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Tag: Ministry of Justice

  • PRESS RELEASE : Preferred candidate for role of Prisons and Probation Ombudsman [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Preferred candidate for role of Prisons and Probation Ombudsman [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 18 January 2023.

    The Secretary of State, Rt Hon. Dominic Raab MP, confirmed today (18 January 2023) that the preferred candidate to be the next Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) is Adrian Usher.

    Adrian Usher has been selected following a rigorous assessment process conducted in accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments. The PPO is appointed by the Secretary of State for Justice and the process regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments

    The role is subject to pre-appointment hearing by the Justice Select Committee. Pre-appointment scrutiny is an important part of the appointment process for some of the most significant public appointments made by Ministers. It is designed to provide an added level of scrutiny to the appointment process. Pre-appointment hearings are held in public and allow a Select Committee to take evidence before a candidate is appointed. Ministers consider the Committee’s views before deciding whether to proceed with the appointment.

    The role of the PPO was established in 1994 to be an independent adjudicator of complaints from prisoners following the Woolf Inquiry into the 1990 riots at Strangeways and other prisons. Its remit has since expanded to include probation complaints and complaints from immigration detainees. Further, the PPO now carries out investigations into deaths of prisoners, young people in detention, approved premises’ residents and immigration detainees.

    The PPO’s office is operationally independent of, though sponsored by, the MOJ. The role is not defined in legislation but works to the Terms of Reference set by the Secretary of State.

    Biography

    Mr Usher has had an extensive career as a Senior Police Officer for the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), joining in 2003. He has previously served on both Counter-Terrorism and Anti-Corruption Commands and has been a Senior Investigating Officer in a variety of roles. Currently, he is the Commander for Learning and Development in the MPS where he leads the training requirements across policing operations including changing training to accommodate new legislation, judicial and law enforcement best practice and improving policing standards.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Improved prison security captures record level of contraband [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Improved prison security captures record level of contraband [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 15 January 2023.

    • even more jails deploy cutting-edge baggage scanners for prison visitors
    • measures part of £125 million strategy to clamp down on prison rule breakers and cut crime

    Game-changing X-ray body scanners have foiled more than 28,000 attempts to smuggle drugs, phones and weapons behind bars as the war on prison rule breakers picks up speed.

    Over the last 2 years, more than 90 new advanced scanners have been installed in all closed male jails, producing high-resolution images of concealed contraband so staff can stop more dangerous items from getting in and causing havoc on prison landings.

    This tough new security has captured and confiscated illegal contraband concealed on prisoners including mobile phones, vapes and improvised weapons.

    Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary, Dominic Raab, said:

    Our tough new security measures in prisons are putting prisoners back on the straight and narrow. Allied to our renewed drive to get prisoners off drugs for good, we are cutting crime and keeping the public safe.

    This new development comes just days after the government announced plans to roll out cutting-edge baggage scanners to 45 prisons across England and Wales. These will check bags brought in by the thousands of staff and visitors who enter prisons every day – cutting off another route of smuggling. Together these measures have kept mobile phones, drugs and improvised weapons out of the hands of prisoners where they would fuel violence and disorder.

    The government’s investment of up to £125 million in next-generation prison security measures has also seen the most challenging prisons kitted out with new handheld and archway metal detectors, and more than 150 specially trained drug sniffer dogs.

    This investment has created a new team of specialist investigators to clamp down on the small minority of corrupt staff who have no place in the Prison Service.

    And to clamp down on the pernicious smuggling of drugs via prison mail, jails have installed over 135 drug trace detection machines that can detect microscopic smears of new psychoactive substances such as ‘spice’ on letters and items of clothing.

    These advances deliver on the government’s commitments outlined in the Prisons Strategy White Paper. This will also see the rollout of abstinence-based treatment for prisoners addicted to drugs or alcohol and tougher sentences for terrorist prisoners who break the rules behind bars.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New cutting edge bag scanners to halt illegal items at prison gates [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : New cutting edge bag scanners to halt illegal items at prison gates [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 10 January 2023.

    • 83 scanners installed at prison gates to thwart smuggling by visitors
    • sharp image quality to detect drugs and phones that lead to violence behind bars
    • builds on raft of prison security measures introduced by this government to cut crime and keep public safe

    Over 80 high-tech X-ray machines will be installed by the end of March – building on the body scanners, drug-trace machines, metal detection archways and more that have stopped tens of thousands of items from wreaking havoc inside prisons.

