1st Report - Better prisons: less crime
- HC No.
- Not recorded
- Published
- 16 Jul 2025
- Items
- 0
- Government response
- Government response published 22 September 2025 (deadline 16 September 2025). Read the government's response ↗
Select committee: Justice and Home Affairs Committee
Prison culture: governance, leadership and staffing
Open
Opened 30 Oct 2024
Justice and Home Affairs Committee Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Inquiry scope (the committee's words)
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.
Where it stands
The inquiry is open, opened 30 October 2024.
The committee has published 1 report, most recently 1st Report - Better prisons: less crime on 16 July 2025.
The government's response
Published 22 September 2025. The deadline was 16 September 2025.
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government's covering letter states that it is accepting 19 of the Committee's recommendations, partially accepting 15 and rejecting 1.
- It rejects the recommendation that the prisons minister should always be a Minister of State, because the Prime Minister has "overall responsibility for the organisation of the Executive" and advises the Sovereign on ministerial appointments.
- On local governor involvement in recruitment it partially accepts. Changes to the central process are scheduled for "quarter 4 of 2025/26", followed by evaluation, after which "further consideration" will be given to face-to-face interviews with senior staff.
- It accepts the proposal for a Prison Service Medal in principle. The proposal will be shared "later this year" with the Honours Committee before going to the King for final approval, and "if approved" it will work with the Cabinet Office to introduce it.
- It does not accept a combined Inspectorate, saying separate inspectorates ensure "appropriate and tailored scrutiny", though the Ministry of Justice is "open to reviewing how scrutiny bodies operate".
Reports
- 1st Report - Better prisons: less crime16 July 2025
Evidence
- 11 oral evidence sessionsLatest 1 April 2025
- 29 witnesses
Recent activity
- Letter dated 14 April 2026 from The Right Honourable David Lammy MP Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor & Secretary of State for Justice to the Chair regarding the government response to the independent review into releases in error28 April 2026, Correspondence
- Letter dated 15 April 2026 from Lord Timpson, Minister of State for Justice to the Chair, regarding Charlie Taylor, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons (HMCIP), issuing an Urgent Notification (UN) at HMP Woodhill28 April 2026, Correspondence
- Letter dated 18 March 2026 from Charlie Taylor, HM Inspectorate of Prisons to the Chair regarding review of the potential of family contact in prisons31 March 2026, Correspondence
Reports
Oral evidence sessions
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| Date | Session and witnesses | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Apr 2025 |
Oral evidence session
Phil Copple · HMPPS,
The Lord Timpson OBE DL · Ministry of Justice
|
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| 18 Mar 2025 |
Oral evidence session
Juliana Rowan,
Kate Fraser · Women in Prison,
Kieron Bryan,
Zak Addae-Kodua · xconversation
|
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| 11 Mar 2025 |
Oral evidence session
Andrew Neilson · The Howard League for Penal Reform,
Helen Berresford · Nacro
|
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| 11 Feb 2025 |
Oral evidence session
Dominic Herrington · Department for Education,
Louise Alexander · HMPPS,
Michelle Jarman-Howe · HM Prison and Probation Service
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| 4 Feb 2025 |
Oral evidence session
Dr Kristian Mjåland · University of Agder,
Professor Alison Liebling · University of Cambridge,
Professor Ben Crewe · University of Cambridge
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| 28 Jan 2025 |
Oral evidence session
Clare Pearson,
Julia Killick CBE,
Professor Lynn Saunders OBE · University of Derby,
Saj Zafar
|
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| 21 Jan 2025 |
Oral evidence session
Charlie Taylor · HM Inspectorate of Prisons
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| 14 Jan 2025 |
Oral evidence session
Gavin Miller · Community Trade Union,
Mark Fairhurst · Prison Officers Association
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| 17 Dec 2024 |
Oral evidence session
The Rt Hon Charles Clarke · Department for Education,
The Rt Hon Michael Gove
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| 26 Nov 2024 |
Oral evidence session
Genevieve Glaister,
Natasha Porter OBE · Unlocked Graduates,
Pia Sinha · Prison Reform Trust
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| 19 Nov 2024 |
Oral evidence session
Carl Davies · Prison Governors' Association,
Tom Wheatley · The Prison Governors’ Association,
Vanessa Frake-Harris MBE
|
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Who gave evidence
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| 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 | Not recorded | 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 | Not recorded | 1 |
| Helen Berresford · Director of External Engagement | Nacro | 1 |
| Julia Killick CBE | Not recorded | 1 |
| Juliana Rowan | Not recorded | 1 |
| Kate Fraser · Head of Practice | Women in Prison | 1 |
| Kieron Bryan | Not recorded | 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 Director of the Prisons Research Centre | University of Cambridge | 1 |
| Professor Ben Crewe · Professor of Penology and Criminal Justice and Deputy Director of the Prisons Research Centre | University of Cambridge | 1 |
| Professor Lynn Saunders OBE · Professor of Applied Criminology | University of Derby | 1 |
| Saj Zafar | Not recorded | 1 |
| The Lord Timpson OBE DL · Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending | Ministry of Justice | 1 |
| The Rt Hon Charles Clarke · Former Education Secretary | Department for Education | 1 |
| The Rt Hon Michael Gove | Not recorded | 1 |
| Tom Wheatley · President | The Prison Governors’ Association | 1 |
| Vanessa Frake-Harris MBE | Not recorded | 1 |
| Zak Addae-Kodua · Founder and Director | xconversation | 1 |
Correspondence
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Meetings & visits
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| Date | Type | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Apr 2025 | Formal meeting (private meeting) | Not recorded · Room 2, Palace of Westminster | |
| 25 Mar 2025 | Formal meeting (private meeting) | Not recorded · HMP Belmarsh and HMP Isis | |
| 25 Feb 2025 | Formal meeting (private meeting) | Not recorded · Room 3, Palace of Westminster | |
| 7 Jan 2025 | Formal meeting (private meeting) | Not recorded · Room 3, Palace of Westminster |