Written questions by Jenrick.

How many prisoners have been mistakenly released from custody since 1 April 2025; and how many of those prisoners (a) were subsequently re-apprehended and (b) are still at large.

Releases in error have been increasing for several years and are another symptom of the prison system crisis inherited by this Government.While the overwhelming majority of offenders are released correctly, we are clamping down on those releases in error that do occur – including through improved staff training and establishing a new specialist unit. A joint protocol between HMPPS and NPCC is in place, to ensure effective and timely communication between partner agencies when an individual is released in error to rearrest them as quickly as possible.We have gripped this chaos – by building more prison places, ending the last Government’s early release scheme, being transparent with the public, immediately making changes to sentences to ease pressure on the system and now, taking landmark reforms through our Sentencing Bill to make sure that prisons never run out of places againAnnual totals for releases in error are published each July in the HMPPS Annual Digest, available via Prison and Probation Performance Statistics - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab), and provide data up to March 2025.The number of people who have been released in error since April 2025 cannot be provided because it would form a subset of releases in error data which underpins future versions of these Official Statistics.

How many prisoners serving sentences for violent offences have been erroneously released since 1 April 2025.

Releases in error have been increasing for several years and are another symptom of the prison system crisis inherited by this Government.While the overwhelming majority of offenders are released correctly, we are clamping down on those releases in error that do occur – including through improved staff training and establishing a new specialist unit. A joint protocol between HMPPS and NPCC is in place, to ensure effective and timely communication between partner agencies when an individual is released in error to rearrest them as quickly as possible.We have gripped this chaos – by building more prison places, ending the last Government’s early release scheme, being transparent with the public, immediately making changes to sentences to ease pressure on the system and now, taking landmark reforms through our Sentencing Bill to make sure that prisons never run out of places againAnnual totals for releases in error are published each July in the HMPPS Annual Digest, available via Prison and Probation Performance Statistics - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab), and provide data up to March 2025.The number of people who have been released in error since April 2025 cannot be provided because it would form a subset of releases in error data which underpins future versions of these Official Statistics.

If he will provide a breakdown by prison establishment of the number of prisoners who have been erroneously released since 1 April 2025.

Releases in error have been increasing for several years and are another symptom of the prison system crisis inherited by this Government.While the overwhelming majority of offenders are released correctly, we are clamping down on those releases in error that do occur – including through improved staff training and establishing a new specialist unit. A joint protocol between HMPPS and NPCC is in place, to ensure effective and timely communication between partner agencies when an individual is released in error to rearrest them as quickly as possible.We have gripped this chaos – by building more prison places, ending the last Government’s early release scheme, being transparent with the public, immediately making changes to sentences to ease pressure on the system and now, taking landmark reforms through our Sentencing Bill to make sure that prisons never run out of places againAnnual totals for releases in error are published each July in the HMPPS Annual Digest, available via Prison and Probation Performance Statistics - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab), and provide data up to March 2025.The number of people who have been released in error since April 2025 cannot be provided because it would form a subset of releases in error data which underpins future versions of these Official Statistics.

Whether any disciplinary action has been taken against (a) prison staff or (b) senior officials due to the erroneous release of prisoners since 1 April 2025.

Releases in error have been increasing for several years and are another symptom of the prison system crisis inherited by this Government.While the overwhelming majority of offenders are released correctly, we are clamping down on those releases in error that do occur – including through improved staff training and establishing a new specialist unit. A joint protocol between HMPPS and NPCC is in place, to ensure effective and timely communication between partner agencies when an individual is released in error to rearrest them as quickly as possible.We have gripped this chaos – by building more prison places, ending the last Government’s early release scheme, being transparent with the public, immediately making changes to sentences to ease pressure on the system and now, taking landmark reforms through our Sentencing Bill to make sure that prisons never run out of places again.The Ministry of Justice cannot provide the information requested. National conduct and discipline data for prison staff is published as part of the HMPPS Staff Equalities Report Official Statistics release available on gov.uk. The latest available data covers the period up to March 2024. Data for the period up to March 2025 is scheduled for publication in November 2025.

