Operation Safeguard November 2022 2023-01-10
2023-01-10
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
Operation Safeguard was triggered in November 2022 due to an increase in the requirement for places in adult male prisons.
For what reason he triggered Operation Safeguard in November 2022. The Prison Officers Association says that the lack of staff is exacerbating the crisis in prison places, and Napo claims a link between insufficient capacity and workload crises in probation services.
There was an unprecedented short-term rate of growth in the requirement for places in adult male prisons in October and November, creating a contingency to maintain headroom. Meanwhile, we focus on estate modernisation and expansion.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The Prison Officers Association claims that the lack of staff exacerbates the crisis in prison places, while Napo links insufficient capacity to workload crises.
I am concerned about the impact of Operation Safeguard on prison staffing levels and public safety. If it fails, what will be the next step? The Police Federation says that Operation Safeguard puts its members and the public at risk, and Napo links insufficient capacity to a workload crisis leading to an increase in recalls.
Operation Safeguard provides additional headroom; we are not currently housing prisoners due to it. Physical capacity and staffing are both crucial, with recruitment and retention emphasized in the prison service.
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Assessment & feedback
What will be done if Operation Safeguard fails?
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Napo claims a link between insufficient prison capacity and workload crises in probation services.
Does the Minister agree with Napo's view that there is a workload crisis in probation services? If so, who caused it?
All services are linked; recruitment into the Prison Service and probation drives workload. High employment rates make recruitment a challenge.
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Assessment & feedback
Who caused the workload crisis in probation services?
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
A large number of foreign national offenders are in UK prisons.
Can we have more compulsory prisoner transfer agreements so that people can be sent to jail in their own countries? The top three groups are made up of 1,300 Albanians, 800 Polish nationals and 750 Romanians.
Facilitating the movement back to home countries is important. We have a prisoner transfer agreement with Albania since May 2022, and we are looking at more.
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Assessment & feedback
More compulsory prisoner transfer agreements
Response accuracy