Welcome to the February 2026 edition of the Clinks Policy Briefing. Please let us know if you have any thoughts on this newsletter or any of the things it has covered by contacting the Policy team.
This month:
- Our Policy Work, including the publication of our newest blogs on the Sentencing Act and NHS staff in probation settings, a guest blog on the Sentencing Hub and our newest Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) Special Interest Group (SIG) report on a ‘whole-systems’ approach to women in the Criminal Justice System.
- Latest Justice News,including Police misconduct statistics for England and Wales, HM Inspector of Probation’s report on intersectionality and probation practice, crime outcomes to the year ending September 2025, the annual statement on prison capacity, the latest proven reoffending statistics and the latest report on the safety in the children and young people secure estate, amongst other news.
- Parliamentary News, including the Royal Assent of the Sentencing Bill (now the Sentencing Act) and questions for the Deputy Prime Minister on the provision of education in prisons, appeals to community orders, restraint techniques in youth custody, staff at secure training centres and young offender institutions, drug-related convictions, the use of drugs in prisons and prison construction, amongst other news.
- Sector Insights, including the Institute for Government’s insight paper on the importance of improving court productivity, Adfam’s white paper on the impact and barriers of alcohol dependence, the Alliance for Youth Justice’s response to the court ruling on PAVA spray and the Prison Reform Trust’s latest Bromley Briefings Prison Factfile, amongst a range of other sector insights and publications.
This month, the Sentencing Bill in Parliament reached Royal Assent, and we have published a blog on details of the Sentencing Act, outlining key features of the Act and the upcoming changes it will bring for the voluntary sector.
We have also published a blog on NHS staff in probation settings, covering the opportunities that this present, reasons for caution, and what must be in place to ensure that this change is effective.
We have published a guest blog by Annalena Wolcke about the Sentencing Hub, which is a new evidence‑based online resource created by the Sentencing Academy to make sentencing information in England and Wales clearer, more accessible, and more useful for practitioners, policymakers, and the public.
We published a report from our Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) Special Interest Group (SIG) on a ‘Whole Systems Approach’ for women in contact with the criminal justice system.
We held our Annual Conference on 28 January 2026 with the theme: “Stronger Together: Celebrating Community, Championing Progress.” At this event, and in a previous blog, we announced our new CEO, Dr Summer Alston-Smith, who will be taking post on 16 March.
Home Secretary to introduce 'power to sack chief constables'
On Wednesday 14 January, the Home Office announced that Home Secretaries will be given 'new powers to sack chief constables who fail their communities.’
Prison Safety Policy Framework
On Wednesday 14 January, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) updated the Prison Safety Policy Framework.
Judicial Conduct Investigations Office annual report: 2024-25
On Thursday 15 January, the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office published their annual report for the year 2024-25.
‘Offender’ accommodation outcomes, update to March 2025
On Thursday 15 January, the MoJ published updated performance statistics on housing and accommodation outcomes for people supervised by the Probation Service.
‘Offender’ employment outcomes, update to March 2025
On Thursday 15 January, the MoJ published updated performance statistics release on employment outcomes for people supervised by the probation service.
People with convictions that are detained in hospitals set to lose benefits
On Thursday 15 January, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) announced that people with convictions who are in hospitals will lose access to Universal Credit.
Battlefield tactics to inspire UK fight against prison drones
On Friday 16 January, the MoJ announced that The Deputy Prime Minister has tasked them to learn from Ukraine’s expertise, to harness their wartime innovation and tackle prison drones.
Free access to sentencing remarks for all victims
On Monday 19 January, the MoJ and HM Courts and Tribunals Service announced that victims going through the Crown Court will be better supported to recover from crime and get closure with free access to transcripts of judges’ sentencing remarks.
Neighbourhood Policing Programme, as at 30 September 2025
On Tuesday 20 January, the Home Office published an ad-hoc management information data release on growth under the Neighbourhood Policing Programme in England and Wales.
The multi-agency response to children who are victims of domestic abuse
On Wednesday 21 January, Ofsted, Care Quality Commission (CQC), HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services and HM Inspectorate of Probation published a report looking at how local partnerships and services respond to children who are at risk of, or who have been victims of, domestic abuse.
“Strong focus on innovation” across Probation Service in Wales, despite rating of ‘Requires improvement’, inspection finds
On Wednesday 21 January, HM Inspector of Probation published their findings following their inspection of the Probation Service in Wales.
Effective Practice Spotlight: The Probation Service – Wales region
On Wednesday 21 January HM Inspector of Probation published a spotlight on examples of effective practice in the Welsh Probation Service.