How many (a) full time and (b) part time judges sit in immigration tribunals; and how much their remuneration costs the public purse each year.

The judiciary are responsible for publishing lists of judges. They do not routinely publish lists of fee-paid (part-time) judges due to the frequency of changes in the fee-paid judge cohort.Information on the number of judges in post is published in the annual Judicial Diversity Statistics: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/judicial-diversity-statistics.The current judicial salaries and fees are published annually: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/judicial-salaries-and-fees-2025-to-2026.The total cost of judicial remuneration depends on the number of sittings per year. In 2024/25, the costs of judges sitting in the Immigration and Asylum Chambers of both the First-tier and Upper Tribunal were: Basic Salary & Allowances £mEmployers' Pension Contributions £mTotal £mSalaried Judges17.611.028.6Fee Paid Judges11.16.817.9Total 28.717.846.5

Whether he plans to publish a list of all (a) fee-paid and (b) part-time judges sitting in the immigration tribunals.

The judiciary are responsible for publishing lists of judges. They do not routinely publish lists of fee-paid (part-time) judges due to the frequency of changes in the fee-paid judge cohort.Information on the number of judges in post is published in the annual Judicial Diversity Statistics: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/judicial-diversity-statistics.The current judicial salaries and fees are published annually: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/judicial-salaries-and-fees-2025-to-2026.The total cost of judicial remuneration depends on the number of sittings per year. In 2024/25, the costs of judges sitting in the Immigration and Asylum Chambers of both the First-tier and Upper Tribunal were: Basic Salary & Allowances £mEmployers' Pension Contributions £mTotal £mSalaried Judges17.611.028.6Fee Paid Judges11.16.817.9Total 28.717.846.5

What progress he has made on introducing a support and identification system for the children of prisoners.

We know that parental imprisonment is recognised as an adverse childhood experience that can have a significant impact on a child’s life chances. This is why the Ministry of Justice and the Department for Education are jointly committed to ensuring that all children impacted by parental imprisonment are identified and offered the support they need to thrive.Earlier this year, Ministers from both Departments convened a roundtable with sector experts to explore how best to support children affected by parental imprisonment. We have also undertaken extensive engagement with the sector, including focus groups with individuals who have lived experience. Their insights are helping to shape and inform our policy proposals.On 21 August, the Department for Education published their market engagement notice on a Multidisciplinary Training Offer for Professionals, marking an important step towards getting children the support they need. This training will upskill a wide range of professionals on the impact parental imprisonment can have on children and families, reduce stigmatisation of children and families and break down barriers to support.We remain firmly committed to driving progress on this important agenda, informed by evidence from previous interventions and continued engagement with the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector.

What steps his Department is taking to support children with a parent in prison from an early age.

We know that parental imprisonment is recognised as an adverse childhood experience that can have a significant impact on a child’s life chances. This is why the Ministry of Justice and the Department for Education are jointly committed to ensuring that all children impacted by parental imprisonment are identified and offered the support they need to thrive.Earlier this year, Ministers from both Departments convened a roundtable with sector experts to explore how best to support children affected by parental imprisonment. We have also undertaken extensive engagement with the sector, including focus groups with individuals who have lived experience. Their insights are helping to shape and inform our policy proposals.On 21 August, the Department for Education published their market engagement notice on a Multidisciplinary Training Offer for Professionals, marking an important step towards getting children the support they need. This training will upskill a wide range of professionals on the impact parental imprisonment can have on children and families, reduce stigmatisation of children and families and break down barriers to support.We remain firmly committed to driving progress on this important agenda, informed by evidence from previous interventions and continued engagement with the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2025 to Question 75145 on Rape: Criminal Proceedings, by what date his Department plans to implement the recommendations of the HMCPSI report.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has accepted all eight recommendations set out in His Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate’s (HMCPSI) report, along with the implementation timeframe proposed by the Inspectorate. The CPS full response to the report is published on its public website and includes the projected implementation date for each recommendation. The latest of these dates is July 2026: https://www.cps.gov.uk/publication/crown-prosecution-service-response-hmcpsi-inspection-early-advice-and-pre-charge. Following his recent appointment as Secretary of State for Justice, the Deputy Prime Minister looks forward to meeting with the Attorney General, the CPS and the police, to discuss their progress on implementing the recommendations made in the HMCPSI report.

