Recommendations & Conclusions
15 items
3
Conclusion
7th Report – Ending the cycle of reoffe…
Accepted
We heard concerns that recruitment and training for prison staff falls significantly short when compared to other public sector services. It is not right that promotions often come without proper training for their new role. This undermines both staff confidence and the quality of prison operations. (Conclusion, Paragraph 33)
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We heard concerns that recruitment and training for prison staff falls significantly short when compared to other public sector services. It is not right that promotions often come without proper training for their new role. This undermines both staff confidence and the quality of prison operations. (Conclusion, Paragraph 33)
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the importance of staff training and outlines ongoing work through the Enable Programme to redesign training and develop capability packages for various roles. It notes this full national rollout is not feasible within 12 months and a new Prisons Training Oversight …
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Ministry of Justice
10
Conclusion
7th Report – Ending the cycle of reoffe…
Accepted
In the current climate of overcrowding, staffing pressures, and a crumbling prison estate, public sector prison Governors work under immense pressure to run their prisons as best as they can. It is clear that they are further constrained by the low level of autonomy they are awarded. It is promising …
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In the current climate of overcrowding, staffing pressures, and a crumbling prison estate, public sector prison Governors work under immense pressure to run their prisons as best as they can. It is clear that they are further constrained by the low level of autonomy they are awarded. It is promising to hear that the Government recognises the value of Governor autonomy, but it is unclear what specific action it will be taking to improve it. (Conclusion, Paragraph 56) 82
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Government response AI summary
The government fully accepts the recommendation, committing to provide all Prison Governors with practical training and support on procurement and contract management within 12 months. This includes introducing a 'Securing Best Value' module, increasing the Inclusive Repair Threshold in new Facilities Management contracts, and providing …
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Ministry of Justice
23
Conclusion
7th Report – Ending the cycle of reoffe…
Accepted
Many remand prisoners are convicted but released straight from court without any rehabilitative support. This means they are more likely to reoffend. We welcome impending change as part of the Sentencing Bill; however, we are concerned this will not go far enough to slow the growth of the remand population. …
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Many remand prisoners are convicted but released straight from court without any rehabilitative support. This means they are more likely to reoffend. We welcome impending change as part of the Sentencing Bill; however, we are concerned this will not go far enough to slow the growth of the remand population. (Conclusion, Paragraph 101)
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Government response AI summary
The Youth Custody Service (YCS) is implementing 'Roadmaps to Effective Practice in Education,' aiming to reduce classroom sizes from eight to four children, introduce more vocational learning, and enhance partnerships with community education providers for continuity on release.
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Ministry of Justice
28
Recommendation
7th Report – Ending the cycle of reoffe…
Accepted
We were shocked and appalled to hear that prisons are used as a place of safety. We acknowledge and welcome that the Government aims to end this practice in the Mental Health Bill. We request details of how this will work in practice and when this will be implemented. (Conclusion, …
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We were shocked and appalled to hear that prisons are used as a place of safety. We acknowledge and welcome that the Government aims to end this practice in the Mental Health Bill. We request details of how this will work in practice and when this will be implemented. (Conclusion, Paragraph 110)
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the request, detailing that the Mental Health Bill will introduce a statutory 28-day time limit for hospital transfers from prisons and stop courts from temporarily detaining individuals with severe mental illness in prison as a ‘place of safety’.
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Ministry of Justice
29
Conclusion
7th Report – Ending the cycle of reoffe…
Accepted
The Youth Custody Service, and in particular Young Offender Institutions, is clearly not working for children. Children should not be spending up to 23 hours a day in cell due to the failure of HMPPS to manage behaviour effectively. It is disappointing that the only action the Government has taken …
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The Youth Custody Service, and in particular Young Offender Institutions, is clearly not working for children. Children should not be spending up to 23 hours a day in cell due to the failure of HMPPS to manage behaviour effectively. It is disappointing that the only action the Government has taken has been the introduction of PAVA spray, which several stakeholders disagreed with. (Conclusion, Paragraph 119)
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the criticism, stating they have developed and implemented comprehensive, site-specific 'roadmaps to effective practice' from April 2025 to address concerns in YOIs. They commit to considering a statutory minimum for time out of room and are already working towards an 8-hour daily …
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Ministry of Justice
30
Recommendation
7th Report – Ending the cycle of reoffe…
Accepted
The Government must respond to this report with an action plan as to how it plans to manage current conditions across the youth estate. For Young Offender Institutions, this should include what impact the introduction of 85 PAVA has had in managing behaviour, and what other action it plans to …
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The Government must respond to this report with an action plan as to how it plans to manage current conditions across the youth estate. For Young Offender Institutions, this should include what impact the introduction of 85 PAVA has had in managing behaviour, and what other action it plans to take to increase the levels of time out of cell and access to purposeful activity and ROTL. (Recommendation, Paragraph 120)
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation and has developed "roadmaps to effective practice," implemented in April 2025, to improve conditions in YOIs, focusing on safety, time out of cell, and purposeful activity. Information on PAVA's impact will be provided by September 2026.
