Prisons & Probation – Latest News:
- Tue, 03 Feb 2026 17:32:24 +0000: ‘Supermax-style units’ for most dangerous criminals to be introduced in England and Wales - Prisons and probation | The Guardian
David Lammy also tells MPs he will draw up legislation to stop prisoners using human rights laws to challenge tougher conditions
The most dangerous extremist prisoners in England and Wales will be held in “supermax-style units” similar to those used in US jails, David Lammy has told MPs.
The deputy prime minister also said he would consider drawing up legislation to stop prisoners from using human rights laws to challenge tougher conditions in jail.
Continue reading... - Tue, 03 Feb 2026 14:45:15 +0000: Campaigners challenge Scottish policy on transgender inmates in female prisons - Prisons and probation | The Guardian
For Women Scotland objects to use of individual risk assessments, saying it is contrary to supreme court ruling
Female prisoners are paying the price for an “Orwellian” Scottish government policy that allows some transgender inmates to be housed in female prisons, Scotland’s highest civil court has heard.
The campaign group For Women Scotland is challenging guidance that says trans prisoners should be housed according to individual risk assessment, which the group argues is contrary to the supreme court’s ruling on women-only spaces.
Continue reading... - Fri, 30 Jan 2026 05:00:13 +0000: Death on the inside: as a prison officer, I saw how the system perpetuates violence – podcast - Prisons and probation | The Guardian
A rise of murders is traumatising inmates and staff, and making life harder for staff. But even in prison, violence isn’t inevitable
Written and read by Alex South
Continue reading... - Thu, 29 Jan 2026 17:32:15 +0000: Starmer announces visa-free travel to China after talks with Xi in Beijing – UK politics live - Prisons and probation | The Guardian
Downing Street gives no date for when the agreement of 30 days of visa-free travel will come into force
For more context on today’s Starmer-Xi meeting, China is the world’s second-biggest economy and Britain’s third-largest trading partner – to which it exports £45bn of goods and services a year – so it is no surprise the UK has turned to Beijing in its search for economic reliability.
As the Guardian’s political editor Pippa Crerar reported earlier today, the UK does not rank among the top 10 of China’s trading partners but the Beijing leadership has spied a political opportunity to improve links with one of Washington’s closest allies at a time of deep uncertainty in the transatlantic alliance.
Continue reading... - Thu, 29 Jan 2026 06:00:39 +0000: Record number of offenders being recalled to prison in England and Wales - Prisons and probation | The Guardian
Exclusive: Union claims some offenders are deliberately breaking probation terms in order to deal drugs in jail
Record numbers of offenders are being recalled to prison in England and Wales with union officials claiming that some are deliberately breaking the terms of their probation in order to deal drugs in prison.
Prison sources said that after the implementation of early release schemes, as many as 5,000 men were recalled in December alone – more than a third of the total number released in the year to June 2025.
Continue reading...