Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 185
185
Deferred
Conduct proactive, unannounced annual inspections of physical security measures across all prisons
Conclusion
An independent security audit team, or existing reporting body, must conduct proactive, unannounced inspections of physical security measures, such as netting, window security and CCTV functionality, at every prison annually, regardless of the prison’s category. A response and action plan setting out how any failures will be rectified must be provided to HMPPS within 30 days. (Recommendation, Paragraph 86)
Government Response Summary
The government response discussed local authority responsibilities for drug and alcohol treatment and funding, completely unrelated to the recommendation for independent prison security audits.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
Local authorities are responsible for assessing the local need for drug and alcohol prevention and treatment in their area, and for commissioning services to meet those needs. This includes the prescription of long-acting injectable buprenorphine (Buvidal). Uptake varies across the country and is influenced by multiple factors, including local priorities and the way that supplemental funding for community drug and alcohol systems was rolled out between 2022/23 and 2024/25, which in turn can affect the clinical capacity to prescribe long- acting buprenorphine. Additionally, the cost of long-acting buprenorphine compared with oral opioid substitution medications also remains a barrier to uptake. While local authorities retain discretion over commissioning decisions, the Department of Health and Social Care strongly encourages and supports the evidence-based adoption of long-acting buprenorphine. To reduce disparities, DHSC continues to monitor the prescribing of long-acting injectable buprenorphine both in prison and the community, make that information available to commissioners and providers, and to work with local authorities to ensure that they are aware of the clinical advantages that it can bring to those who want it to be part of their treatment provision. DHSC continue to support evidence-based adoption, including by running information webinars for clinicians, community treatment and prisons, and is working closely with NICE to produce cost-effectiveness analysis in support of clinical decision making. To improve long-term decision making in local authority’s public health commissioning and provision of drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services, the Government has published the first multi-year Public Health Grant settlement in a decade. Within these allocations we have consolidated previously standalone grants for drugs and alcohol, and provided appropriate safeguards for investment in these services. Taken together, these reforms will see the Government invest £1.109bn in drug and alcohol prevention, treatment and recovery systems in 2026/27, which will increase to £1.12bn by 2028/29.