Peterborough (men)

I fully understand that the Board remains concerned about the number of people on remand. The Board will be aware that the Crown Court caseload has risen substantially over recent years as a result of the pandemic and an increase in the number of cases coming before the criminal courts. The Ministry of Justice also recognises the relationship between the Crown Court caseload and the remand population. The growth of the remand population is driven in part by more cases coming into an already pressurised system and the faster criminal courts work through remand cases that are ready to be heard, the faster defendants leave the remand population. We are committed to reducing the caseload and bringing waiting times down and the Judiciary continues to prioritise cases involving custody time limits, as well as prioritising cases that involve vulnerable complainants and witnesses (including youth cases, domestic abuse and serious sex cases). As part of our efforts to reduce the outstanding caseload we have increased magistrates’ court sentencing powers from 6 to 12 months’ imprisonment for single triable-either way offences to free up capacity in the Crown Court. We are also funding 108,500 days at the Crown Court for the financial year 2024/25, the highest level in almost 10 years and we continue to use 16 Nightingale Courtrooms across all jurisdictions to allow the courts to hear more cases. These measures will help us to bear down on the remand population, ensuring those on remand are tried and sentenced quicker. We recognise we must go further to tackle the outstanding caseload in the longer term which is why the Lord Chancellor has commissioned an independent review of the criminal courts, led by Sir Brian Leveson. This review will consider how the criminal courts could operate as efficiently as possible, as well as longer-term reforms.

HMPPS recognises that providing a settled place to live is key to reducing reoffending, cutting crime, and protecting the public. HMPPS offers a three-tier structure of temporary accommodation known as Community Accommodation Service (CAS). CAS1 is the accommodation with a public protection focus for higher-risk offenders, known as Approved Premises and in recent years the capacity has been expanded to provide space for an additional 115 men. A new digitalised approach to Approved Premises referrals is also being developed, with a National Central Referral Unit that will oversee assessment for suitability and eligibility, matching individuals to placements and maximising the occupancy and use of the national capacity. CAS2 provides places for low to medium risk offenders on Home Detention Curfew or bail and currently has 851 bed spaces in over 275 properties across England and Wales and continues to have capacity increased. Finally, CAS3 is now operating in all probation regions and new places continue to be added as the service develops, providing up to 12 weeks basic accommodation for prison leavers at risk of homelessness. In addition, embedded Homelessness Prevention Teams within Probation regions are strengthening strategic relationships between prisons, probation and local authorities and build accommodation pathways. There are 49 Full Time Equivalent prison based Strategic Housing Specialists (SHS) covering England and Wales, including one at HM/YOI Peterborough who liaises closely with local housing providers including the local authority to improve housing outcomes.

Keywork remains a priority.

I appreciate that the prison provider has recognised the challenges they have experienced with providing a stable regime and that the provision of education, work and skills required substantial improvements which they have been working towards. It is important that people in prison have these opportunities to improve their chance of successful reintegration into society and it is really encouraging to read that early signs of progress are good.