Committee publication · Correspondence · 22 May 2026
Correspondence from Dr Jo Farrar CB OBE, Ministry of Justice Permanent Secretary, dated 20 May 2026: Investment and action taken on releases in error
From: Justice Committee
Summary
Dr Jo Farrar, MoJ Permanent Secretary, updates the Justice Committee on implementation of Dame Lynne Owen's 33 recommendations on releases in error. The Department reports 28 recommendations are partially or fully covered by the current Spending Review period, with 5 subject to future funding at SR27. Key actions include enhanced staff training (6,000+ staff trained since October), Justice ID digital identifier rollout, biometric trials within six months, and £10 million in AI-based solutions.
Key findings
- 28 of 33 Dame Lynne Owen recommendations partially or fully funded in current Spending Review; 5 deferred to SR27
- 6,000+ staff received enhanced training on Foreign National Offender and Home Office processes since October; mandatory two-year Custodial Managers training launches September
- Justice ID digital identifier with biometric support (fingerprints, facial recognition) to roll out within 6 months, with full prison estate rollout within 18 months
- AI-based Digital Rapid Response Unit already deployed, identifying 1,800 aliases and preventing 23 releases in error since March through new hourly Crown Court checks
- Medium-term system reform and digitisation (recommendations 16–18) requires additional funding at next Spending Review; paper CCTV audio upgrade (recommendation 3) not currently funded
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Dr Jo Farrar CB OBE, Andy Slaughter MP, Dame Lynne Owen, Deputy Prime Minister, Ministry of Justice, HMPPS, Home Office, Office for National Statistics
Notable line
“28 are partially or fully covered by this Spending Review period and are being taken forward now, while 5 are subject to future funding decisions at SR27.”
Key Quotes
“… the Deputy Prime Minister has accepted in principle all 33 recommendations from Dame Lynne's review.”
“Since October, over 6,000 staff have received enhanced training on Foreign National Offender and Home Office processes.”
“Justice ID, which will enable more consistent identification of individuals across the justice system. This is supported by investment in data foundations across the justice system.”
“… embedding advanced data-linking tools to prevent offenders from concealing information using multiple aliases which has identified 1,800 aliases so far.”
“Since 13 March, new hourly Crown Court checks introduced in March have already prevented 23 releases in error.”
“… meaningful cross system reform is unlikely to be delivered within 12 months, and additional funding is likely to be required at the next Spending Review.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