What meetings he has had with the (a) Crown Prosecution Service and (b) the police in relation to the recommendations in HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate's report entitled A Thematic Rape Inspection Report: An inspection of early advice and pre-charge decision making in adult rape cases, published on 15 July 2025.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has accepted all eight recommendations set out in His Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate’s (HMCPSI) report, along with the implementation timeframe proposed by the Inspectorate. The CPS full response to the report is published on its public website and includes the projected implementation date for each recommendation. The latest of these dates is July 2026: https://www.cps.gov.uk/publication/crown-prosecution-service-response-hmcpsi-inspection-early-advice-and-pre-charge. Following his recent appointment as Secretary of State for Justice, the Deputy Prime Minister looks forward to meeting with the Attorney General, the CPS and the police, to discuss their progress on implementing the recommendations made in the HMCPSI report.

When he next plans to meet with representatives of the Council of Europe to discuss reform of the ECHR.

The Deputy Prime Minister has already reached out to a number of European member States and will also be holding meetings with Council of Europe representatives, to discuss reform. Governments across Europe face the same pressures as us and conversations on reform are necessary to ensure the Convention remains strong and relevant.

What information his Department holds on the longest projected length of time between charge and trial in a single case of sexual assault which is yet to be heard in court.

The Ministry of Justice does not carry out projections for length of time between charge and trial for specific offences. The Ministry of Justice publishes end-to-end timeliness data each quarter, including for sexual offences, which enables users to calculate average length of time at various stages of the process. Link to publication: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/685c1091c07c71e5a870984f/timeliness_tool.xlsx.

What information his Department holds on the average projected length of time between charge and trial in cases of sexual assault which are yet to be heard in court.

The Ministry of Justice does not carry out projections for length of time between charge and trial for specific offences. The Ministry of Justice publishes end-to-end timeliness data each quarter, including for sexual offences, which enables users to calculate average length of time at various stages of the process. Link to publication: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/685c1091c07c71e5a870984f/timeliness_tool.xlsx.

How many offenders have committed three separate offences within three months and not received a custodial sentence, in each of the last three years.

This Government takes prolific offending extremely seriously and we are determined to ensure that the criminal justice system has the right tools to deal with them. We are expanding the availability of Intensive Supervision Courts to tackle the causes of prolific offending. We know these problem-solving approaches cut crime, with a 33 percent decrease in the rate of arrests compared to offenders who receive standard sentences. We are also introducing new orders to hit offenders where it hurts – limiting their freedoms in the community and ensuring punishment outside of prison does exactly that. These will include banning offenders from attending pubs, bars and clubs, as well as public events such as football matches and concerts. For more serious prolific offending, we are clear that custody has a crucial role to play as a robust backstop, within the maximum penalties set out in statute. Previous convictions are a statutory aggravating factor and Sentencing Guidelines are clear that sentencers must consider the nature and relevance of previous convictions. The information requested is provided in the tables attached and includes further notes.

How many people with five or more previous convictions were convicted of shoplifting and avoided a custodial sentence in the last 12 months.

This Government takes prolific offending extremely seriously and we are determined to ensure that the criminal justice system has the right tools to deal with them. We are expanding the availability of Intensive Supervision Courts to tackle the causes of prolific offending. We know these problem-solving approaches cut crime, with a 33 percent decrease in the rate of arrests compared to offenders who receive standard sentences. We are also introducing new orders to hit offenders where it hurts – limiting their freedoms in the community and ensuring punishment outside of prison does exactly that. These will include banning offenders from attending pubs, bars and clubs, as well as public events such as football matches and concerts. For more serious prolific offending, we are clear that custody has a crucial role to play as a robust backstop, within the maximum penalties set out in statute. Previous convictions are a statutory aggravating factor and Sentencing Guidelines are clear that sentencers must consider the nature and relevance of previous convictions. The information requested is provided in the tables attached and includes further notes.

