Amy Rees update message – 9 November

Last week you may have heard or read that the coroner in the Fishmonger’s Hall inquest published his report into the terror attack there in December 2019.  My thoughts continue to be with the families of Saskia Jones and Jack Merritt along with all those impacted.  As our Second Permanent Secretary and CEO Jo Farrar described in her blog on Friday, we have already made changes to strengthen how we supervise terrorist offenders including the establishment of the National Security Division.  We will now carefully review the coroner’s recommendations to determine any further measures we can implement.

As the winter season quickly approaches, we met again last week to develop our contingency plans to make sure we are ready for the challenges we may face over the coming months.  Our plans set out our ongoing response to COVID-19 as well as how we will address other seasonal issues including flu and problems we may face through bad weather.  Your health and safety along with that of people on probation is our priority and we are working closely with a range of colleagues including our Trade Unions, Public Health and other government departments in undertaking this planning. In preparing for the winter, it remains so important that we all keep up to date with COVID vaccinations and testing and please remember that everyone working for HMPPS is eligible for a free flu jab – find out more here.

I enjoyed speaking at an event for Civil Service leaders on Thursday last week which was held to promote the opportunity that employing prison leavers offers to government, wider public service and key industries experiencing skills shortages. We heard directly from some individuals with lived experience about the benefits they, their families and communities have experienced from these schemes.  It was a really positive session and I hope will encourage other government departments to consider how they can get involved in providing similar opportunities.

An important date for your diaries is to note that Transgender Awareness Week starts later this week on the 13 November and runs to the 19 November.  The Pride in Prisons and Probation (PiPP) network are organising a range of events for you to get involved in as well as articles for you to read.  More details will follow on the intranet.

A huge well done and congratulations to the first winners of the new Butler Trust trophies which have been established to highlight examples of notable practice across the custodial and community estates. These two trophies have been named in memory of former Prison Psychologist Ruth Mann, and former Probation Officer Kathy Biggar. Well done to the London Region who won the Kathy Biggar Trophy for their Young Adults Transitions programme and to the winners of the Ruth Mann Trophy HMP Maghaberry for their work in Making Visits Autism Friendly.