Overview

The Prisons (Violence) Bill aims to reduce violence in prisons in England and Wales by legally obligating prison services to minimize violence and establishing performance indicators with associated sanctions for non-compliance.

Description

This bill introduces a statutory duty on Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and private prison operators to take all reasonable steps to minimize violence within their facilities. This duty is enshrined in the new Section 1. The Secretary of State will be required to establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure prison performance in reducing violence. These KPIs will include metrics on staff and prisoner safety, staffing levels, staff retention, and staff experience. The bill also allows for penalties to be imposed on prisons failing to meet targets, with any collected funds allocated to aid therapies for assaulted staff or targeted pay awards to improve staff retention in underperforming prisons. Finally, the bill mandates that all those working under this Act must consider the "Safe Inside Prisons" charter published by the Joint Unions in Prisons Alliance in 2021.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't specify exact figures for government spending. However, it anticipates potential costs associated with implementing the new KPIs, monitoring performance, enforcing penalties, and funding support for assaulted staff and incentives for staff retention. The financial penalties levied on prisons for failing to meet targets will offset some of these costs.

Groups Affected

• Prisoners: The bill aims to improve their safety by reducing violence.
• Prison Staff: The bill aims to improve their safety and working conditions, with provisions for support and potential pay increases.
• HMPPS and Private Prison Operators: They will be legally responsible for meeting the new duty to minimize violence and face potential sanctions for failure.
• Taxpayers: The bill may lead to increased or reallocated government spending on prison services.

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