Prisons and Probation Ombudsman

Last updated

Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
PrisonsAndProbationOmbudsman.svg
Incumbent
Adrian Usher
since April 2023;1 year ago (2023-04)
Appointer Secretary of State for Justice
Term length 3 years
Inaugural holderSir Peter Woodhead KCB
FormationApril 1994;30 years ago (1994-04)
Website www.ppo.gov.uk

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) is a public body, appointed by the Secretary of State for Justice. The PPO carries out independent investigations into complaints and deaths in custody. The detailed roles and responsibilities of the PPO are set out in their Terms of Reference. [1]

Contents

The PPO investigates:

The PPO’s remit covers prisons and probation areas in England and Wales. The PPO’s remit also includes the immigration detention estate throughout the UK and those under immigration escort anywhere in the UK and internationally.

History

The report into the prison disturbances of 1990 led to the creation of an independent adjudicator for prisoner complaints. The report identified a lack of an independent point of appeal as one of the causes for the disturbances and recommended that an independent arbiter be appointed who would consider applications from complainants who had not achieved satisfaction through the internal complaints system. The office of the Prisons Ombudsman was officially created in 1994.

In 2001, the Ombudsman’s remit was extended to include complaints from those under probation supervision. The office was re-named the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman to reflect this change. A further extension in 2006 incorporated complaints from those in immigration detention.

The fatal incidents function was introduced in 2004, adding to the Ombudsman’s remit the requirement to investigate all deaths in prisons, probation approved premises, immigration detention facilities and secure training centres. The Ombudsman also has the ability to conduct ad-hoc investigations on request.

Prisons and Probation Ombudsman

As of April 2023, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman is Adrian Usher, who replaced Acting Ombudsman, Kimberley Bingham. [2] Kimberley replaced Sue McAllister CB who was originally appointed in October 2018.

Adrian was previously a Senior Police Officer at the Metropolitan Police Service, having served on Counter Terrorism and Anti-Corruption Commands, and was most recently a Commander for Learning and Development where he led training across policing operations.

FromUntilRemarks
Sir Peter Woodhead KCB May 1994October 1999Prisons Ombudsman
Stephen Shaw CBE November 1999May 2010Appointed as Prisons Ombudsman, became Prisons and Probation Ombudsman in 2001
Jane WebbApril 2010June 2011Acting Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
Nigel Newcomen CBEJune 2011July 2017Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
Elizabeth Moody1 August 2017October 2018Acting Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
Sue McAllister CBOctober 2018June 2022Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
Kimberley BinghamJuly 2022April 2023Acting Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
Adrian UsherApril 2023PresentPrisons and Probation Ombudsman

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References

  1. "Terms of Reference | Prisons & Probation Ombudsman". www.ppo.gov.uk.
  2. "PPO senior management | Prisons & Probation Ombudsman". www.ppo.gov.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2018.