Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 18
18
Deferred
Paragraph: 104
Resettlement support for remand prisoners is routinely unavailable due to contractual exclusions.
Conclusion
We were disappointed to hear that resettlement support is not routinely available to those held on remand due to this category of prisoners being excluded from contracts agreed with providers as part of the reunification of the probation service. Those held on remand have a similar need for resettlement support as the sentenced population and it is concerning that this support is not being provided simply due to contractual issues. We agree with the Minister that it is not acceptable that, in some cases, remand prisoners are being handed tents on release in the absence of suitable accommodation. The Ministry of Justice needs to do more to ensure that all people leaving prison have the option of temporary housing if it has not been possible to find more permanent accommodation prior to release. We welcome the commitment by the Government to update contracts with resettlement teams. The work to include those on remand in the contracts for resettlement accommodation should be completed by April 2023.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government partially accepted the recommendation, stating that bail/remand decisions are judicial, and then focused entirely on discussing electronic monitoring as an alternative to custodial remand and engagement with the judiciary on its use, without addressing resettlement support or temporary housing.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
104
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government · verbatim extract
Deferred
We partially accept this recommendation. HMPPS has a range of interventions available to support those on remand when they are released to ensure that they are not homeless. In accordance with housing legislation in England and Wales, the Prison and Probation Services have a duty to refer anyone at risk of becoming homeless on release from prison to a local authority for housing assistance. Those who have been on remand, subsequently convicted and released as time served, are eligible for Community Accommodation Service Tier 3 (CAS-3) temporary housing providing that they are subject to probation supervision. Additionally, HMPPS has introduced Strategic Housing Specialists across all prison groups, including one in each female prison, to support prisons and probation in helping tackle homelessness. Strategic Housing Specialists are responsible for improving and strengthening partnership working with key partners – including resettlement teams, local authorities and housing providers – to improve housing processes and better coordinate support for prisoners and those on remand to reduce the number of individuals released into homelessness. Under the new resettlement approach, all resettlement prisons, including local prisons, have an embedded resettlement provision overseen by the Probation Service or alternative arrangements in place as agreed between prison and probation. These pre-release teams identify and address immediate resettlement needs and provide pre-release support for all people in prison, including the unsentenced. Using the Basic Custody Screening Tool they are able to signpost to specialist services within the prison – such as healthcare – and provide pre-release services where they are currently unavailable from Commissioned Rehabilitative Services (CRS) suppliers, including accommodation (e.g. closing down and maintaining tenancies) and finance, benefit and debt, (e.g. signposting and providing low complexity support). As well as preparing people for release, CRS accommodation support includes completing accommodation applications and applications for housing benefit/related benefits; support and guidance to ensure continuation of an existing tenancy and compliance with any tenancy obligations to avoid or manage accommodation arrears; assistance to access rent deposit and rent advance schemes; and advocacy and liaison with accommodation providers to maintain accommodation. We are currently working on extending all CRS contracts for accommodation (men) and Women’s Services to unsentenced people in prison. Changes to two regional accommodation (men) contract extensions have been signed and services have commenced in North East (HMP Durham) and South Central (HMP Bullingdon and HMP Winchester) for people on remand. We will update the Committee on future roll-out plans in due course.
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