    For the first time, prisons beyond the high security estate will use the new, improved machines to check baggage brought in by the thousands of staff and visitors who enter and exit prisons every day.

    To date, these machines have stopped huge hauls of illegal contraband from getting into prisons with recent finds including:

    • 99 sheets of ‘spice’ paper, worth almost £60,000 inside prisons, in a cardboard box with a false bottom
    • nearly £40,000 worth of cannabis and tobacco concealed in curry and beef stew tins, and
    • a bottle of washing-up liquid that tested positive for heroin

    The most challenging 44 prisons will be the first to benefit from the machines – developed by VMI Security – which offer high-quality, sharp images to detect drugs, phones and high-density materials.

    Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary, Dominic Raab, said:

    These X-ray bag scanners are a powerful addition to the body scanners, drug-trace machines, metal detection archways and extra drug dogs we have added in recent years to keep drugs, mobile phones and other contraband out of our prisons.

    This is getting more prisoners off drugs, and helping to keep our streets safer.

    The latest development follows the success of our 75 X-ray body scanners, across 74 male prisons, which have disrupted around 20,000 attempts to smuggle harmful items into prisons in 2 years.

    Last year, dozens of prisons were also kitted out with new drug-trace machines that can detect microscopic smears of new psychoactive substances such as ‘spice’ on mail and items of clothing – stopping dangerous drugs from getting onto wings.

    The £100 million investment into cutting-edge security across the prison estate forms part of the ambitious Prisons Strategy White Paper, published just over a year ago.

    The comprehensive plan committed to making prisons safer, modern and more innovative for the thousands of people who work and are held in them – including a zero-tolerance approach to the smuggling of dangerous contraband which can thwart prisoners in their efforts to rehabilitate.

  • PRESS RELEASE : London to host major international meeting on war crimes [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : London to host major international meeting on war crimes [January 2023]

    The press release issued by Ministry of Justice on 7 January 2023.

    • Justice ministers from across the world will meet in London in March
    • Co-hosted by UK Deputy Prime Minister and Dutch Minister of Justice and Security
    • Nations to focus on practical support to the International Criminal Court

    The meeting at Lancaster House will be hosted by Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab and the Minister of Justice and Security of the Netherlands, Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius.

    It aims to increase the global financial and practical support being offered to the ICC and coordinate efforts to ensure it has all it needs to carry out investigations and prosecute those responsible.

    The group will hear from Prosecutor of the ICC, Karim Khan KC, on the Court’s work and the role of the international community in supporting its investigations.

    The meeting comes as Russia steps up its campaign of terror against Ukraine, striking at crucial energy infrastructure and plunging people into the dark and freezing cold of winter. In reclaimed areas of Ukraine, prosecutors continue to gather evidence of atrocities and sexual violence.

    Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Dominic Raab, said:

    Russian forces should know they cannot act with impunity and we will back Ukraine until justice is served.

    Almost a year on from the illegal invasion, the international community must give its strongest backing to the ICC so war criminals can be held to account for the atrocities we’re witnessing.

    The meeting will allow countries to determine how to provide further help to the Court. This includes practical support such as helping to gather information and share evidence of atrocities committed on the ground. Ministers will also discuss how to help victims and witnesses provide testimonies without causing them further distress.

    Minister of Justice and Security of the Netherlands, Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius said:

    The reports and images of Russia’s unlawful and unprovoked armed attack on Ukraine are horrific. For us it is crystal clear: these crimes may not go unpunished.

    During this timely meeting we will continue to coordinate with our partners to ensure that support to the ICC and the Ukrainian authorities is offered.

    Last year, the UK offered a bespoke package of support to the ICC, which included an additional £1 million funding and dedicated police assistance.

    It follows action taken by the UK to galvanise allies to refer atrocities in Ukraine to the ICC last March. The state party referral, now supported by 43 countries, meant that the Prosecutor was able to proceed straight to an investigation, without the need for judicial approval.

    The UK Government also continues to support Ukraine’s domestic investigations. Along with the US and the EU, the UK established the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group to support investigations and has funded a training programme for Ukrainian judges set to conduct trials for war crimes. There are 30 judges already taking part and a similar training programme for prosecutors in Ukraine, led by the Crown Prosecution Service, is due to start later this year.

