News
Staff shortages and unfair treatment drive prison violence, MoJ research finds
A Ministry of Justice review of international research links low staffing, poor staff attitudes and perceived unfairness to higher levels of violence in prisons.
Prison staffing
News
More than 14,000 people waiting for vetting to work in prisons and probation
Justice Minister Jake Richards told MPs that 14,694 people were awaiting security and vetting checks, and acknowledged that longer timescales may affect prison staffing.
News
Justice Committee questions MoJ leaders on staffing, capacity and probation
MPs pressed the Ministry of Justice Permanent Secretary and the heads of the prison and courts services on budgets, workforce pressures, drugs and prison places.
News
One in 15 frontline prison officers faced corruption investigation in 2024/25
House of Commons Library research based on Ministry of Justice figures also shows dismissals for misconduct reached their highest level in at least 15 years.
News
HMP Whitemoor improves on safety but daily regime remains poor, inspectors find
The Cambridgeshire high-security prison improved in three of four areas, but staff shortages left too many men locked up during the working day.
News
HMP Woodhill unsafe and chronically short of staff, inspectors found in 2023
An inspection report published in November 2023 found HMP Woodhill unsafe, with the highest rate of serious assaults on staff in the country and none of its 2021 recommendations achieved.
News
Chief Inspector of Prisons issues Urgent Notification for HMP Woodhill in 2023
In September 2023, the Chief Inspector of Prisons published an Urgent Notification for HMP Woodhill, citing sharply rising violence, record self-harm and a chronic shortage of officers.
News
HMP Aylesbury hit by staff shortages after rushed change of role, inspectors found
A report published in March 2023 found that purposeful activity at the prison had fallen to poor, with many men locked up for 23 hours a day after a sudden switch to category C.
News
HMP Bullingdon purposeful activity fell to poor as staff shortages bit, inspectors found
The inspectorate's report on the Oxfordshire prison, published in February 2023, found it reasonably safe and respectful but with most men locked up for much of the day.
News
HMP & YOI Norwich held most men locked up as staff left, inspectors found in 2022
An inspection report on HMP & YOI Norwich, published in December 2022, found improvements in respect and release planning, but nearly two-thirds of men locked up during the working day and very high violence.