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Ministry of Justice
36
Conclusion
7th Report – Ending the cycle of reoffe…
Accepted
It is unclear how the Government plans to support those with neurodivergent needs in the criminal justice system without having consistent and reliable data on how many neurodivergent prisoners there are. Furthermore, it is disappointing that those with neurodivergent needs, who require targeted 86 educational support, are being let down …
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It is unclear how the Government plans to support those with neurodivergent needs in the criminal justice system without having consistent and reliable data on how many neurodivergent prisoners there are. Furthermore, it is disappointing that those with neurodivergent needs, who require targeted 86 educational support, are being let down by the system and are unable to access the right support at the right time to assist with their rehabilitation. (Conclusion, Paragraph 153)
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Government response AI summary
The government has committed to publishing an update to the Cross-Government Neurodiversity Action Plan, introduced a new Additional Learning Needs tool from October 2025, and rolled out Neurodiversity Support Manager roles across 124 prisons to improve support for neurodivergent individuals.
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Ministry of Justice
37
Recommendation
7th Report – Ending the cycle of reoffe…
Accepted
The Government must publish an update to the Neurodiversity Action Plan without further delay. It should include how they plan to systematically identify how many prisoners have neurodivergent needs, as well as how it aims to support them. (Recommendation, Paragraph 154)
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The Government must publish an update to the Neurodiversity Action Plan without further delay. It should include how they plan to systematically identify how many prisoners have neurodivergent needs, as well as how it aims to support them. (Recommendation, Paragraph 154)
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation, committing to publish an update to the Neurodiversity Action Plan imminently. It also details new measures to identify neurodivergent needs, including a new screening tool introduced in October 2025, and mentions the rollout of Neurodiversity Support Manager posts across 124 …
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Ministry of Justice
40
Conclusion
7th Report – Ending the cycle of reoffe…
Accepted
Article 28 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child affirms that all children have the right to education, including those in detention. Yet Young Offender Institutions are routinely failing to meet the statutory minimum of 15 hours of education per week—a failure that appears to be …
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Article 28 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child affirms that all children have the right to education, including those in detention. Yet Young Offender Institutions are routinely failing to meet the statutory minimum of 15 hours of education per week—a failure that appears to be tolerated by the Government. Children should never be deprived of education as a means of managing behaviour, particularly when education is so critical to reducing reoffending and supporting rehabilitation. (Conclusion, Paragraph 176)
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the findings, acknowledging failings in meeting education minimums in YOIs. It is addressing these through 'Roadmaps to Effective Practice in Education' and plans to vary existing seven-year contracts to drive improvements and support a comprehensive, individualised learning journey for children.
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Ministry of Justice
41
Recommendation
7th Report – Ending the cycle of reoffe…
Accepted
The current conditions in youth custody settings are deplorable, and it is shameful that access to education for children has deteriorated as part of this wider decline. As part of an action plan for youth custody, as recommended in paragraph 120, education must be placed at the forefront. The Ministry …
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The current conditions in youth custody settings are deplorable, and it is shameful that access to education for children has deteriorated as part of this wider decline. As part of an action plan for youth custody, as recommended in paragraph 120, education must be placed at the forefront. The Ministry of Justice must set out how it will address the operational barriers to education delivery—including staffing, behaviour management, and ‘keep apart’ arrangements—and ensure that education is prioritised as a core component of the youth custody regime. (Recommendation, Paragraph 177)
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation and is addressing failings in youth custody education through "Roadmaps to Effective Practice in Education." They plan to ensure individualised, trauma-informed learning supported by comprehensive multi-disciplinary plans to overcome operational barriers.
