Ministry of Justice

We are working hard to deter, detect and disrupt the use of drones to deliver contraband into prisons. We conduct vulnerability assessments across the prison estate to identify risks, and to develop and implement plans to manage and mitigate them. His Majesty’s Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) uses targeted countermeasures including improvements to windows, netting and grills to stop drones delivering contraband such as drugs, mobile telephones and weapons.

We work across Government to examine options to mitigate the threat of drones to prisons. We are also engaging with international counterparts to develop our learning, support our strategy and share best practice. Our response to drone threats is specific to the individual prison site, but owing to operational sensitivities, we are not able to discuss in detail the tactics used by HMPPS to disrupt drones.

The Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Act 2021, which authorises the use of counter-drone technology, also enables the police to stop and search anyone suspected of committing drone-related offences.

The Government recognises that early access to information for separating families is essential. This is why the family procedure rule committee has put in place Pre-Application Protocols to signpost separating couples to support which may help them resolve their dispute without court intervention. These protocols also outline the steps that couples are expected to take to try to resolve their dispute before making a court application.

If families do proceed to court, The President of the Family Division now sends a letter out to both the applicant and the respondent, pointing them towards a range of resources which may help them reach agreement away from court, where safe and appropriate, including the Government’s Family Mediation Voucher Scheme, which offers £500 towards the cost of mediation.

Further Family Procedure Rule changes, which came into force in April 2024, encourage more people to attend Mediation Information and Assessment Meetings (MIAMs) before court. The MIAM is a meeting with a mediator to discuss whether mediation or another form of non-court dispute resolution may be preferable to proceeding to court.

The Government is also working to improve the information available, both online through GOV.UK, and offline via sources such as family hubs, to help inform separating families of their options before applying to court.

Taken together, these measures help ensure that separating families are getting the information and support they need as early as possible.

The Government announced, on 6 December 2024, that it had invited the Law Commission to undertake a review of the law of homicide, including the full and partial defences to homicide, and the sentencing framework for murder. The Law Commission expects to begin work on this review later this year.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the heart of the Government’s plan to transform how we deliver public services, and boost living standards for working people across the country.

A small number of staff in Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) are trialling the use of Microsoft 365 Co-pilot as part of a Ministry of Justice wide pilot, looking to reduce time spent on repetitive administrative tasks. OPG does not use AI in its decision-making processes.

OPG can draw on a range of resources, published on GOV.UK, to inform AI usage. For example, the Generative AI Ethics Framework, the Ethics, Transparency and Accountability Framework, the Data Ethics Framework, the AI Opportunities Action Plan and the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard.

Appeals against Child Maintenance Service decisions are heard by the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal, which is part of the Social Entitlement Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal.

Reducing the outstanding caseload is the key measure to bring down the waiting times for tribunal hearings. We are currently focused on reducing the outstanding caseload in the Social Entitlement Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service continues to invest in improving tribunal productivity through the recruitment of additional Judges, the deployment of Legal Officers to actively manage cases, the development of modern case management systems and the use of remote hearing technology as appropriate. If an expedited hearing is requested, a Judge or Legal Officer will make a decision on that issue, taking all the circumstances into account.

Data on Tribunals performance is published by the Ministry of Justice on a quarterly basis. Receipts, disposals and the outstanding caseload for individual Chambers in the First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal, the Employment Tribunal and the Employment Appeal Tribunal can be found at the link below: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics.

As of 31 December 2024 (latest available published data snapshot), there were 463 people in prison in England and Wales under 21 years of age with an associated (alleged or proven) drug offence. This is based on the total prison population, and includes those held on remand (both unconvicted, and convicted unsentenced), sentenced and non-criminals. It also includes those held in Young Offenders' Institutions (YOIs).