    Sir Howard Morrison KC, a war crimes expert, has been appointed as an Independent Adviser to the Ukrainian Prosecutor General to offer legal advice in relation to the investigations and prosecutions and is overseeing the judges’ training programme. Court proceedings have begun in more than 200 cases of alleged war crimes and over 50,000 war crimes files have been opened to date.

    Around £400 million in UK economic and humanitarian grant support has been provided to Ukraine, while over £1.25 billion in multilateral loans has been unlocked via UK guarantees. Funding has also recently been provided to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund which will enable the provision of emergency energy equipment and resources to repair damaged infrastructure.

    The UK has now provided £2.3 billion in military support to Ukraine in 2022 – more than any country other than the United States – and has already committed to sustain that level of military support into 2023. The PM also recently announced a new contract worth £250 million that will ensure a constant flow of critical artillery ammunition to Ukraine throughout 2023.

    In 2022, the Netherlands dispatched two forensic investigation teams to collect evidence that can be used in investigations into crimes committed in Ukraine. The teams operated under the banner of the ICC and two additional missions are envisaged for 2023.

    The Netherlands has also made a voluntary financial contribution of €2 million to the Trust Fund of the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC and has seconded personnel from the National Police and the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Netherlands to the ICC.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government review to explore options to improve civil legal aid market [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government review to explore options to improve civil legal aid market [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 5 January 2023.

    • government to review civil legal aid market to make the system more efficient
    • research will identify options for improving long-term sustainability
    • external analysis to explore how people in need access support

    The review will commission an external economic analysis of the civil legal aid market to better understand how people access funding and support.

    It will encompass all categories of civil legal aid provision, with in-depth analysis into areas including family, housing, mental health, education, discrimination and immigration. It will also consider value for taxpayers’ money of future policy options and take into account wider budgetary restraints on the department.

    As well as an assessment of how such systems work in other comparable countries, the review will also include publications of further data on how civil legal aid is accessed and delivered across England and Wales to help inform future decisions.

    Once complete, the government can consider options from the review for moving to a more effective, more efficient and more sustainable system for legal providers and the people who rely on legal aid.

    Civil legal aid can help people cover the costs of legal help and representation for issues such as disputes with a landlord, managing debts or seeking protection from domestic abuse. It is delivered by providers such as law centres, private firms and non-profit organisations.

    Justice Minister, Lord Bellamy, said:

    This comprehensive review will give us a wealth of evidence on the civil legal aid systems, how services are provided, and of the issues facing the market.

    Identifying how we can make provision work best for everyone will help ensure we are building a more efficient and effective system to deliver sustainable legal aid support well into the future.

    The government will issue a tender this month inviting third parties to bid to undertake the external analysis.

    The final report is due to be published in 2024.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New Chair of Judicial Appointments Commission, Helen Pitcher, appointed [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : New Chair of Judicial Appointments Commission, Helen Pitcher, appointed [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 1 January 2023.

    The Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Rt Hon. Dominic Raab MP, has announced the Royal Appointment of Helen Pitcher OBE as the Chair of the Judicial Appointments Commission.

    She will hold the role for 3 years from 1 January 2023, until 31 December 2025.

    The Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) is the statutory independent selection body for judicial appointments in the courts and tribunals of England and Wales, and for some UK-wide tribunals. The Chair is appointed by His Majesty the King on the recommendation of the Lord Chancellor.

    Ms Pitcher’s appointment follows a report from the Justice Select Committee into her suitability for the role, published on 7 December, and a public hearing with the committee held on 6 December.

    Helen Pitcher biography

    Helen Pitcher OBE is currently chair of the: Criminal Case Review Commission: the Public Chairs Forum and; Advanced Boardroom Excellence Ltd. Ms Pitcher holds two Non-Executive roles: C and C Group and; UB UK (part of Yildz Holdings). Prior to this Ms Pitcher was: Chairman of Pladis Global between 2015-19; the Queen’s Counsel Selection Panel between 2009-17 and; Director at Saville Group PLC between 2008-13.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Christmas and New Year’s booze ban for 1,800 alcohol-tagged offenders [December 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Christmas and New Year’s booze ban for 1,800 alcohol-tagged offenders [December 2022]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 30 December 2022.

    • around 1,800 offenders wearing alcohol-tags over Christmas and New Year
    • mulled wine and brandy off the menu thanks to £183 million government investment in tagging offenders
    • tags can help tackle festive drink-fuelled crime such as domestic abuse

    Statistics released this morning show how many offenders have been made to wear a tag over the Christmas and New Year period, which work by monitoring the alcohol content in an individual’s sweat.

