Garth

Response
I recognise the Board’s concerns regarding the recruitment processes and the importance of these meeting operational needs. The Ministry of Justice continuously reviews its approach to recruitment to ensure prison officers are best suited to their role. There are now strengthened vetting procedures to root out applicants who fall below our high standards. Work is ongoing to re-design the assessments and these changes are being phased in during 2025/26. This includes ensuring our assessment tools, wherever possible, provide a realistic job preview and remove unsuitable applicants at the earliest stage to allow only the most suitable applicants to progress to the latter stages.

Response
I am very mindful of the specific challenges faced by both those serving Indeterminate Sentence for Public Protection (IPP) and their families. This is an issue I feel passionately about. The Government is not standing still on this important matter and we are determined to make further progress to support those serving the IPP sentence towards a safe and sustainable release, but not in a way that compromises public protection. The Government is determined to support the rehabilitation of IPP offenders through a refreshed IPP Action Plan, which can be found in the HMPPS Annual Report (HMPPS annual report on the IPP sentence 2024 to 25 - GOV.UK), which we published on 17 July 2025. The report signals a continued commitment to reform, with a focus on reducing the IPP population, improving fairness and consistency in decision-making, and supporting rehabilitation and reintegration. The Action Plan includes measurable targets to ensure transparency and accountability and puts an important emphasis on effective frontline delivery in our prisons and probation services, to ensure that those serving IPP sentences have robust and effective sentence plans, with which they are actively engaging, in a prison most appropriate for their needs. The traffic light system in place helps to identify individuals who may be suitable for re-release or require further intervention. HMPPS has also enhanced quality checks on recall decisions to ensure that recalls are proportionate and that re-release occurs as soon as it is safe to do so. In 2024, 602 recalled IPP prisoners were released which was the highest number recorded in a single year reflecting our shift toward more proactive case management and risk assessment.

Response
Regarding the living conditions at HMP Garth, as reported by to HM Inspectorate of Prison (HMIP) in its report published In November 2024, I am pleased that in its follow up Independent Review of Progress undertaken in May this year, HM Inspectorate considered reasonable progress had been made in response to its recommendations. I can confirm that substantial repairs to the leaking roof on the secure corridors and in the visits hall have been completed and these have vastly improved conditions. There is an ongoing in-house programme of shower refurbishment and a local initiative to repair window vents is being implemented. I understand the Board’s frustration regarding the limited progress in securing major infrastructure investment at HMP Garth, which HMIP has identified as necessary. Although the Governor has submitted bids to advance these projects, HMPPS must assess investment needs across the wider prison estate. Whilst all establishment requests are considered, as you will be aware, current maintenance demands exceed available funding. Once a bid is received, HMPPS must therefore prioritise works carefully to ensure the most effective use of resources, focusing on projects that address risks to life, capacity, and decency.

Response
There was an interesting, localised recruitment initiative in August 2022 at HMP Berwyn to test if increased local autonomy delivers better quality candidates and improved retention rates. HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) have taken learning from this local recruitment pilot and are using it to inform how establishments can be further involved in the process of selecting prison officers. I am aware that the Governor at HMP Garth is currently offering a local visit to all potential new prison officers and more involvement in recruitment is something he would support.

Response
There was an interesting, localised recruitment initiative in August 2022 at HMP Berwyn to test if increased local autonomy delivers better quality candidates and improved retention rates. HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) have taken learning from this local recruitment pilot and are using it to inform how establishments can be further involved in the process of selecting prison officers. I am aware that the Governor at HMP Garth is currently offering a local visit to all potential new prison officers and more involvement in recruitment is something he would support.

Response
Minister accepted that daily staff shortages and sickness absences had impacted on the Key Worker scheme. He expects the 2023 recruitment to improve the staffing issues.

Response
I am very mindful of the specific challenges faced by both those serving Indeterminate Sentence for Public Protection (IPP) and their families. This is an issue I feel passionately about. The Government is not standing still on this important matter and we are determined to make further progress to support those serving the IPP sentence towards a safe and sustainable release, but not in a way that compromises public protection. The Government is determined to support the rehabilitation of IPP offenders through a refreshed IPP Action Plan, which can be found in the HMPPS Annual Report (HMPPS annual report on the IPP sentence 2024 to 25 - GOV.UK), which we published on 17 July 2025. The report signals a continued commitment to reform, with a focus on reducing the IPP population, improving fairness and consistency in decision-making, and supporting rehabilitation and reintegration. The Action Plan includes measurable targets to ensure transparency and accountability and puts an important emphasis on effective frontline delivery in our prisons and probation services, to ensure that those serving IPP sentences have robust and effective sentence plans, with which they are actively engaging, in a prison most appropriate for their needs. The traffic light system in place helps to identify individuals who may be suitable for re-release or require further intervention. HMPPS has also enhanced quality checks on recall decisions to ensure that recalls are proportionate and that re-release occurs as soon as it is safe to do so. In 2024, 602 recalled IPP prisoners were released which was the highest number recorded in a single year reflecting our shift toward more proactive case management and risk assessment.

Response
I understand the Board’s frustration regarding the limited progress in securing major infrastructure investment at HMP Garth, which HMIP has identified as necessary. Although the Governor has submitted bids to advance these projects, HMPPS must assess investment needs across the wider prison estate. Whilst all establishment requests are considered, as you will be aware, current maintenance demands exceed available funding. Once a bid is received, HMPPS must therefore prioritise works carefully to ensure the most effective use of resources, focusing on projects that address risks to life, capacity, and decency.

Response
I am very mindful of the specific challenges faced by both those serving Indeterminate Sentence for Public Protection (IPP) and their families. This is an issue I feel passionately about. The Government is not standing still on this important matter and we are determined to make further progress to support those serving the IPP sentence towards a safe and sustainable release, but not in a way that compromises public protection. The Government is determined to support the rehabilitation of IPP offenders through a refreshed IPP Action Plan, which can be found in the HMPPS Annual Report (HMPPS annual report on the IPP sentence 2024 to 25 - GOV.UK), which we published on 17 July 2025. The report signals a continued commitment to reform, with a focus on reducing the IPP population, improving fairness and consistency in decision-making, and supporting rehabilitation and reintegration. The Action Plan includes measurable targets to ensure transparency and accountability and puts an important emphasis on effective frontline delivery in our prisons and probation services, to ensure that those serving IPP sentences have robust and effective sentence plans, with which they are actively engaging, in a prison most appropriate for their needs. The traffic light system in place helps to identify individuals who may be suitable for re-release or require further intervention. HMPPS has also enhanced quality checks on recall decisions to ensure that recalls are proportionate and that re-release occurs as soon as it is safe to do so. In 2024, 602 recalled IPP prisoners were released which was the highest number recorded in a single year reflecting our shift toward more proactive case management and risk assessment.