For those whose offending is driven by a drug problem, we work with health partners to divert them into treatment in the community where appropriate. This includes working to increase the use and strengthen the quality of Drug Rehabilitation Requirements as part of community sentences, which aim to tackle the root causes of offending behaviour through structured treatment and regular testing. Where a prison sentence is appropriate, we focus on supporting people into treatment, and ensuring their environment supports recovery – 81 prisons have an Incentivised Substance-Free Living unit, which provide a dedicated, supportive environment for any prisoner who wants to live drug-free in prison, with regular drug testing and incentives.

Recognising the distinct needs of young adults, HMPPS have developed a Young Adults Custodial strategy to ensure there is a consistent approach amongst prisons to understand this group and support staff in working with them, to better respond to the needs of the cohort.

Those released under the Standard Determinate Sentence (SDS40) changes who are at risk of homelessness can be referred to H M Prison & Probation Service’s Community Accommodation Service, Tier 3, which can provide up to 12-weeks’ temporary accommodation.

Latest published statistics show that the proven reoffending rate for adults released from prison homeless or rough sleeping was double the proven reoffending rate for those who were in some kind of accommodation upon release (69% vs 34%).

During the initial release phase in September and October we worked closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government and the Welsh Government to mitigate any impact on local authorities, as well as taking practical steps to minimise the chances that individuals were released homeless. These included ensuring data were shared with the 49 Strategic Housing Specialists based in prisons and with the Probation Service-based Homeless Prevention Teams, to make sure plans were in place for those who needed accommodation support.

The first annual statement on prison capacity was published on 11 December 2024. This can be found on the government website: Annual Statement on Prison Capacity: 2024 - GOV.UK.

We know that sufficient and skilled frontline staffing is fundamental to delivering safe, secure, and rehabilitative prison regimes. We remain committed to ensuring prisons are sufficiently resourced and that we retain and build levels of experience, both of which are fundamental to delivering quality outcomes in prisons.

As of 30 September 2024, there are 23,571 Band 3-5 prison officers in post, and nationally across establishments we are at 99.5% of our Target Staffing Figure (when using hours adjusted FTE). Our current national resourcing context is much stronger in comparison to September 2022, when there were 21,617 FTE Band 3-5 prison officers in post.

All prison expansion projects, whether new prisons or smaller builds, are factored into our staffing forecasts to ensure we recruit on time and build up the experience needed to continue to deliver safe and secure regimes. HMPPS works closely with our partners to ensure that there is capacity across other workforce groups in prisons, including for educational and health posts.

We take the allocation of transgender prisoners very seriously. It is right that there are safeguards in place to protect the safety of vulnerable women, and well over 90% of transgender women in custody are held in men’s prisons.

Transgender women who have committed sexual or violent offences, or who retain birth genitalia, will not be held in general women’s estate, other than on an exceptional basis where experts have a high level of confidence that they pose a low risk to other prisoners.

The Ministry of Justice publishes data on convictions for a large range of offences at criminal courts in England and Wales in the Outcomes by Offences data tool, that can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal Justice Statistics.

Convictions for selected racial and religiously aggravated crimes can be identified by filtering on the HO offence code. Other offences contained within the Outcomes by Offences data tool may be related to hate crimes, including different strands of hate crimes, but are not identifiable from data held centrally.

Crown Prosecution Service performance data which includes convictions data pertaining to hate crime flagged offences is available here: CPS data summary Quarter 2 2024-2025 | The Crown Prosecution Service.

The published offence-level data reflects the offence wording as set out in legislation. The published volumes will not include all racially or religiously motivated offences. In addition, other aggravating factors which contribute to the commissioning of an offence are not identifiable from the published Ministry of Justice convictions data.

The Government wants to help jurors feel supported as they undertake this important civic duty. Those suffering distress as a result of their service are provided with guidance advising them to access services through their GP or the NHS 111 National Mental Health Helpline. We are also currently running a pilot to test the need for enhanced support through end-of-trial interventions, enhanced support and training for Jury Officers, and a Juror Support Helpline offering up to six counselling sessions.

The test began in October last year in 15 courts and will conclude at the end of March. The results will be evaluated to help assess long term support needs for jurors.

No children from a Gypsy, Roma or Traveller background are currently accommodated in the Oasis Restore Secure School or Oakhill Secure Training Centre.