What his planned timetable is for reducing the Crown Court backlog in absolute terms.

This Government inherited a record and rising courts backlog. The last government promised to reduce the Crown Court backlog to 53,000 by March 2025. Instead, the backlog increased to 76,957 by March 2025. We have taken immediate action including funding a record-high allocation of 110,000 Crown Court sitting days this financial year to mitigate the backlog. We committed to investing up to £92 million more a year in criminal legal aid solicitors and boosted Magistrates’ sentencing powers from 6 to 12 months. However, such steps can only mitigate the growth of the backlog. More fundamental reform is necessary to see the backlog reduce in absolute terms. That is why the Government asked Sir Brian Leveson to propose once-in-a-generation reform that will improve timeliness in the courts and deliver swifter justice for victims.  We are committed to creating a more stable and sustainable criminal justice system, in which victims and the public can have confidence. Part one of the Independent Review of Criminal Courts has been published. We are considering Sir Brian’s proposals and will publish a government response in short order . Part two of the Review, considering how the criminal courts can operate as efficiently as possible, is expected to be finalised later this year. We intend to introduce legislation in the second session as soon as parliamentary time allows to implement the necessary reforms.

What the average projected length of time is between charge and trial in cases of domestic abuse yet to be heard in court.

The Ministry of Justice does not carry out projections for length of time between charge and trial for specific offences.The Ministry of Justice does publish end-to-end timeliness data each quarter, which enables users to calculate average length of time at various stages of the process. Data is only published for the average.However, it is not possible to separately identify cases of ‘domestic abuse’ in the published data because the information held centrally is related to the offence in law for which a defendant is convicted. Domestic abuse related offences can be prosecuted under a wide range of legally defined offences.In line with the Independent Sentencing Review recommendation, we will be introducing a domestic abuse identifier at sentencing in criminal cases. This will enable police, prisons, and probation to consistently identify domestic abuse offenders and improve support for victims, whether the perpetrator is in the community or in custody.The Ministry of Justice commissioned Sir Brian Leveson’s Independent Review of the Criminal Courts to tackle the outstanding caseload and to improve timeliness across the board – including for domestic abuse. We are considering Sir Brian’s recommendations and will issue a response in due course.

How many electronic tags his Department has acquired in the context of the Sentencing Bill.

The Ministry of Justice and His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service are continuing to assess the likely impact of the Sentencing Bill on demand for Electronic Monitoring and will order the required numbers of tags in line with those assessments and contractual requirements.

What the longest projected length of time between charge and trial is in cases of domestic abuse yet to be heard in court.

The Ministry of Justice does not carry out projections for length of time between charge and trial for specific offences.The Ministry of Justice does publish end-to-end timeliness data each quarter, which enables users to calculate average length of time at various stages of the process. Data is only published for the average.However, it is not possible to separately identify cases of ‘domestic abuse’ in the published data because the information held centrally is related to the offence in law for which a defendant is convicted. Domestic abuse related offences can be prosecuted under a wide range of legally defined offences.In line with the Independent Sentencing Review recommendation, we will be introducing a domestic abuse identifier at sentencing in criminal cases. This will enable police, prisons, and probation to consistently identify domestic abuse offenders and improve support for victims, whether the perpetrator is in the community or in custody.The Ministry of Justice commissioned Sir Brian Leveson’s Independent Review of the Criminal Courts to tackle the outstanding caseload and to improve timeliness across the board – including for domestic abuse. We are considering Sir Brian’s recommendations and will issue a response in due course.

Whether he has a target date for acquiring adequate numbers of electronic tags to accommodate the provisions of the Sentencing Bill.

The Ministry of Justice and His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service are continuing to assess the likely impact of the Sentencing Bill on demand for Electronic Monitoring and will order the required numbers of tags in line with those assessments and contractual requirements.