Codify prisoner communication restrictions scheme
Manchester Arena Inquiry · Manchester Arena Inquiry: Volume 3: Radicalisation and Preventability · Issued 2 March 2023
Government responseUK Government: Accepted (Nov 2025)
DeliveryCabinet Office says completed (Feb 2026)
Recommendation, verbatim from the inquiry
●Inquiry recommendation
I recommend that the scheme be codified, and clear policy and guidance be published so that it can be applied consistently across the prison estate.
Manchester Arena Inquiry, Manchester Arena Inquiry: Volume 3: Radicalisation and Preventability · 2 Mar 2023 Source PDF →
Published evidence summary
AI-generated evidence summary
The Cabinet Office stated in February 2026 that the recommendation was complete, noting that the Authorised Communications Controls and Interception Policy Framework was published in September 2022 to provide rules and guidance across prisons and Young Offenders Institutions (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). In the same February 2026 update, it added that HM Prison and Probation Service had established a National Counter Terrorism Communications Centre to monitor authorised phone communications and conduct vetting checks for high-risk prisoners (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026).
Sources
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 26 Sep 2026.
About this summary
Government response
●UK Government · Accepted · 14 Nov 2025
Accepted in full
Response document: Manchester Arena Inquiry recommendations (GOV.UK page linking to the Manchester Arena Inquiry Recommendations Dashboard)
Delivery
●Cabinet Office says completed · 27 Feb 2026
The Authorised Communications Controls and Interception Policy Framework was published in September 2022. This provides rules and guidance for prison staff to manage prisoner communications across prisons and Young Offenders Institutions. HMPPS has set up a new National Counter Terrorism Communications Centre, which dramatically increases our capacity and capability to monitor the authorised phone communications of our highest risk CT nominals in prisons. In collaboration with partners, the Centre will also conduct more vigorous vetting checks of those visiting or communicating with our highest risk prisoners. This is now implemented.
Earlier statements on delivery (0)
●Cabinet Office · 14 Nov 2025
The Authorised Communications Controls and Interception Policy Framework was published in September 2022. This provides rules and guidance for prison staff to manage prisoner communications across prisons and Young Offenders Institutions. HMPPS has set up a new National Counter Terrorism Communications Centre, which dramatically increases our capacity and capability to monitor the authorised phone communications of our highest risk CT nominals in prisons. In collaboration with partners, the Centre will also conduct more vigorous vetting checks of those visiting or communicating with our highest risk prisoners.
From: Manchester Arena Inquiry Recommendations Dashboard, original version (data file)
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