In relation to Secure Children’s Homes and Young Offender Institutions: the information requested cannot be provided without breaching our legal obligations under data protection legislation. Where a request is made for statistical information and the total figure amounts to five or fewer, we must consider whether this would be likely to lead to the identification of individuals and whether disclosure of this information would be in breach of our statutory obligations under the UK General Data Protection Regulation and/or the Data Protection Act 2018.

In the Academic Year 2023-24 (the latest period for which statistics have been published), 16,726 appeals were disposed, of which 11,157 appeals had outcomes decided. Of the 11,157 decided, 11,007 were decided in favour of the appellant (upheld¹). This represents 66% of all outcomes (conceded, decided and withdrawn) and 99% of the total appeals decided in this Academic Year.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service (which administers the First-tier Tribunal for Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND)) is working with colleagues from the Department for Education to understand the increase in Education, Health Care Plans (EHCPs); the increasing demand on the Tribunal; and also, how to improve initial decision making by Local Authorities.

Information about appeal outcomes to SEND is published at: Tribunals statistics quarterly: July to September 2024 - GOV.UK.

¹Appeals are counted as upheld when the majority of the Local Authority’s decision is overturned.

Prisoners currently can access community service work through Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) during the custodial element within their sentence.

The Prison Rules in England and Wales provide that a prisoner may be granted leave from prison for short periods on temporary licence. ROTL is an important rehabilitation tool which allows prisoners to participate in activities in the community which have been identified as serving a particular purpose in meeting their individual resettlement objectives. Suitable, risk assessed prisoners may be allowed out during the day to, for example, work, attend college, attend an interview, maintain/re-establish links with their family or undertake community work such as litter clearance. This helps them develop responsibility and gain valuable skills.

The decision to allow temporary release is taken by the prison governor, on behalf of the Secretary of State, who must always balance the needs of the prisoner and the purpose of the ROTL applied for, against the need to maintain public safety and the public’s confidence in the criminal justice system. Each decision is taken on a case-by-case basis to safeguard the public. Any breaches can result in more time behind bars.

113,000 sitting days are a theoretical maximum of judicial sitting days in the Crown Court. It is not clear whether other parts of the system – for example the availability of counsel - could sustain that level of sitting, and therefore it is not correct to say that number of sitting days was 'available' for FY24/25.

In June the previous Lord Chancellor reached agreement with the Lady Chief Justice and Senior President of Tribunals to sit 106,000 days in the Crown Court in FY24/25 within a total budget of £275 million. In September, the current Lord Chancellor increased the allocation of sitting days for the Crown Court by 500 additional days and then again in December by 2,000, meaning that the total allocation for FY 24/25 is now 108,500, the highest number in nearly a decade.

The Ministry of Justice routinely publishes data on judicial review cases in England and Wales as part of the Civil Justice statistics quarterly bulletin (Civil justice statistics quarterly - GOV.UK). The consolidated figures for all judicial review cases since 2000 are available at the “Civil Justice and Judicial Review data (zip file)” link.

The table below sets out the number of judicial review cases categorised as (a) significant planning court claims, (b) other planning cases, and (c) all judicial reviews. Significant planning court claims include but are not limited to judicial reviews of nationally significant infrastructure projects provided for by the Planning Act 2008.

*Includes Regional Offices of the Administrative Court, although most cases received were issued in London.

Through both the Family Hubs – Start for Life programme and the Family Hubs Transformation Fund there are now more than 400 family hubs open across the 88 Local Authorities. Family hubs, where appropriate should connect families going through parental separation to services and support locally to ensure outcomes for their children are front and centre when agreeing child arrangements. This is to help avoid the cost and potential trauma associated with going through the court process.

In areas with a developed family hub model, local authorities may provide hub-based mediation or other services in support of separating parents, such as shared parenting programmes. This is not a requirement of the programme but is strongly encouraged for areas who are seeking to enhance their offer.

