Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to reduce levels of crime in prisons.

Tackling crime behind bars remains a key priority for the Government. HMPPS is working closely with the National Police Chief’s Council and the Crown Prosecution Service to ensure crimes in prison are dealt with more effectively. In May 2019, we published a revised Crime in Prisons Referral Agreement which aimed to provide a more consistent approach to managing crimes committed within prison.

We are also moving forward with our £100m investment to improve prison security wherever possible given the current climate. This investment includes enhancing gate security in our prisons so we can further target visitors and staff who attempt to convey contraband, such as drugs and mobile phones, into prisons, and investing further in x-ray body scanners for prisoners. The investment will also strengthen staff resilience to corruption and target organised criminals who exploit prisons as a lucrative market.