Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 20
20
Accepted
Ninety-nine percent prison occupancy creates significant inefficiencies across the justice system
Conclusion
HMPPS told us that operating at 99% occupancy creates inefficiencies in the estate and wider justice system. For example, it explained that prisoners often arrive in the wrong part of the estate or wrong part of the country. This means that prisoners often arrive late at night and it also impacts HMPPS’s ability to get them to court on time the next day. It explained that this has a knock–on effect on the Crown Court backlog.68 HMPPS told us that 62 Q 38 63 Qq 38–40 64 Q 40 65 Q 92 66 C&AG’s Report, para 2.14 67 Qq 125–129 68 Q 66 14 reception prisons are under particular pressure, and the remand population was at a record high of 17,711 in August 2024. HMPPS explained that the increasing proportion of prisoners on remand makes it more difficult for HMPPS to use its estate most efficiently, as prisoners on remand need to stay near to the local court where their case will be heard.69 High occupancy levels also reduce HMPPS’s ability to carry out maintenance essential to keep prison places in use. We asked HMPPS what level of occupancy would allow it to operate an efficient estate. It told us that it would not want to be operating above 95% occupancy, but 90% would be ideal. It explained that this would provide staff with more time to, for example, assess prisoners, and that it would allow it to place prisoners in different areas of the country more efficiently.70 Impact of prison capacity crisis on safety and outcomes for prisoners
Government Response Summary
HMPPS recognises the challenges that capacity pressures have on providing a safe environment. They have evaluated the impact of prisoners living in overcrowded prison cell conditions and monitor safety data and prison performance.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
5.6 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented: April 2025 5.7 HMPPS recognises the challenges that capacity pressures have on providing a safe environment and can make it harder to effectively manage prisons. There is no single cause of self-harm or violence in prison and there are a range of interacting imported and situational factors that contribute including crowding. 5.8 The MoJ has evaluated the impact of prisoners living in overcrowded prison cell conditions with the analysis showing that they were c.20% more likely to be involved in an assault. The analysis shows that crowding does not directly impact self-harm rates, although there is some evidence that crowding may impact drivers of self-harm, including the mental wellbeing of prisoners. Self-harm is extremely complex and there are a range of clinical, custodial, historical and sociodemographic factors that increase self-harm risks and therefore, a single factor such as crowding is unlikely to be the only reason. 5.9 As outlined in the Prison Estate Expansion: Evaluation Strategy – GOV.UK , the plan is to assess the impact of different types of prison builds on prison safety, focusing on indicators such as self-harm and assaults. The expansion programme covers a range of build types, including new prisons, new houseblocks of varying sizes on existing prison sites, refurbishments, and rapid deployment cells. 5.10 HMPPS regularly monitors monthly self-harm and violence data, and the Prison Performance Tool Dashboard is used on a quarterly basis to monitor overall prison performance. One area considered is safety, with both quantitative and qualitative measures included.