims to build 14,000 additional prison places by 2031 – with around 2,500 of these having already been built since July 2024.

The build will also create hundreds of jobs in the South West, with an additional 200 permanent jobs expected at the prison once the houseblock is complete.

Minister for Prisons, Probation, and Reducing Reoffending, Lord James Timpson said:

This Government inherited a capacity crisis in our prisons.

We will never let that happen again, ensuring there is always space in our jails for dangerous offenders, part of our Plan for Change.

We’ve delivered 2,500 new places in the last year, on track for 14,000 by 2031. In the fourteen years to April 2024, only 500 places were added to our estate. This new site alone will provide that many.

The project will be delivered by Kier, a leading provider of infrastructure services, construction and property developments.

Rebecca Boundy, Managing Director (Justice) at Kier Construction, said:

We’re proud to be a trusted delivery partner for the government, supporting expansion plans here at HMP Channings Wood and across the UK prison estate.

After recently completing HMP Millsike and starting work on expansion projects at HMP Northumberland and HMP Lancaster Farms, our specialist teams are delivering high-quality, state-of-the-art prison accommodation and facilities that are fit for the future.”

Offenders at the prison have also undertaken training by Kier – earning qualifications to work in construction on release to keep them on the straight and narrow.

The construction follows the opening of the around 1,500-capacity prison in Yorkshire, HMP Millsike, in March. The Government is investing £4.7 billion to deliver these prison builds, whilst investing up to a further £300 million towards vital building maintenance across prisons and the probation service in this financial year.

The prison building programme will work alongside the upcoming sentencing reforms to ensure there is always a cell to lock up the most dangerous offenders.

Background

• The houseblocks will provide 494 places.
• Other key stakeholders in the programme include Mace and Gleeds.
• The Government is investing £4.7 billion to deliver these prison builds over this spending review period (2026/27 – 2029/30).