The Government recognises the importance of supporting separating families to resolve their issues quickly, and where appropriate, without the need to come to court. This is why the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme continues to provide £500 towards the cost of mediation. To date, over £16 million of vouchers have helped 38,700 separating parents to access mediation.

The Ministry of Justice does not have policies in relation to asylum and immigration, responsibility for which sits with the Home Secretary. Nor does the Ministry of Justice consider or hold any data on the number of times in which the UN Global Compact for Migration or other non-binding international agreements have been cited in court rulings.

The Ministry of Justice does not have policies in relation to asylum and immigration, responsibility for which sits with the Home Secretary. Nor does the Ministry of Justice consider or hold any data on the number of times in which the UN Global Compact for Migration or other non-binding international agreements have been cited in court rulings.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the heart of the Government’s plan to kickstart an era of economic growth, transform how we deliver public services, and boost living standards for working people across the country.

Staff within the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) are part of a wider Ministry of Justice project testing the use of Microsoft Copilot. The purpose of this work is to understand the opportunities, risks and benefits of using Microsoft Copilot to improve productivity, efficiency and quality in administrative processes. The LAA does not use AI in its decision-making processes.

All use of artificial intelligence in the Ministry of Justice is undertaken in line with the Ministry’s AI Ethics Framework and aligned with the Generative AI Framework for government and the Algorithmic Transparency Reporting Standard.

Legal aid is available for possession, evictions, homelessness and housing disrepair claims (when there is a serious risk of illness or injury) subject to a financial means test. Anyone in this situation should contact the Civil Legal Aid telephone helpline or use the ‘Find a legal advisor’ tool on Gov.UK.

Legal aid is available for people facing the loss of their home through the Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service (HLPAS) and the Civil Legal Aid Helpline. HLPAS provides free early legal advice, on a non-means tested basis, on housing, debt, welfare benefits and council tax reduction scheme problems from the moment someone receives notice possession is being sought or to those facing eviction. HLPAS also offers free representation at court from a duty solicitor on the day of their court hearing.

In 2023-24 over 28,000 legal advice cases were started and over 5,000 court cases were given representation, in addition to over 29,000 people getting advice from the Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service.

The Government is currently consulting on uplifts to legal aid fees for housing. Subject to consultation, an additional £20 million will be invested into the legal aid sector every year: this would increase overall spend by 24% for housing.

Since 28 May 2024, the Ministry of Justice has been running a one-year pilot for victims of rape and sexual offences, whose cases were heard at the Crown Court, to request a copy of the judge’s sentencing remarks free of charge.

The judiciary were informed of the pilot before launch. Requests for court transcripts are considered by judges and the release of transcripts is ultimately a judicial decision in each individual case. We will continue to engage the judiciary as we assess the pilot’s impacts and determine next steps.

We recognise the importance of ensuring that eligible victims know about the pilot and how to apply. We have provided the Witness Service, whose role is to support victims and witnesses at court, with an information sheet on the pilot to distribute to any eligible victims.

On 10 February 2025, His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service had received c.350 applications under the pilot.

Since 28 May 2024, the Ministry of Justice has been running a one-year pilot for victims of rape and sexual offences, whose cases were heard at the Crown Court, to request a copy of the judge’s sentencing remarks free of charge.

The judiciary were informed of the pilot before launch. Requests for court transcripts are considered by judges and the release of transcripts is ultimately a judicial decision in each individual case. We will continue to engage the judiciary as we assess the pilot’s impacts and determine next steps.

We recognise the importance of ensuring that eligible victims know about the pilot and how to apply. We have provided the Witness Service, whose role is to support victims and witnesses at court, with an information sheet on the pilot to distribute to any eligible victims.

On 10 February 2025, His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service had received c.350 applications under the pilot.

Since 28 May 2024, the Ministry of Justice has been running a one-year pilot for victims of rape and sexual offences, whose cases were heard at the Crown Court, to request a copy of the judge’s sentencing remarks free of charge.