    Last Christmas around 800 offenders wore the device, just 12 months later the figure has more than doubled – helping to tackle alcohol-related crime over the festive period.

    The tags are accurate enough to distinguish between foods that contain low-levels of alcohol – such as brandy sauce on Christmas Pudding – and drinks such as mulled wine that offenders could get drunk from.

    Offenders banned from alcohol by the courts have stayed sober on 97% of the days they were tagged, but those who do drink can face returning to court for further punishment, including prison.

    39% of all violent crime in the UK involves alcohol, including domestic abuse which can rise during the festive period as figures provided by charities such as Women’s Aid have often demonstrated.

    Prisons and Probation Minister, Damian Hinds, said:

    Alcohol-fuelled crime such as domestic abuse is known to spike over the festive period, but our new alcohol tags can help stop that – protecting victims and tackling the causes of offending.

    We’re investing £183 million in electronic monitoring and the increased use of sobriety tags is already helping to keep our communities safer.

    Alcohol tags are part of the government’s £183 million investment over the next 3 years to use innovative tagging technology to help tackle crime, with roughly 12,000 tagging orders expected to be made during this period.

    The tags were first rolled out in 2020 as a punishment for alcohol-fuelled crimes and are also used to help keep the public safe from offenders considered likely to commit crimes when drunk.

    They monitor alcohol bans for offenders on community sentences handed down by judges or magistrates and can also be used as a licence condition for prison leavers.

    Roughly 20% of those supervised by probation are classed as having a drink problem and alcohol-fuelled crime is estimated to cost our society £21 billion per year.

    Last year, the government launched another world-first, using GPS tags to track robbers, thieves and burglars. Around 10,000 tagging orders are expected to be made over the next 3 years to help stop criminals from reoffending and help police catch them if they carry on.

    The £183 million investment over the next 3 years will nearly double the number of defendants on tags at any one time from 13,500 in 2021 to 25,000 by 2025.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New King’s Counsel welcomed by Lord Chancellor [December 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : New King’s Counsel welcomed by Lord Chancellor [December 2022]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 23 December 2022.

    His Majesty The King has approved the appointment of 95 barristers and solicitors as new King’s Counsel (KC) in England and Wales.

    His Majesty has also approved the appointment of 9 legal figures to receive Honorary King’s Counsel awards.

    The title of KC is awarded to those who have demonstrated particular skill and expertise in the conduct of advocacy.

    Honorary KCs are awarded to those who have made a major contribution to the law of England and Wales, outside practice in the courts.

    The Lord Chancellor will preside over the appointment ceremony at Westminster Hall on 27 March 2023, where he will formally bestow the titles.

    Biographies of honorary King’s Counsel

    John Battle is a leading figure and driving force behind the issue of filming court proceedings, leading the broadcast industry group (BBC, ITN, Sky, PA), and is recognised for his commitment to his extensive work between the media, MoJ and senior judiciary.

    Lionel Bently is a universally respected professor of intellectual property law at the University of Cambridge. He was nominated for his publications which rank among the most influential texts in intellectual property law and for playing a crucial role in influencing intellectual property law in this jurisdiction and beyond.

    Richard Edwin Ekins is a legal academic and Professor of Law and Constitutional Government at the University of Oxford. He is the author of a number of highly influential books and journal articles. Since 2015, he has led Policy Exchange’s Judicial Power Project and has made a major contribution to public debate, and parliamentary deliberation, about the constitutional role of the courts.

    Rosemary Hunter is Professor of Law and Socio-Legal Studies and Head of the Law School at the University of Kent. She is a leading scholar in the study of the Family Justice system and sits as the Academic Member of the Family Justice Council. Her work in the important field of domestic abuse has directly affected legislative developments.

    Dr Ann Olivarius is an American British lawyer widely recognised for her leading role in the fields of women’s rights, sexual harassment and sexual abuse. She has been at the forefront of the fight against image-based sexual abuse and privacy violations. She played an instrumental part in lobbying Parliament to pass laws against the disclosure of non-consensual private images

    Richard Susskind OBE FRSE holds professorships at the University of Oxford, Gresham College and Strathclyde University. He has worked in technology and law for 40 years and has written many related books. He has been recognised for his work promoting technology and innovation in legal and court services across England and Wales.

