Select Committee · Justice and Home Affairs Committee
Prison culture: governance, leadership and staffing
Status: Open
Opened: 30 Oct 2024
1 report
Read the Shorthand story: Our prisons are in a state of crisis The report 'Better prisons: less crime' was published on 16 July 2025. The Government response was published on 22 September. The report was debated on 12 February 2026.
Reports
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Report - Better prisons: less crime | — | 16 Jul 2025 | 0 | Responded |
Oral evidence sessions
| Date | Witnesses | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Apr 2025 | Phil Copple · HMPPS, The Lord Timpson OBE DL · Ministry of Justice | View ↗ |
| 18 Mar 2025 | Juliana Rowan, Kate Fraser · Women in Prison, Kieron Bryan, Zak Addae-Kodua · xconversation | View ↗ |
| 11 Mar 2025 | Andrew Neilson · The Howard League for Penal Reform, Helen Berresford · Nacro | View ↗ |
| 11 Feb 2025 | Dominic Herrington · Department for Education, Louise Alexander · HMPPS, Michelle Jarman-Howe · HM Prison and Probation Service | View ↗ |
| 4 Feb 2025 | Dr Kristian Mjåland · University of Agder, Professor Alison Liebling · University of Cambridge, Professor Ben Crewe · University of Cambridge | View ↗ |
| 28 Jan 2025 | Clare Pearson, Julia Killick CBE, Professor Lynn Saunders OBE · University of Derby, Saj Zafar | View ↗ |
| 21 Jan 2025 | Charlie Taylor · HM Inspectorate of Prisons | View ↗ |
| 14 Jan 2025 | Gavin Miller · Community Trade Union, Mark Fairhurst · Prison Officers Association | View ↗ |
| 17 Dec 2024 | The Rt Hon Charles Clarke · Department for Education, The Rt Hon Michael Gove | View ↗ |
| 26 Nov 2024 | Genevieve Glaister, Natasha Porter OBE · Unlocked Graduates, Pia Sinha · Prison Reform Trust | View ↗ |
| 19 Nov 2024 | Carl Davies · Prison Governors' Association, Tom Wheatley · The Prison Governors’ Association, Vanessa Frake-Harris MBE | View ↗ |
Who gave evidence
| Witness | Organisation | Sessions |
|---|---|---|
| Andrew Neilson · Campaigns Director | The Howard League for Penal Reform | 1 |
| Carl Davies · Vice President | Prison Governors' Association | 1 |
| Charlie Taylor · Chief Inspector of Prisons | HM Inspectorate of Prisons | 1 |
| Clare Pearson | — | 1 |
| Dominic Herrington · National Schools Commissioner | Department for Education | 1 |
| Dr Kristian Mjåland · Associate Professor of Sociology | University of Agder | 1 |
| Gavin Miller · National Secretary for Justice and Custodial | Community Trade Union | 1 |
| Genevieve Glaister | — | 1 |
| Helen Berresford · Director of External Engagement | Nacro | 1 |
| Julia Killick CBE | — | 1 |
| Juliana Rowan | — | 1 |
| Kate Fraser · Head of Practice | Women in Prison | 1 |
| Kieron Bryan | — | 1 |
| Louise Alexander · People Director, HMPPS and Business Partnering | HMPPS | 1 |
| Mark Fairhurst · National Chair | Prison Officers Association | 1 |
| Michelle Jarman-Howe · Chief Operating Officer | HM Prison and Probation Service | 1 |
| Natasha Porter OBE · CEO | Unlocked Graduates | 1 |
| Phil Copple · Director General of Prisons | HMPPS | 1 |
| Pia Sinha · Chief Executive Officer | Prison Reform Trust | 1 |
| Professor Alison Liebling · Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice and… | University of Cambridge | 1 |
| Professor Ben Crewe · Professor of Penology and Criminal Justice and De… | University of Cambridge | 1 |
| Professor Lynn Saunders OBE · Professor of Applied Criminology | University of Derby | 1 |
| Saj Zafar | — | 1 |
| The Lord Timpson OBE DL · Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reof… | Ministry of Justice | 1 |
| The Rt Hon Charles Clarke · Former Education Secretary | Department for Education | 1 |
| The Rt Hon Michael Gove | — | 1 |
| Tom Wheatley · President | The Prison Governors’ Association | 1 |
| Vanessa Frake-Harris MBE | — | 1 |
| Zak Addae-Kodua · Founder and Director | xconversation | 1 |
Correspondence
| Date | Direction | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Apr 2026 | — | Letter dated 15 April 2026 from Lord Timpson, Minister of State for Justice to … |
| 28 Apr 2026 | — | Letter dated 14 April 2026 from The Right Honourable David Lammy MP Deputy Prim… |
| 31 Mar 2026 | — | Letter dated 18 March 2026 from Charlie Taylor, HM Inspectorate of Prisons to t… |
| 31 Mar 2026 | — | Letter dated 20 March 2026 from Lord Timpson to the Chair regarding an update o… |
| 10 Mar 2026 | — | Letter dated 10 March 2026 from Lord Timpson to the Chair with a progress updat… |
| 21 Oct 2025 | — | Letter dated 10 October from Lord Timpson, Minister of State for Justice to the… |
| 22 Sep 2025 | — | Letter dated 18 September 2025 from the Chair, Justice and Home Affairs Committ… |
| 1 May 2025 | — | Letter dated 25 April 2025 from Lord Timpson, Minister of State for Justice, to… |
| 29 Apr 2025 | — | Letter dated 4 April 2025 from Lord Timpson, Minister of State for Justice, to … |
| 15 Apr 2025 | — | Letter dated 10 April 2025 from the Chair, Justice and Home Affairs Committee t… |
| 21 Mar 2025 | — | Letter and Annex A from the Ministry of Justice to the Chair, Justice and Home … |
| 21 Mar 2025 | — | Letter dated 3 February 2025 from Lord Timpson, Minister of State for Justice, … |
| 3 Mar 2025 | — | Letter dated 12 February 2025 Charlie Taylor, Chief Inspector of Prisons to the… |
| 18 Dec 2024 | — | Letter dated 17 December 2024 from the Chair, Justice and Home Affairs Committe… |
Meetings & visits
| Date | Type | Detail | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Apr 2025 | Formal meeting (private meeting) | — · Room 2, Palace of Westminster | |
| 25 Mar 2025 | Formal meeting (private meeting) | — · HMP Belmarsh and HMP Isis | |
| 25 Feb 2025 | Formal meeting (private meeting) | — · Room 3, Palace of Westminster | |
| 7 Jan 2025 | Formal meeting (private meeting) | — · Room 3, Palace of Westminster |