The judiciary were informed of the pilot before launch. Requests for court transcripts are considered by judges and the release of transcripts is ultimately a judicial decision in each individual case. We will continue to engage the judiciary as we assess the pilot’s impacts and determine next steps.

We recognise the importance of ensuring that eligible victims know about the pilot and how to apply. We have provided the Witness Service, whose role is to support victims and witnesses at court, with an information sheet on the pilot to distribute to any eligible victims.

On 10 February 2025, His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service had received c.350 applications under the pilot.

The cost incurred by HM Courts and Tribunals Service for transcription services in the five most recent financial years (April – March) is as below:

These figures do not include transcription spend incurred by Legal Aid Agency which are covered by central funds as these are not included in the accounts for HM Courts and Tribunals Service.

The removal of Foreign National Offenders (FNOs) is an important priority of this Government and we refer all FNOs in receipt of custodial sentences to the Home Office to be considered for deportation.

Ten Pakistani nationals have been repatriated to Pakistan under the bi-lateral Prison Transfer Agreement between August 2010 and October 2024.

We repatriate longer sentenced prisoners via prisoner transfer agreements that the Government already has with over 110 foreign countries. The Government continues to negotiate new, mutually beneficial agreements with a range of others as part of efforts to return offenders to their home countries, to be rehabilitated and serve their sentences there.

Prisoner Transfers are only one of the ways we remove FNOs from the country. Between 5 July 2024 and 4 January 2025 2,580 FNOs were removed (this includes removals from custody and the community post release), this is an increase of 23% compared to the same period last year.

As the Prime Minister has said, it is Parliament that enacts the law on immigration, and it is Government that makes the policy (Official Report, column 249). It is an enduring strength of our democracy that when judges apply the law, they decide cases impartially, independently, and free from any external or political influence or pressure. There is a robust appellate system to deal with matters arising from a decision.

As the Prime Minister has said, it is Parliament that enacts the law on immigration, and it is Government that makes the policy (Official Report, column 249). It is an enduring strength of our democracy that when judges apply the law, they decide cases impartially, independently, and free from any external or political influence or pressure. There is a robust appellate system to deal with matters arising from a decision.

The Ministry of Justice has no responsibility for non-therapeutic male circumcision or its regulation. The Government does, however, understand and sympathise with the children and their families who experience harm or trauma as a result of the behaviour of unregulated and irresponsible practitioners. It is important that those who engage in these activities, and do not comply with the required regulations, are brought to justice.

Male circumcision performed for any other reason than a physical clinical need is termed as “non-therapeutic male circumcision”. The Government is aware that parents for religious reasons, or to incorporate a child into a community, may request such a procedure. The Government would encourage all parents to ensure that in seeking such a procedure, that they discuss the matter first with their GP or healthcare practitioner.

Where a registered healthcare professional wishes to carry out non-therapeutic male circumcision, they must be registered with the Care Quality Commission to carry out the regulated activity of surgical procedures. Even where a healthcare professional is acting in a religious or spiritual role, they cannot ‘opt out’ of their core duties and responsibilities.

Section 184 of the Online Safety Act 2023 gave partial effect to a Law Commission recommendation to create an offence of encouraging or assisting self-harm. The proposed new offence of encouraging or assisting serious self-harm intends to replace (in so far as it extends to England and Wales and Northern Ireland) that offence with a broader offence that can be committed by any means of communication, and in any other way (including, for example, direct assistance through the provision of bladed articles with which to self-harm). The person must have intent to encourage or assist the other person to seriously self-harm.

As with the current offence in the Online Safety Act, sharing experiences of self-harm or simply discussing the issue (including glorifying or glamourising self-harm), without an intention that another should seriously self-harm, will not be a criminal offence. We recognise the concerns of those offering support services that capturing such behaviour would potentially risk criminalising vulnerable people who merely seek to share their experiences of self-harm with no intention of encouraging others to self-harm.

The offence in the Online Safety Act comes from a Law Commission recommendation following a wide-ranging consultation and we will work with criminal justice agencies and others with an interest to update existing guidance and training to reflect the proposed expansion of the offence to include direct assistance to self-harm.