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Ministry of Justice
43
Conclusion
7th Report – Ending the cycle of reoffe…
Accepted
Given the acute needs of those in prison, particularly regarding mental health, it is imperative that prisoners have access to good health and wellbeing services to assist them in properly engaging with rehabilitative programmes. However, despite the principle of equivalence, prisoners are not receiving healthcare on a par with the …
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Given the acute needs of those in prison, particularly regarding mental health, it is imperative that prisoners have access to good health and wellbeing services to assist them in properly engaging with rehabilitative programmes. However, despite the principle of equivalence, prisoners are not receiving healthcare on a par with the wider population. (Conclusion, Paragraph 202)
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the principle of healthcare equivalence in prisons, committing to the National Partnership Agreement and leveraging the NHS 10 Year Health Plan. They are undertaking specific activities including data capture exercises and re-procuring integrated clinical digital systems in early 2026 to improve healthcare …
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Ministry of Justice
44
Recommendation
7th Report – Ending the cycle of reoffe…
Accepted
The Government must set out how it will ensure that the principle of equivalence in prison healthcare is upheld in practice. This should include a plan to address the operational barriers to healthcare delivery—such as staffing shortages, late receptions, escort constraints and lack of electronic records—and demonstrate how health and …
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The Government must set out how it will ensure that the principle of equivalence in prison healthcare is upheld in practice. This should include a plan to address the operational barriers to healthcare delivery—such as staffing shortages, late receptions, escort constraints and lack of electronic records—and demonstrate how health and wellbeing services will be integrated into its wider rehabilitation strategy and the NHS ten-year plan. (Recommendation, Paragraph 203)
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation, referencing the National Partnership Agreement and the NHS 10-Year Health Plan as key to upholding healthcare equivalence. They are addressing operational barriers through continued collaboration, data collection on service delivery, and the re-procurement of integrated clinical digital systems by early …
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Ministry of Justice
45
Recommendation
7th Report – Ending the cycle of reoffe…
Accepted
NHS England, or its successor, should publish regular, transparent data on healthcare access and outcomes across the prison estate. This data should be used to monitor progress against the principle of equivalence and to hold both NHS England or its successor and HMPPS accountable for delivering effective, joined-up care. (Recommendation, …
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NHS England, or its successor, should publish regular, transparent data on healthcare access and outcomes across the prison estate. This data should be used to monitor progress against the principle of equivalence and to hold both NHS England or its successor and HMPPS accountable for delivering effective, joined-up care. (Recommendation, Paragraph 204)
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Government response AI summary
The government accepted the recommendation, committing to ensuring equivalent healthcare standards and noting NHSE's re-procurement of digital systems by early 2026 to capture data on healthcare access and outcomes. NHS England will update the Committee on plans to publish new data by April 2026.
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Ministry of Justice
46
Conclusion
7th Report – Ending the cycle of reoffe…
Accepted
Women in prison often have acute and complex health needs, yet the system is failing to meet even their most basic requirements. We acknowledge the Government’s ambition to reduce the population in the female prison estate, and that change is expected following the work of the Women’s Justice Board. But, …
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Women in prison often have acute and complex health needs, yet the system is failing to meet even their most basic requirements. We acknowledge the Government’s ambition to reduce the population in the female prison estate, and that change is expected following the work of the Women’s Justice Board. But, as the Minister himself admits, there are many women in prison right now that are extremely ill and have complex needs. (Conclusion, Paragraph 211)
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledged that many women in prison have complex needs, outlining its ambition to reduce the female prison population and detailing existing services, a recent health review, and new Mental Health Bill reforms aimed at improving support and transfers to hospital.
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Ministry of Justice
47
Recommendation
7th Report – Ending the cycle of reoffe…
Accepted
The Government should respond to this report setting out what action it is taking to address the complex health and wellbeing needs of the women it currently has in its custody. (Recommendation, Paragraph 212) 88
Government response AI summary
The government accepted the recommendation, setting out its ambition to reduce the female prison population and detailing actions such as existing specialized health services, recommendations from a November 2023 health review, new funding for safety projects, and reforms within the Mental Health Bill to support …
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Ministry of Justice