Recommendation 7

The Ministry and HMPPS have a duty of care to those in prisons. We have reported in the past that improving the mental health of prisoners is a difficult and complex task, and that it is essential to reducing reoffending and ensuring that those who are released from prison can rebuild their lives in the community.6 The need to manage the risks to prisoners and prison staff resulting from the pandemic has meant that temporary restrictive regimes have been in place for many months. This has meant prisoners spending longer times in cells, the stoppage of family visits, and suspension of education programmes and other purposeful activity. This has significantly exacerbated the existing mental health challenges that prisoners face.7