The prison system of England and Wales has been in a state of chronic crisis for many years. However, in recent months the problems have become acute, with prison places full and emergency measures required to create some breathing space. In this context, the CPT wished to explore with the new Government what measures they envisage to address the systemic challenges of, inter alia overcrowding, provision of meaningful activities, staffing, violence and safety, healthcare and basic living conditions. These issues cannot be addressed in isolation but require an integrated approach. Discussions touched on the proposed Sentencing Review and comparative approaches across Europe to tackle overcrowding, as well as the specific challenges facing women and children in prison, and the high number of prisoners recalled to prison every year.  

The CPT’s representatives held an extensive exchange with the Minister of State for Prisons and Probation, Lord James Timpson, and senior officials. It also met the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Shabana Mahmood.

In addition, the delegation held meetings with the Chair-Elect of the House of Commons Justice Select Committee, Andy Slaughter.

The delegation also held several constructive exchanges with members of civil society active in the area of the CPT’s mandate. Discussions were held with Charlie Taylor, Head of His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP), as well as with other members of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) of the United Kingdom, including the Chair, Sherry Ralph, representatives from the NPM Steering Group, Elisabeth Davies, the IMB National Chair, and Dr Arun Chopra, Medical Director of the Mental Welfare Commission, Scotland. CPT representatives also met with Dr Caroline Watson, Chair of the Secure Group, Royal College of General Practitioners, as well as with bodies active in the area of prison reform, including the Howard League for Penal Reform and Prison Reform Trust.

The CPT’s representatives also received an update on immigration detention issues from Home Office officials.

The CPT delegation was led by Hans Wolff (1st Vice-President of the CPT) and Therese Rytter (2nd Vice-President of the CPT), with the support of Hugh Chetwynd, Executive Secretary and Francesca Gordon of the CPT Secretariat.