The Government is committed to improving rehabilitation services for offenders by giving them the tools to move away from crime. We work alongside other government departments investing in a wide range of interventions to directly support a prisoner’s rehabilitation journey.

This includes improving prisoners’ access to purposeful activity, such as education; delivering pre-release plans for all those leaving custody; and ensuring that ex-offenders leave prison with a job and the skills needed to lead law abiding lives. We have recently launched regional Employment Councils, which for the first time bring businesses together with probation services and the Department for Work and Pensions to support offenders in prison and the community.

We know that accommodation is key to supporting prisoner rehabilitation. Our CAS3 service provides transitional accommodation for prison leavers who are under probation supervision and at risk of homelessness for up to 12 weeks, to provide a stable base upon release. It is currently available in all probation regions, and we are further expanding provision to support more prison leavers at risk of homelessness each year. We are also working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and other departments on the development of a new cross-government strategy to put us back on track to ending homelessness.

The Terms of Reference for the review into the handling of prison capacity were published on Friday 7 February following a Written Ministerial Statement to Parliament. The Terms of Reference can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prison-capacity-review-terms-of-reference/review-into-handling-of-prison-capacity-terms-of-reference.

The Ministry of Justice is in discussions with a potential purchaser for the former HMP Hewell Grange.

We are unable to comment further on these discussions at this time due to commercial confidentiality.

Section 184 of the Online Safety Act 2023 gave partial effect to a Law Commission recommendation to create an offence of encouraging or assisting self-harm. The proposed new offence of encouraging or assisting serious self-harm intends to replace (in so far as it extends to England and Wales and Northern Ireland) that offence with a broader offence that can be committed by any means of communication, and in any other way (including, for example, direct assistance through the provision of bladed articles with which to self-harm). The person must have intent to encourage or assist the other person to seriously self-harm.

As with the current offence in the Online Safety Act, sharing experiences of self-harm or simply discussing the issue (including glorifying or glamourising self-harm), without an intention that another should seriously self-harm, will not be a criminal offence. We recognise the concerns of those offering support services that capturing such behaviour would potentially risk criminalising vulnerable people who merely seek to share their experiences of self-harm with no intention of encouraging others to self-harm.

The offence in the Online Safety Act comes from a Law Commission recommendation following a wide-ranging consultation and we will work with criminal justice agencies and others with an interest to update existing guidance and training to reflect the proposed expansion of the offence to include direct assistance to self-harm.

The Government is committed to establishing a judge-led inquiry into the issues raised by the attacks in Nottingham. Work is underway to establish the Inquiry and its Terms of Reference, and Ministers will update Parliament on it in due course.

Data on the number of cells which had additional beds installed is not held by the Ministry of Justice for the period requested. Prison crowding data is published annually in Annex 2 of the HMPPS Annual Digest, April 2023 to March 2024 - GOV.UK. This publication provides the percentage of prisoners held in crowded accommodation in each year in each prison since 1999. There is no earlier information on crowding available.

Available records indicate that, between May 1997 and May 2010, the total operational capacity of the prison system increased from 61,927 to 89,757, a net increase of 27,830 places. This is a net figure that takes into account all decreases including prison closures, and all increases including new accommodation or crowding of existing accommodation. Data on the number of places removed from prison closures during this period is not held by the Ministry of Justice.

The net change in prison operational capacity between May 2010 and April 2024 was c500 places. The requested information on prison closures between May 2010 and July 2024 has been provided in a table below:

Our recently announced 10-year Prison Capacity Strategy outlines a target of 14,000 new prison places by 2031, supported by £2.3 billion in funding for prison builds over the next two years.

On 11 December 2024, the Secretary of State published the 10-year Prison Capacity Strategy, alongside the Annual Statement regarding prison capacity. In the 10-year Prison Capacity Strategy, this Government has signalled plans to invest up to £2.3 billion in prison expansion in 2024-25 and 2025-26, including HMP Millsike that will deliver c.1,500 places.