    James Wakefield was instrumental in establishing the Council of the Inns of Court as a charity and founding the Inns of Court College of Advocacy. The College introduced a new two part Bar Course. He also helped to write new sanctions guidance for the Bar. These demonstrate his commitment to promoting access to the profession and encouraging retention of those from under-represented groups.

    Julian Vincent Roberts is Emeritus Professor of Criminology at the University of Oxford and Executive Director of the Sentencing Academy. He is recognised as a leading academic authority in England and Wales on sentencing theory, policy, and practice; his work has made a major contribution to the analysis and development of sentencing worldwide.

    Sir Michael Wood has contributed much to the progressive development and codification of international law. He is a long-serving member of the UN International Law Commission (ILC). As a prominent member of the ILC he has made an invaluable and lasting contribution to international law as it is taught and applied in the UK and beyond.

    Applicant
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    49846 Ms Apps, Katherine
    42582 Dr Armstrong, Nicholas James Buchanan
    48545 Mr Atrill, Simon Paul
    42169 Mr Baker, Richard
    34422 Mr Balysz, Mark
    50235 Mr Baradon, Adam Hedley
    38501 Ms Bhogal, Kuljit
    45365 Mr Bowe, Timothy Michael
    48787 Mr Brinsmead-Stockham, John
    41463 Mr Brooks, Duncan John Macfarlane
    34548 Mr Buckingham, Paul Richard
    48956 Mr Casey, Noel
    48215 Mr Cloherty, Adam
    54004 Mr Cook, Alexander James
    49022 Ms Darwin, Claire Louise
    28984 Mr Davis, Richard Jolyon Harold
    41776 Mr Davy, Neil Geoffrey
    42844 Ms Den Besten, Ruth Michelle
    49361 Mr Dhar, Siddharth
    480409 Ms Donnelly, Kathleen
    49192 Mr Dracos, Marcos Gregorios
    36149 Mr Easton, Jonathan Mark
    42560 Mr Edwards, Owen Meirion
    32782 Ms Ellin, Nina Caroline
    53334 Mr Eschwege, Richard John
    48601 Miss Ferber, Iris
    40351 Mr Fetto, Niazi Peter
    41636 Mr FitzGerald, Benedict Andrew
    47489 Ms Gartland, Dorothea Susan
    46431 Mr Goodman, Alexander David Edmund
    40822 Miss Greaney, Nicola Clare
    40394 Mr Green, Garry Anthony
    35693 Mr Grieves, Edward James
    46760 Mr Horne, James Michael
    23979 Mr Jarman, Mark
    53340 Mr Jones, Michael David
    42189 Mrs Karaiskos, Maria
    46308 Mr Lask, Benjamin Bela David
    46879 Mr Lavy, Matthew Montague
    36408 Mr Lennon, John
    24653 Mr Leonard, James
    34786 Mr Lewis, Jonathan Mark
    21818 Mr Lewis, Meyric
    42670 Ms MacLynn, Claire Louise
    393501 Mr McClure, Michael John
    52684 Mr McCourt Fritz, Daniel William
    Applicants recommended for appointment 2022
    37878 Mr Middleton, Joseph
    42888 Ms Misra, Eleena
    49661 Miss Morris, Anna
    53417 Mr Morrison, Craig David
    47029 Ms Motraghi, Nadia Artemis
    40197 Miss Mulholland, Helen Maureen
    15941 Ms Murphy, Fiona Clare
    32271 Miss Murray, Judith Rowena
    47388 Mr Newton, Benjamin
    49276 Ms Ní Ghrálaigh, Blinne Nessa Áine
    45145 Miss Nolten, Sonia Jayne
    57267 Ms Omeri, Sheryn
    40343 Ms Paget, Henrietta Frances
    45335 Ms Paterson, Fiona
    52720 Mr Pearce, Luke Ricardo
    39289 Mr Peters, Edward James Hedley
    37509 Miss Phipps, Sarah Elizabeth
    57539 Mr Piccinin, Daniel Peter Clement
    51894 Ms Piercy, Catherine
    36056 Mr Pliener, David Jonathan
    37163 Miss Prager, Sarah
    45841 Ms Prince, Laura Margaret
    44696 Ms Reed, Lucy Emma
    35901 Mr Rees, Christopher Lloyd
    22445 Mr Reeve, Matthew Francis
    40464 Ms Reindorf, Anna Katerina Awurakua
    49817 Mr Richards, Thomas Alexander
    34605 Mr Rose, Stephen Paul
    44069 Mr Roy, Andrew Robert
    30817 Ms Ruck, Mary Ida
    42759 Mr Rule, Philip David
    44461 Ms Sabic, Irena
    31642 Mr Seddon, Duran
    37247 Miss Shannon, Nicola Elizabeth Jane
    44901 Mr Shaw, Benjamin Christopher
    33072 Mr Simkin, Iain
    36636 Mr Singh, Talbir
    47872 Dr Smith, Henry Forbes
    48532 Mr Spencer, Shaun Anthony
    50369 Miss Sutton, Emma Naomi
    42339 Mr Thomas, Michael James
    39004 Mr Troup, Alexander William
    45856 Miss van Overdijk, Claire Orit
    45662 Miss Wade, Rebecca Lucy
    48431 Mr Webb, William Rupert Nicholas
    67261 Ms Welsh, Angeline Marie
    45376 Ms Whitelaw, Francesca Lucy Kaye
    41385 Mr Williams, Guy Donald Irwin
    38700 Mr Worsley, Nicholas Frederick Avery