Police misconduct, England and Wales: year ending 31 March 2025
Thursday 22 January, the Home Office published statistics on the number of police complaints, conduct matters and recordable conduct matters finalised in the year ending 31 March 2025.
Sentencing Act ‘ensuring punishment cuts crime’ gets Royal Assent
On Thursday 22 January, the MoJ announced that following the Royal Assent of the Sentencing Act, this new law will end automatic release for those who behave poorly in prisons and strengthen community punishment.
Electronic Monitoring Statistics Publication, December 2025
On Thursday 22 January, the MoJ published statistics covering the use and delivery of electronic devices, including location monitoring devices and alcohol monitoring devices, for England and Wales.
Intersectionality and probation practice
On Friday 23 January, HM Inspector of Probation published a report exploring the concept of intersectionality and how an intersectional lens can support key aspects of probation practice, encompassing knowledge, skills and behaviours.
Evaluating the implementation of the Prevention and Diversion Assessment Tool
On Friday 23 January, the Youth Justice Board (YJB) published the findings from their commissioned report by Cordis Bright, which aimed to conduct an independent process evaluation of its Prevention and Diversion Assessment Tool (PDAT), along with the supporting training and guidance.
Police Performance Framework
On Monday 26 January, the Home Office published a new police performance framework which shows how the government will measure performance across a broad range of policing activity.
From Local to National: A New Model for Policing
On Monday 26 January, the Home Office published a White Paper which sets out numerous significant reforms. It proposes creating a new National Police Service, strengthening neighbourhood policing, reducing bureaucracy, improving performance and standards, investing in technology and AI, and overhauling governance to ensure a more effective, modern, locally accountable, and nationally coherent police service.
Solicitor General announces expansion of Victim’s Right to Review scheme
On Tuesday 27 January, the Solicitor General announced that more rape and sexual assault survivors across England and Wales will have the right to ask for their cases to be reviewed before a final decision to offer no evidence is made after pilot scheme is significantly expanded into three more regions.
Courts expansion to deliver speedier justice for victims
On Tuesday 27 January, the MoJ and HM Courts and Tribunals Service announced that Former court buildings in Fleetwood, Telford, Chichester and Cirencester, used as Nightingale Courts since the pandemic, will now become permanent fixtures.
IPPs and DPPs: CCRC refers five people’s indeterminate sentences for appeal
On Tuesday 27 January, the Criminal Cases Review Commission published their referral of five long‑standing IPP/DPP sentences back to the courts after recent Court of Appeal rulings showed that judges had failed to properly consider the youth and immaturity of similar offenders, creating a new opportunity for others still serving these abolished indeterminate sentences to challenge them.
Government action to ‘avert summer prison disaster’
On Thursday January 29, the MoJ and HMPPS issued a press release, outlining new analysis demonstrating that the prison system would have collapsed by summer without Government intervention.
Justice data lab statistics: January 2026
On Thursday 29 January, the MoJ published tailored reports assessing the impact on rehabilitation programmes on reoffending behaviour analysed within the previous quarter, and summary of results to date.
Crime outcomes year to September 2025: data tables
On Thursday 29 January, the Home Office published statistics on the outcomes assigned to offences recorded to September 2025 and the total number of outcomes recorded, by outcome type and offence type.
Annual Statement on Prison Capacity: 2025
On Thursday 29 January, the MoJ published its annual statement on prison capacity.
Proven reoffending statistics: January to March 2024
On Thursday 29 January, the MoJ published statistics on reoffending of those who were released from custody, received a non-custodial conviction, or a caution.
Standard Determinate Sentence (SDS40) release data: September 2024 to September 2025
On Thursday 29 January, the MoJ and HMPPS published detailed statistics on people released under Standard Determinate Sentence 40 (SDS40).
Offender management statistics quarterly: July to September 2025
On Thursday 29 January, the MoJ and HMPPS published quarterly statistics on people in custody (including offence groups, sentence lengths and nationalities), and quarterly statistics on prison receptions, prison releases, adjudications, licence recalls and those under probation supervision.
Safety in the Children and Young People Secure Estate: Update to September 2025
On Thursday 29 January, the MoJ, HMPPS and the Youth Custody Service (YCS) published safety in the children and young people secure estate statistics which cover assaults, self-harm and deaths in the Children and Young People Secure Estate in England and Wales.
Safety in custody: quarterly update to September 2025
On Thursday 29 January, the MoJ and HMPPS published their quarterly update on deaths, self-harm and assaults in prison custody in England and Wales and additional annual deaths tables (to 2025).
