Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons
Encyclopedia
Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons is the head of HM Inspectorate of Prisons and the senior inspector of prisons, young offender institutions and immigration service detention and removal centres in England
and Wales
. The current Chief Inspector is Nick Hardwick; he took over from Dame
Anne Owers
in 2010.
HM Chief Inspector of Prisons is appointed by the British Justice Secretary
from outside the prison service for a period of five years. The post was created by Royal Sign Manual on 1 January 1981 and established by the Criminal Justice Act 1982 on the recommendation of a Committee of Inquiry into the UK Prison Service under Mr Justice May. The Chief Inspector provides independent scrutiny of detention in England and Wales through carrying out announced and unannounced inspections of detention facilities. Their remit includes prisons, young offenders institutions, police cells and immigration service detention centres. They are also called upon to inspect prison facilities in Commonwealth dependencies and to assist with the monitoring of Northern Ireland
prison facilities.
The Chief Inspector is not operationally part of HM Prison Service or the Ministry of Justice, and both have been criticised at times in the reports issued by the Chief Inspector after prison visits, or in their Annual Report, delivered to the Justice Secretary and presented to Parliament
. The Inspectorate's independence has been interpreted differently by the different holders of the post. From the inspectorate of Stephen Tumim
onwards, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons has been more willing to speak critically in public of Government penal policy.
There is also a separate post of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. The current Chief Inspector is Nick Hardwick; he took over from Dame
Dame (title)
The title of Dame is the female equivalent of the honour of knighthood in the British honours system . It is also the equivalent form address to 'Sir' for a knight...
Anne Owers
Anne Owers
Dame Anne Elizabeth Owers, Mrs. Cook, née Spark, DBE is Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons. Owers is the fifth holder of the post, and was appointed in August 2001, succeeding David Ramsbotham...
in 2010.
HM Chief Inspector of Prisons is appointed by the British Justice Secretary
Justice Secretary
Justice Secretary can refer to:* Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Scotland* Secretary for Justice, Hong Kong* Secretary for Justice, see Department of Justice * Secretary of State for Justice, United Kingdom...
from outside the prison service for a period of five years. The post was created by Royal Sign Manual on 1 January 1981 and established by the Criminal Justice Act 1982 on the recommendation of a Committee of Inquiry into the UK Prison Service under Mr Justice May. The Chief Inspector provides independent scrutiny of detention in England and Wales through carrying out announced and unannounced inspections of detention facilities. Their remit includes prisons, young offenders institutions, police cells and immigration service detention centres. They are also called upon to inspect prison facilities in Commonwealth dependencies and to assist with the monitoring of Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
prison facilities.
The Chief Inspector is not operationally part of HM Prison Service or the Ministry of Justice, and both have been criticised at times in the reports issued by the Chief Inspector after prison visits, or in their Annual Report, delivered to the Justice Secretary and presented to Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
. The Inspectorate's independence has been interpreted differently by the different holders of the post. From the inspectorate of Stephen Tumim
Stephen Tumim
Sir Stephen Tumim was an English judge, and was Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons from 1987 to 1995.Tumim was the son of a barrister, and was educated at St Edward's School, Oxford and Worcester College, Oxford...
onwards, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons has been more willing to speak critically in public of Government penal policy.
There is also a separate post of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland
Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland
Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland is currently Brigadier Hugh Munro .The Inspectorate is directly funded by the Scottish Government.-Origins:...
.
HM Chief Inspectors of Prisons
- 1981-1982: Philip Barry
- 1982-1987: Sir James Hennessy
- 1987-1995: Judge TumimStephen TumimSir Stephen Tumim was an English judge, and was Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons from 1987 to 1995.Tumim was the son of a barrister, and was educated at St Edward's School, Oxford and Worcester College, Oxford...
- 1995-2001: General Sir David Ramsbotham
- 2001- 2010: DameDame (title)The title of Dame is the female equivalent of the honour of knighthood in the British honours system . It is also the equivalent form address to 'Sir' for a knight...
Anne OwersAnne OwersDame Anne Elizabeth Owers, Mrs. Cook, née Spark, DBE is Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons. Owers is the fifth holder of the post, and was appointed in August 2001, succeeding David Ramsbotham... - 2010 - Nick Hardwick.
External links
- HM Inspectorate of Prisons on the Justice.gov.uk website