Delivering c.6,500 new prison places, is only one part of our wider aim to build 14,000 prison places by 2031, with all places expected to be operational by 2032. We will also be expanding the current prison estate, adding around 6,400 prison places through houseblocks at existing sites, whilst also refurbishing residential units, facilities and ancillaries across the estate, alongside around 1,000 more Rapid Deployment Cells.

Our strategy also sets out the need to change the way that we expand the prison estate by aiming to buy new land for prison development and introduce planning legislation to build prisons faster.

The detailed information on projections for supply of new prison places can be found in the strategy and Annual Statement.

The Parole Board published interim guidance on 12 November 2024 to provide Parole Board panels with points to consider when undertaking parole reviews for prisoners sentenced to an Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) or Detention for Public Protection (DPP) sentence. It assists panels with identifying ways of working to effectively manage such cases fairly and justly, whilst maintaining a focus on risk and the test for release and taking public protection as the over-riding priority.

On 15 November 2024, the Government published the updated IPP Action Plan, which puts a stronger emphasis on effective frontline delivery in our prisons. It will ensure that prisoners serving IPP sentences have robust and effective sentence plans, which they are actively engaging with, and that they are in the correct prison to access the right interventions and rehabilitative services.

HM Prison and Probation Service publishes vacancies across formal UK advertising boards and welcomes applications from people wishing to work in prisons in England and Wales. The hiring process is the same for both UK and non-UK nationals. Selection is on the basis of fair and open competition, in accordance with the legal requirement set out in the Civil Service Recruitment Principles.

The Civil Service Nationality Rules (CSNRs) govern eligibility for employment in the Civil Service on the grounds of nationality. All applicants applying to work in the Department must meet the CSNRs and other eligibility criterion published in job adverts.

Our latest published prison and probation workforce statistics present data up to June 2024. The link to the latest publication is: Recruitment Diversity Statistics: June 2024 - GOV.UK, data tables: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66bcaa1d3cc0741b92314631/recruitment-diversity-statistics_jun-2024_final.ods.

We are unable to provide data for periods following June 2024 as this could pre-empt the next set of published Staff in Post data which will be released on Thursday 20 February 2025.

Senior officials in HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) are in regular contact with HMP Channing Wood about maintenance issues.

HMPPS is working with the prison to invest around £365,000 in 2024-25 to improve fire safety and living conditions at HMP Channing Wood.

The Parole Board published interim guidance to its Members on 12 November 2024 to help them in conducting parole reviews for prisoners serving sentences of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) or Detention for Public Protection (DPP). The guidance encourages Members to conduct reviews fairly and justly, whilst maintaining a focus on ensuring that the statutory release test is met before issuing any release direction.

The Government published a refreshed IPP Action Plan on 15 November 2024, which puts a stronger emphasis on effective frontline delivery in our prisons and the Probation Service. The Action Plan will ensure that those serving IPP sentences have robust and effective sentence plans and that they are in the correct prison to access the right interventions and rehabilitative services. IPP prisoners need to engage with their sentence plans in order to reduce their risk of serious harm.

The Government also acted swiftly to commence the IPP measures in the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, which led to the automatic termination of licence for 1,742 cases on 1 November 2024. On that same day we also commenced the new power for the Secretary of State to re-release recalled IPP offenders executively without referral to the Parole Board, where the statutory release test is met. As of 1 February 2025, all the IPP measures in the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 are in force.

It is not possible to identify an offender’s nationality from the centrally collated convictions data. This information may be held on court records: however, to identify the nationality of people convicted of specific crimes at constituency level would require the examination of individual court records. This would incur disproportionate costs. Latest numbers of foreign national offenders in prison broken down by nationality can be found in our quarterly release: Offender management statistics quarterly - GOV.UK

Foreign national offenders who commit crime should be in no doubt that the law will be enforced and, where appropriate, we will work with the Home Office to pursue their deportation. This government has already removed 23% more FNOs from July 2024 to January 2025 compared to the same period in 2023.