Youth justice statistics: 2024 to 2025
On Thursday 29 January, the Youth Justice Board (YJB) for England and Wales published youth justice annual statistics for 2024 to 2025.
Serious Violence Duty evaluation
On Friday 30 January, the Home Office published a report on the findings of a process evaluation of the Serious Violence Duty.
Welsh language use in courts in Wales
On Friday 30 January, the HM Courts & Tribunals Service and Judicial Office published an ad hoc release containing an analysis on the use of the Welsh language in the criminal, civil and family courts in Wales.
Justice in Numbers Summary Tables and Pocketbook
On Tuesday 3 February, the MoJ published a summary of the latest information presented in Justice in Numbers.
Countering Illegal Use of UAS Around Prisons and Sensitive Sites
On Tuesday 3 February, the UK Defence Innovation, Ministry of Justice, HM Prison and Probation Service, Ministry of Defence, Home Office, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Innovate UK issued a notice that they are seeking low-collateral solutions to counter hostile Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS), used for contraband delivery, surveillance near prisons and sensitive sites.
‘Dangerous extremists’ face ‘supermax’ style restrictions behind bars
On Tuesday 3 February, the MoJ and HMPPS announced that the most violent and extreme ‘offenders’ will face tougher ‘supermax’ style restrictions behind bars under Government plans to keep frontline staff safer.
Response to the Independent Review of Separation Centres
On Tuesday 3 February, the MoJ published their response to Jonathan Hall KC's Independent Review of Separation Centres.
New prison houseblocks under construction to keep streets safe
On Tuesday 3 February, the MoJ and HMPPS announced that HMP Northumberland will gain four new houseblocks, boosting its capacity by 240 places, in the latest Government step to make streets safer.
Wales receives record funding increase to boost neighbourhood policing
On Tuesday 3 February, the Wales Office and Home Office announced that Wales will see a significant boost to the number of neighbourhood police officers on its streets.
The costs of tackling drug harms in prisons
On Wednesday 4 February, the MoJ and Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) published the National Audit’s Office report on the costs of tackling drug harms in prisons.
Efficiency and resilience of the Probation Service
On Wednesday 4 February, the Public Accounts Committee published a report which warns the Probation Service in England and Wales is being placed under significant strain, seriously impeding its ability to protect the public and reduce reoffending rates.
Independent Review of the Criminal Courts, Part II
On Wednesday 4 February, Sir Brian Leveson published the overview, Volume I and Volume II of his Independent Review of Criminal Courts.
Police protest powers, June 2022 to March 2025
On Thursday 5 February, the Home Office published statistics on the use of powers under sections 12, 14 and 14ZA of the Public Order Act 1986 (as amended by the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022).
The impact of serious and organised crime on local neighbourhoods
On Thursday 5 February, the Home Affairs Committee launched an inquiry on the impact of serious and organised crime on local neighbourhoods.
Neurodiversity in the CJS action plan: final update
On Thursday 5 February, the MoJ and HMPPS published the final update to the Joint Inspectorates’ Evidence Review into Neurodiversity in the criminal justice system.
Outcome of unduly lenient sentence referrals
On Thursday 5 February, the Attorney General's Office published updated statistics on the outcome of unduly lenient sentence referrals.
A new Victims’ Code
On Thursday 5 February, the MoJ launched an open consultation on the new Victims’ Code.
Children to get swifter justice through renewed Victims’ Code
On Thursday 5 February the MoJ announced that the Government will work with children to create the first ever child-friendly version of the Victims' Code.
College of Policing Limited: annual report and accounts, 2024 to 2025
On Monday 9 February, the College of Policing published an overview of the work done between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025, and a summary of the college’s 2024 to 2025 accounts.
Recent business
Parliamentary questions:
- The Deputy Prime Minister was asked about several key issues during the latest edition of justice questions including: magistrate recruitment, changes to jury trials, victim support schemes and funding for victim support services, education and training for rehabilitation, court backlogs, parole board hearings, victims of domestic abuse, safety in the prison estate and a series of other topical questions.
- He was asked about improving coordination between NHS mental health services and criminal justice agencies, escapes from prison, judicial penalties for domestic abuse, homelessness after prison release, crimes of violence in prisons, people who reoffend, women who reoffend, prison sentences (here, here, here, and here) and prison sentences for women, the release of people in prison, specialist rape courts, local authority care leavers, offences against children, gender-based violence training and electronic monitoring, (here, here, here and here) people on remand, juries (here, here, here and here)
- He was also asked about the provision of education in prisons, appeals to community orders, restraint techniques in youth custody, staff at secure training centres and young offender institutions, drug-related convictions, prison construction, drugs in prisons, travellers in prisons, Welsh prisons, convictions for gender-based violence, sentencing (here and here), custody (here, here, here, here and here), family courts for domestic abuse and domestic abuse courts, rape trials, sentencing and prosecutions for sexual offences, burglary, robbery, theft, crimes of violence, protective clothing for police, protection of prison officers, prison transfers, vetting (here and here), the administration of justice in Wales, sentencing people who reoffend, life imprisonment for children, and racial discrimination in youth justice.
