Ministry of Justice prove the decline of prisons and probation
This is a blog by our Communications and Campaigns Manager, Keeva Baxter.
At the end of July, the Ministry of Justice released a variety of new statistics on the state of prisons and probation. Ranging from deaths in custody, self harm rates and drug finds to the performance of probation services, the statistics expose the harsh reality of how HMPPS is failing to meet the needs of people within it.
Russell Webster recently shared some of the Ministry of Justice’s key points from across the respective research papers to build a picture of the performance of HMPPS, which we have summarised below. Starting with prison and offender management:
- In the 12 months to June 2025, there were 401 deaths in prison custody, an increase of 30% from the previous 12 months.
- In the 12 months to March 2025, the rate of self-harm was 899 incidents per 1,000 prisoners (77,898 incidents), up 6% from the previous year; a new peak.
- In the Annual Prison Performance Ratings 2024/25, 22 prisons were rated as of serious concern (up from 15 last year).
- In the 12 months to March 2025 there were 26,348 incidents of drug finds (25% increase from previous year) and 13,014 incidents of weapons finds (12% increase).
- Additional days were awarded as punishment on 1,683 occasions, totalling 26,433 extra days – 8% up on the same quarter last year.
These challenges are not limited to the prison system, but extend to probation too.
- Only 2 out of 12 regions are operating at a ‘good’ level (Greater Manchester & Wales), all other regions are rated as either ‘requiring improvement’ (6) or ‘inadequate’ (4).
These statistics show an overwhelming failure of people in prison and on probation, with metrics deteriorating across the board.
In addition, the Independent Prison Capacity Review, led by Dame Anne Owers, also released their final report this week (5th August). The report aims to explore the “risks and consequences of the cycle of prison capacity crises, and in particular the highly damaging impact of the acute crisis over the last few years”.
The findings of the report state that “the prison system, and potentially the whole of the criminal justice system, came within days of collapse on several occasions during the last three years” and that the “systemic” problem is “not yet solved”. Exacerbating this, is the fact that “decision-making processes have focused on managing, rather than avoiding, crisis, leading to damaging delays and short-term solutions”.
Whilst many people working in the criminal justice sector may not be surprised to hear about the crisis that continues to unfold in the prison estate, these statistics are a stark reminder of its human impact. Over 77,000 people have self-harmed, over 400 people have died and over 13,000 weapons have been found. Something needs to be done to ensure that the lives of people within HMPPS are protected, and that instead of being further harmed, they are supported to reintegrate back into the community at the earliest opportunity.
How can Restorative Justice play a part in addressing the crisis?
With a Criminal Justice System broken to this extent, additional harm is being caused to everyone who goes through it. Whether it is people left on remand with no set court date, families left worrying for the safety of their relatives in prison, or victims of crime left without answers, the harm is widespread.
A multitude of interventions are needed to improve the situation, from a renewed approach from the Government, to better mental health support in prisons, stronger rehabilitative interventions and drug and alcohol support services. But Restorative Justice can also play a key part.
Firstly, restorative interventions have been found to reduce reoffending rates by up to 27%. With widespread implementation, this would mean that more people who have committed crimes could change their behaviour, reducing strain on a system heading for collapse.
On top of using it as a preventative measure to reduce reoffending, Restorative Justice can also be used retrospectively to address some of the harm caused in prison or on probation. For example, it could be used to address instances of violence in custody, failures to respond to mental health crises, miscarriages of justice, or crimes committed by prisoners against their peers.
We are grateful to Russell Webster and the Ministry of Justice for shining a light on the reality faced by the tens of thousands of people going through the prison system, and are eager to see what is done to rectify these problems.
