Adrian Usher, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO), has called for the creation of an independent body to scrutinise prison staff conduct in his most recent annual report. Throughout 2025 – 26, the PPO completed 2,150 investigations, of which 34% related to property (738), 7% concerned staff behaviour (157) and 6% concerned administration (121).
‘In all but a very small percentage of cases, investigations into staff conduct, including use of force, and any subsequent disciplinary hearings take place not only within HMPPS but within the very institution where the member of staff works, conducted by colleagues that they work alongside every day.
There is a very stark and obvious difference between the consequences for police officers compared to prison officers who are facing investigations, often for actions taken in very similar circumstances. It is nearly a quarter of a century since the recognition that in order to maintain public confidence, an independent investigative body was necessary to scrutinise police conduct. I believe it is the right time for a similar model to be applied to HMPPS staff.’
To read the PPO’s Complaint Investigation Summaries, which include those related to prison staff conduct, click here.
To read the full PPO 2025-26 Annual Report, click here.