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| Prison inspectors given powers to alert minister to urgent problems | Prison inspectors given powers to alert minister to urgent problems |
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| Justice secretary announces ‘urgent notification protocol’ to help improve conditions in English and Welsh jails | |
| Alan Travis Home affairs editor | |
| Thu 30 Nov 2017 00.01 GMT | |
| Last modified on Thu 30 Nov 2017 00.02 GMT | |
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| The justice secretary, David Lidington, has unveiled a series of measures that the government hopes will urgently tackle failing prisons in England and Wales. | The justice secretary, David Lidington, has unveiled a series of measures that the government hopes will urgently tackle failing prisons in England and Wales. |
| From Thursday, the chief inspector of prisons has been given new powers to alert the justice secretary directly of any urgent and severe problems he finds during a jail inspection. | From Thursday, the chief inspector of prisons has been given new powers to alert the justice secretary directly of any urgent and severe problems he finds during a jail inspection. |
| This “urgent notification protocol” requires the minister to publish an action plan within 28 days to tackle the concerns raised. A team of specialists will also be assembled to ensure immediate action is taken and implement a longer-term plan to ensure sustained improvement. | This “urgent notification protocol” requires the minister to publish an action plan within 28 days to tackle the concerns raised. A team of specialists will also be assembled to ensure immediate action is taken and implement a longer-term plan to ensure sustained improvement. |
| The stronger inspection powers had been part of the prisons and courts bill that was dropped after the Conservative government lost its Commons majority in the general election. However, the protocol – which covers both private and public jails – has been agreed without the need for legislation by Lidington, HM Prison and Probation Service, and inspectors. | The stronger inspection powers had been part of the prisons and courts bill that was dropped after the Conservative government lost its Commons majority in the general election. However, the protocol – which covers both private and public jails – has been agreed without the need for legislation by Lidington, HM Prison and Probation Service, and inspectors. |
| Peter Clarke, the chief inspector of prisons, said the new process should provide an effective and speedy response to the most serious incidents and circumstances. | Peter Clarke, the chief inspector of prisons, said the new process should provide an effective and speedy response to the most serious incidents and circumstances. |
| Clarke’s recent reports have documented an alarming deterioration of conditions in English and Welsh prisons, including high levels of violence, increasing drug use and record levels of assaults and self-harm. | Clarke’s recent reports have documented an alarming deterioration of conditions in English and Welsh prisons, including high levels of violence, increasing drug use and record levels of assaults and self-harm. |
| Lidington said: “Openness and transparency are powerful instruments of change and I believe we should be accountable so the public can see exactly what we are doing to turn prisons into safe places where offenders can change their lives. | Lidington said: “Openness and transparency are powerful instruments of change and I believe we should be accountable so the public can see exactly what we are doing to turn prisons into safe places where offenders can change their lives. |
| “A team of specialists will now respond when HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) trigger urgent notification to urgently drive improvements and ensure that prisons are safe, secure and providing a regular regime. To implement these action plans and improve safety, the recruitment of an additional 2,500 prison officers is key and we are already halfway towards reaching that target.” | “A team of specialists will now respond when HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) trigger urgent notification to urgently drive improvements and ensure that prisons are safe, secure and providing a regular regime. To implement these action plans and improve safety, the recruitment of an additional 2,500 prison officers is key and we are already halfway towards reaching that target.” |
| Clarke said Lidington had accepted that he and his successors would be held accountable for delivering an “urgent, robust and effective response to when HMIP assesses that treatment or conditions in a jail raise such significant concerns that urgent action is required.” | Clarke said Lidington had accepted that he and his successors would be held accountable for delivering an “urgent, robust and effective response to when HMIP assesses that treatment or conditions in a jail raise such significant concerns that urgent action is required.” |
| Clarke said it was the responsibility of the prison service , and not inspectors, to implement and monitor improvements. “HMIP will take account of a range of factors to decide when, in the judgment of the chief inspector, a prison should next be inspected. If for any reason an HMIP recommendation is not accepted, we would expect the rationale to be explained and published.” | Clarke said it was the responsibility of the prison service , and not inspectors, to implement and monitor improvements. “HMIP will take account of a range of factors to decide when, in the judgment of the chief inspector, a prison should next be inspected. If for any reason an HMIP recommendation is not accepted, we would expect the rationale to be explained and published.” |
| Under the protocol the chief inspector will decide at the conclusion of an inspection whether there are significant concerns that need to be brought to the attention of the secretary of state. Formal notification will be made within seven days and a letter detailing the concerns will be published 24 hours after it has been sent privately. | Under the protocol the chief inspector will decide at the conclusion of an inspection whether there are significant concerns that need to be brought to the attention of the secretary of state. Formal notification will be made within seven days and a letter detailing the concerns will be published 24 hours after it has been sent privately. |
| In 1995, a team of inspectors walked out of Holloway prison after finding a filthy, rat-infested environment overrun with cockroaches and where women prisoners were locked in their cells most of the day. | In 1995, a team of inspectors walked out of Holloway prison after finding a filthy, rat-infested environment overrun with cockroaches and where women prisoners were locked in their cells most of the day. |
| Prisons and probation | |
| UK criminal justice | |
| Conservatives | |
| news | |
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