  • PRESS RELEASE : Colin Allars appointed as Chair of the Independent Restraint Review Panel [December 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Colin Allars appointed as Chair of the Independent Restraint Review Panel [December 2022]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 20 December 2022.

    The Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Rt Hon. Dominic Raab MO has announced the appointment of Colin Allars as the Chair to the Independent Restraint Review Panel (IRRP) for 3 years. His appointment will commence on from 1 January 2023 and run until 31 December 2025.

    The Independent Restraint Review Panel (IRRP) was set up in response to Charlie Taylor’s review of pain-inducing techniques in the youth estate in 2016. The IRRP reviews incidents at youth custody sites when serious injuries or warning signs have been identified, or where a pain inducing technique has been deployed. In addition to the mechanics of restraint, the IRRP can make observations about behaviour management and staff behaviour and leadership. Although the IRRP is not regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments, the principles of the Governance Code are being adhered to during all aspects of this campaign.

    Biography

    Colin Allars was appointed as interim Chair of the Independent Restraint Review Panel on 24 May 2021. Mr Allars is also the Non-Executive Chair of the Government Facilities Services (GFSL), appointed in 2018. From 2016 until his retirement from the Ministry of Justice in May 2021, he was the Chief Executive of the Youth Justice Board.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Urgent action to overhaul Exeter prison [December 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Urgent action to overhaul Exeter prison [December 2022]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 16 December 2022.

    • new blueprint to improve safety
    • extra staff and training to bolster support for vulnerable prisoners
    • new collaboration with the Shannon Trust to boost education on offer for offenders

    Prisons Minister Damian Hinds has outlined a package of urgent measures to rapidly improve safety at HMP Exeter – including extra frontline staff to support prisoners struggling with poor mental health.

    Today’s (16 December 2022) news forms part of the government’s response to His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) inspection last month, which identified serious failings at the jail resulting in an Urgent Notification – the lowest possible rating for a prison.

    As part of the Urgent Notification process, Ministers have 28 days to respond to the notice and set out how they will make the rapid change needed.

    In just 4 weeks, significant improvements to the running of the prison have been made, including:

    • Extra frontline staff transferred to support the supervision of offenders struggling with mental health issues
    • New training for all staff to better spot the signs of poor mental health and ensure vulnerable offenders are getting the help they need
    • Improved information and support for those arriving at the prison from the courts for the first time – a period where prisoners are often at their most vulnerable
    • Extra teaching staff joining the prison and a new collaboration with the Shannon Trust to boost education and learning activities key to rehabilitation
    • A new CCTV system in the works to improve safety on the wings

    The action plan published today also details how Ministers will continue to build upon these improvements and hold the prison to account over the coming weeks and months.

    Prisons Minister Damian Hinds said:

    Last month’s inspection found unacceptable failings at HMP Exeter, and today I am setting out how we plan on rectifying this serious situation without delay.

    Extra frontline staff and improved mental health training for all officers will ensure vulnerable offenders get the help they need when they need it, while renewed education and work opportunities will rehabilitate prisoners and cut crime.

    The government introduced the Urgent Notification process in 2017 to ensure immediate, urgent action was taken when necessary to address serious concerns identified by inspectors.