Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 10
10
Deferred
Paragraph: 60
Remove Bail Act provision for remanding individuals solely for their own protection and provide community alternatives.
Recommendation
We welcome the draft Mental Health Bill 2022 which legislates for the removal of using prisons as a place of safety for those with mental health difficulties. However, we call on the Government to go further, removing the provision in the Bail Act 1976 for remanding people into custody for their own protection in all situations, and providing adequate provision in the community for those people who would have been remanded to custody solely for their own protection.
Government Response Summary
The government accepted the recommendation, but the response focused entirely on its prison building program to deliver 20,000 additional prison places and invest in maintenance, without addressing the removal of remand for own protection or community provision.
Paragraph Reference:
60
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
We accept this recommendation. We are currently delivering 20,000 additional, modern prison places, which is the largest prison build programme in a century. This programme ensures the right conditions are in place to rehabilitate prisoners, helping to cut crime and protect the public. These places are being delivered through the construction of six new prisons, as well as the expansion and refurbishment of the existing estate and temporary accommodation. We are undertaking major refurbishments at sites including HMP Birmingham, HMP Liverpool and HMP Norwich, delivering 800 cells between them. The wing-by-wing refurbishment at HMP Liverpool will see every cell renovated. We are continuing to invest in prison maintenance so that existing places are safe for prisoners and staff. We are also undertaking an estate-wide condition survey which will help inform future funding decisions and support the development of future facilities management services for prisons.