HM Prison and Probation Service
Central Government
Action Taken
HMPPS provides Introductory Suicide Prevention Training for probation staff and has developed a 7-minute briefing on suicide prevention. They are also working closely with other government departments to ensure prison leavers can access healthcare and support, and are drawing together a holistic staff IPP guide. (AI summary)
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Dear Mr Hobson,
Inquest Touching the Death of Matthew Gregory Price
Thank you for your Regulation 28 report of 22nd February 2024 following the Inquest into the death of Matthew Gregory Price. You kindly extended the time for the issue of this response to the 23rd May 2024. I am responding on behalf of the Rt Hon Alex Chalk KC MP, Minister of Justice.
I know that you will share a copy of this response with Mr. Price’s family, and I would like to take this opportunity to express my condolences for their loss.
You raised the following concerns -
There are serious concerns about the welfare of individuals who remain subject to IPP sentence with specific focus on those living in the community and appropriate steps should be taken to further support an evidently vulnerable section of society
The MoJ/HMPPS now provides Introductory Suicide Prevention Training for probation staff developed in collaboration with the Zero Suicide Alliance (ZSA) which has been available to all probation staff since September 2023. Over 1700 staff have now completed this training. Further comprehensive suicide prevention training is in the training development pipeline.
A 7 minute briefing on suicide prevention has been developed for Probation staff and is available on EQUiP, an electronic database of guidance and process maps. This draws attention to those serving IPP sentences.
Under the current engagement model between Health/ Justice/ NHS / Social Care teams the MOJ are working closely with other government departments to ensure prison leavers, including those serving IPP sentences, can access healthcare, drug treatment and support with securing employment and stable accommodation.
The MoJ/HMPPS has a current Suicide Prevention Action Plan within which one of the identified goals is to provide staff with the necessary knowledge, skills, and resources to support good quality suicide prevention practice. As part of the refreshed probation learner offer, Probation Practitioners who manage IPP cases are provided with dedicated learning products aimed at increasing their knowledge and skills around trauma aware/person centred practice, as well as opportunities to practice motivational interviewing approaches. The Skills for Effective Engagement Development and Supervision (second generation) (SEEDS2) practitioner package, which is required learning for all Probation Practitioners who have been in post for at least six months, has motivational interviewing/relational practice as the core principle. The probation learner offer will be evaluated and reviewed in September 2024.
As part of an IPP Action Plan, HMPPS is drawing together a holistic staff IPP guide and series of practitioner briefing events which will promote HMPPS operational staff awareness of the IPP sentence and its impact on those subject to it. This guide and series of events will include a focus on recall.
Alongside the learning and development/training being provided to Probation staff regarding suicide prevention, you may be aware that there are also proposed changes being taken forward in the Victims and Prisoners Bill which relate specifically to IPP sentences. These proposed new measures will
1. Reduce the qualifying period which triggers the duty of the Secretary of State to refer an IPP licence to the Parole Board for termination from ten years to three years;
2. Include a clear statutory presumption that the IPP licence will be terminated by the Parole Board at the end of the three-year qualifying period;
3. Introduce a provision that will automatically terminate the IPP licence two years after the three-year qualifying period, in cases where the Parole Board has not terminated the licence; and
4. Introduce a power to amend the qualifying period by Statutory Instrument Thank you again for bringing your concerns to my attention. I trust that this response provides assurance that action is being taken to address this matter.
Inquest Touching the Death of Matthew Gregory Price
Thank you for your Regulation 28 report of 22nd February 2024 following the Inquest into the death of Matthew Gregory Price. You kindly extended the time for the issue of this response to the 23rd May 2024. I am responding on behalf of the Rt Hon Alex Chalk KC MP, Minister of Justice.
I know that you will share a copy of this response with Mr. Price’s family, and I would like to take this opportunity to express my condolences for their loss.
You raised the following concerns -
There are serious concerns about the welfare of individuals who remain subject to IPP sentence with specific focus on those living in the community and appropriate steps should be taken to further support an evidently vulnerable section of society
The MoJ/HMPPS now provides Introductory Suicide Prevention Training for probation staff developed in collaboration with the Zero Suicide Alliance (ZSA) which has been available to all probation staff since September 2023. Over 1700 staff have now completed this training. Further comprehensive suicide prevention training is in the training development pipeline.
A 7 minute briefing on suicide prevention has been developed for Probation staff and is available on EQUiP, an electronic database of guidance and process maps. This draws attention to those serving IPP sentences.
Under the current engagement model between Health/ Justice/ NHS / Social Care teams the MOJ are working closely with other government departments to ensure prison leavers, including those serving IPP sentences, can access healthcare, drug treatment and support with securing employment and stable accommodation.
The MoJ/HMPPS has a current Suicide Prevention Action Plan within which one of the identified goals is to provide staff with the necessary knowledge, skills, and resources to support good quality suicide prevention practice. As part of the refreshed probation learner offer, Probation Practitioners who manage IPP cases are provided with dedicated learning products aimed at increasing their knowledge and skills around trauma aware/person centred practice, as well as opportunities to practice motivational interviewing approaches. The Skills for Effective Engagement Development and Supervision (second generation) (SEEDS2) practitioner package, which is required learning for all Probation Practitioners who have been in post for at least six months, has motivational interviewing/relational practice as the core principle. The probation learner offer will be evaluated and reviewed in September 2024.
As part of an IPP Action Plan, HMPPS is drawing together a holistic staff IPP guide and series of practitioner briefing events which will promote HMPPS operational staff awareness of the IPP sentence and its impact on those subject to it. This guide and series of events will include a focus on recall.
Alongside the learning and development/training being provided to Probation staff regarding suicide prevention, you may be aware that there are also proposed changes being taken forward in the Victims and Prisoners Bill which relate specifically to IPP sentences. These proposed new measures will
1. Reduce the qualifying period which triggers the duty of the Secretary of State to refer an IPP licence to the Parole Board for termination from ten years to three years;
2. Include a clear statutory presumption that the IPP licence will be terminated by the Parole Board at the end of the three-year qualifying period;
3. Introduce a provision that will automatically terminate the IPP licence two years after the three-year qualifying period, in cases where the Parole Board has not terminated the licence; and
4. Introduce a power to amend the qualifying period by Statutory Instrument Thank you again for bringing your concerns to my attention. I trust that this response provides assurance that action is being taken to address this matter.