Committee publication · Correspondence · 25 June 2026
Correspondence from Lord Timpson, Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, on the Intensive Supervision Court programme
From: Welsh Affairs Committee
Summary
Lord Timpson informs the Welsh Affairs Committee of the expansion of the Intensive Supervision Court (ISC) programme from five to eleven sites. ISCs offer community-based alternatives to short custodial sentences, using problem-solving approaches and multi-agency supervision. The expansion includes the first Welsh site at Swansea Magistrates' Court, alongside new sites targeting women offenders, prolific offenders, and substance misuse cases across England and Wales.
Key findings
- ISC programme launched June 2023; early results show high compliance, improved family relationships, and reduced substance use among participants
- Six new ISC sites announced: Swansea (Women's ISC—first Welsh site), Inner London Crown Court (Prolific Offenders), Cambridge Crown Court (Substance Misuse), Leeds, Newcastle, and Thames Magistrates' Courts (all Women's ISCs)
- Swansea site will test ISC model within Welsh justice landscape and alignment with devolved services including health and substance misuse treatment
- Sites selected via open Expression of Interest process reflecting local needs and priorities; formal economic and impact evaluations due 2028
- Government accepted Independent Sentencing Review recommendation to expand ISCs to reduce reoffending and tackle prolific offending
Tone
ProceduralTopics
criminal-justicesentencingprobationwalesreoffending
Key actors
Lord Timpson, Ruth Jones, Welsh Affairs Committee, Ministry of Justice, Independent Sentencing Review
Notable line
“The inclusion of Swansea Magistrates' Court marks an important milestone, as it will be the first ISC site operating in Wales.”
Key Quotes
“ISCs offer a robust, community-based alternative to offenders who would otherwise face short custodial sentences of up to two years.”
“Early results have been encouraging. We've seen high levels of compliance and positive outcomes reported by participants, including improved family relationships and reduced substance use.”
“This will allow us to assess how the model operates within the Welsh justice landscape, including how it can best align with devolved services such as health, substance misuse treatment, and wider support provision.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