- The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care was asked about mental health services in the administration of justice, for people in prison and upon release.
- The Home Secretary was asked about the protection of children, offences against children (here, here, here and here) and vetting.
Bill Updates
Sentencing Bill
- Tuesday 20 January, consideration of Lords’ amendments in the House of Commons
- Wednesday 21 January, consideration of Commons’ amendments and reasons in the House of Lords
- Thursday 22 January, reached Royal Assent, becoming the Sentencing Act
Crime and Policing Bill
- Tuesday 13 January, Ninth Sitting in the Committee Stage in the House of Lords
- Thursday 15 January, Tenth Sitting in the House of Lords
- Tuesday 20 January, Eleventh Sitting in the House of Lords
- Thursday 22 January, Twelfth Sitting in the House of Lords
- Tuesday 27 January, Thirteenth Sitting in the House of Lords
- Monday 2 February, Fourteenth Sitting in the House of Lords
- Thursday 5 February, Fifteenth Sitting in the House of Lords
Victims and Courts Bill
Debates
- Thursday 15 January, illegal drugs in prisons, debated in the House of Commons
- Monday 19 January, pornography and violence against women, debated in the House of Commons
- Tuesday 20 January, NHS prevention of domestic abuse-related deaths, debated in the House of Commons
- Wednesday 21 January, age of criminal responsibility, debated in the House of Lords
- Wednesday 21 January, Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, debated in the House of Lords
- Monday 26 January, Police Reform White Paper, debated in the House of Commons
- Tuesday 27 January, digital exploitation of women and girls, debated in the House of Commons
- Wednesday 28 January, Local Authority Children’s Services, debated in the House of Commons
- Thursday 29 January, annual prison capacity statement, debated in the House of Commons
- Tuesday 3 February, Separation Centres Review, debated in the House of Commons
- Tuesday 3 February, Police Reform White Paper, debated in the House of Lords
Accommodation
Homeless Link launched a new animation exploring the difference trauma-informed care can make in supported housing services, highlighting how small, intentional changes in practice can significantly improve client outcomes.
Courts
The Centre for Justice Innovation (CJI) published a briefing aimed to support FDAC practitioners and local authority colleagues in decision-making about which families are deemed eligible for and referred to FDAC. The CJI also published a briefing on the use of Out of Court Resolutions (OOCRs), urging the government to drive forward their use to achieve the best outcomes for victims.
The Institute for Government published an insight paper which argues that despite the Government’s ambition to cut down on the use of Jury Trials, improving court productivity would deliver far greater and faster reductions in the case backlog while maintaining public confidence in the justice system.
Substance Misuse
Adfam, in partnership with the Clean Slate Clinic and Sussex University published a white paper on the impact and barriers of alcohol dependence, presenting new empirical evidence on alcohol harm patterns in the UK, their impacts on families and workplaces, and barriers to accessing support.
Youth Justice
The Alliance for Youth Justice responded to the court ruling on PAVA spray, arguing that it leaves children at risk and reinforces the need to close Young Offender Institutions.
Prisons
The Prison Reform Trust published their latest Bromley Briefings Prison Factfile, detailing how key indicators across the prison system, such as safety, overcrowding, use of force, and purposeful activity, have significantly deteriorated over the past two years.
Probation
The Prisoners Advice and Care Trust (PACT) published a blog on their reflections of the removal of Clause 35, the naming and shaming of people serving a sentencing in the community, from the Sentencing Bill.
The Probation Institute published a report outlining the findings from their six‑month, cross‑sector implementation project translating research on justice‑involved veterans into practical action, highlighting how childhood adversity, military culture, and fragmented support systems shape harmful behaviour and calling for coordinated training, policy reform, family support, and improved rehabilitation pathways.
Parole
Mike Maguire, on behalf of Russell Webster, published a guest blog on the inaugural Parole Board research conference that explored transparency, psychological assessments, challenges facing specific prisoner groups, remote hearings, and the future direction of parole policy, emphasising the crucial role of high‑quality research in shaping evidence‑based reforms.
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This month's edition was written by...
Clinks Specialist Policy and Communications Officer, Elizaveta Strelnikova
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