Independent Prison Capacity Review: final report

I recommend that there should be a published ten-year strategy for developing capacity within probation and community services.

I recommend that there should be an independent advisory body to provide advice and external validation of the capacity strategies and challenges in both prisons and probation, and in particular the impact of any proposed changes in the criminal justice system.

I recommend that the HMPPS Board should be mandated to carry out an evaluation of the prison service, in consultation with the Chief Inspector of Prisons. It should also monitor and report on progress against the 10-year prison capacity strategy and the proposed strategy for probation and community capacity.

I recommend that both the Chief Inspector of Probation and the third sector should be involved in discussing the design, as well as the delivery, of community services. This should include the engagement and resourcing of essential non-criminal justice support such as addiction, health, housing, and employment services.

I recommend that the IOM model should be reinvigorated, properly funded, and rolled out in a consistent way as a model for cross-agency work.