Facial recognition technology in policing
The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology examines how facial recognition works, how it is used and the opportunities and concerns.
www.russellwebster.com/facial-recog...

Change Grow Live Thank you for your interest in becoming a trustee at Change Grow Live.

CGL is looking for one trustee with particular expertise and experience of the CJS. Really interesting role with our largest drug & alcohol treatment provider
micro.green-park.co.uk/cgl/

Victims and bereaved families to get more time to challenge ‘unduly lenient’ sentences
David Lammy says those affected by a heinous crime cannot be expected to engage with the justice system within the existing 28-day limit
www.theguardian.com/law/2026/apr...

Reframing masculinity for young men and boys Dr. Sophie King-Hill, highlights the importance of understanding current constructions of masculinity for justice practitioners.

Reframing masculinity for young men and boys
Dr Sophie King-Hill, highlights the importance of understanding current constructions of masculinity for justice practitioners for @hmiprobation.bsky.social
www.russellwebster.com/reframing-ma...

Treat jailed drug dealers like radical extremists, says prisons watchdog Charlie Taylor, inspector of prisons for England and Wales, says dealers should be isolated and ‘assertively managed’

Treat jailed drug dealers like radical extremists, says prisons watchdog
Charlie Taylor, inspector of prisons for England and Wales, says dealers should be isolated and ‘assertively managed’
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

Prison education cut by a quarter Jon Collins of the Prisoners' Education Trust sets out the grim details of the slashing of the prison education budget.

Prison education cut by a quarter
@jonbcollins.bsky.social of @prisonersed.bsky.social sets out the grim details of the slashing of the prison education budget.
www.russellwebster.com/prison-educa...

National Women's Justice Coalition has published its first impact report which summarises the progress, impact and learnings the NWJC has collectively made since 2021 & sets out priorities going forwards. It's an impressive list of achievements
wearenwjc.org.uk/wp-content/u...

MoJ stats published to day show that 1,389 people started as Trainee Probation Officers (PQiP) in the 25/26 financial year. Numbers vary from 72 in the South Central Probation region to 179 in London.
🤞that most have positive experience and stay in the job...

Rehab budgets fell by c.15% per year from 2014 to 2020.
Over the last 3years overall rehab budgets increased by c.9% per year.
Overall, rehab funding remains at record low levels and crucially despite that 9% increase over the last 3 years placements have not increased

What We Learned About England’s State-Funded Residential Rehab - Phoenix Futures Over the last decade, England’s residential rehab sector has been quietly shrinking. Rehab placements have fallen by almost 50%, and the number of available services has declined by a similar proporti...

What We Learned About England’s State-Funded Residential Rehab
Extremely helpful research by @phoenixfutures.bsky.social
www.phoenix-futures.org.uk/about-phoeni...

The risks of segregation The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman's office guest blogs on a new learning lessons bulletin about deaths in segregation

The risks of segregation
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman's office guest blogs on a new learning lessons bulletin about deaths in segregation
www.russellwebster.com/the-risks-of...

DDN_April26 DDN Magazine April 2026 | Page 16 Our cover story this month challenges a familiar narrative – that knowledge and willpower are enough to keep people alive. They’re not. Too many drug deaths are happening because people are alone.

Some big features on the rapidly growing and concerning use of #ketamine among young adults in the latest edition of @ddnmagazine.bsky.social
viewer.joomag.com/ddn-april26-...

Gambling, alcohol and smoking - all for one and one for all - Institute of Alcohol Studies New research reveals a troubling overlap between online gambling harm, risky drinking, and smoking — and why tackling them in isolation may not be enough.

Gambling, alcohol and smoking - all for one and one for all
@InstAlcStud finds that there are associations between high levels of all these behaviours
www.ias.org.uk/2026/03/31/g...

Only a quarter of CJS voluntary sector organisations paid in full for the service they deliver Clinks 2026 State of the Sector report highlights the pressures affecting the CJS voluntary sector

Only a quarter of CJS voluntary sector organisations paid in full for the service they deliver
@clinks-charity.bsky.social 2026 State of the Sector report highlights the pressures affecting the CJS voluntary sector
www.russellwebster.com/only-a-quart...

Too few prisoners benefitting from exercise and sport Prison inspectors find access to physical activity in prisons varies considerable with too few able to benefit from exercise and sport

Too few prisoners benefitting from exercise and sport
@hmiprisonsnews.bsky.social find access to physical activity in prisons varies considerable with too few able to benefit from exercise and sport
www.russellwebster.com/too-few-pris...

There are 87,292 people in prison today, a fall of 418 on last week.

Thanks very much Thornton

Too little support for increasing numbers of remand prisoners Prisons Inspectorate says that too few prisons have developed a strategy to managing people on remand, leaving them vulnerable.

Too little support for increasing numbers of remand prisoners
@hmiprisonsnews.bsky.social says that too few prisons have developed a strategy to managing people on remand, leaving them vulnerable.
www.russellwebster.com/too-little-s...

The MoJ has today published the costs per prison place and per prisoner
The cost per prison place was £39,454 in 2024/25 up 6.3% on the year before or just 2.2% if you factor in inflation.
Costs per prisoner £37,845 up 8% or 3.8% allowing for inflation

Crown Courts A Flourish data visualization by Russell Webster

Today's court statistics until the end of 2025 show that there are 80,203 open cases in Crown Courts compared to 74,106 this time last year
public.flourish.studio/visualisatio...

Magistrates Courts A Flourish data visualization by Russell Webster

Today's court statistics until the end of 2025 show that there are 379,437 open cases in Magistrates' Courts compared to 324,846 this time last year
public.flourish.studio/visualisatio...

Community Sentences - Magistrates' Association

New statement from @magsassoc.bsky.social says that justice reforms will fail without reforming and investing in community sentences
www.magistrates-association.org.uk/publication/...

The Trials of Pa Salieu review – what hope is there for life after prison? Sure, this might well be a PR exercise for the rapper after being jailed in 2022 for his part in a mass brawl. But it’s also a vital indictment of the appalling probation system

The Trials of Pa Salieu review – what hope is there for life after prison?
"Sure, this might well be a PR exercise for the rapper after being jailed in 2022 for his part in a mass brawl. But it’s also a vital indictment of the appalling probation system"
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

Competition Document: Countering Illegal Use of UAS Around Prisons and Sensitive Sites

Countering Illegal Use of drones Around Prisons and Sensitive Sites
Competition for "low-collateral solutions to counter or defeat hostile drones targeting secure sites and locations"
www.gov.uk/government/p...

Pain-free 'tripod' restraint brought in to Scottish jails The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) says the technique will reduce injuries among prison officers and inmates following three pilot schemes.

Pain-free 'tripod' restraint brought in to Scottish jails The new technique builds on more modern methods used in social care and secure hospital settings.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The Howard League | More than 60 prisons await vital improvements as government U-turns on fire safety Dozens of prisons in England and Wales that have been waiting for vital fire safety improvements – including seven jails where there have been fatal fires – are identified in documents uncovered by th...

More than 60 prisons await vital improvements as government U-turns on fire safety
Press release from @thehowardleague.bsky.social
howardleague.org/news/more-th...

Probation reforms – what has been announced?

Probation reforms – what has been announced?
Very helpful update from @clinks-charity.bsky.social
clinks.org/community/bl...

Tens of thousands of prisoners in England and Wales at risk of cell fires About a quarter of prison places are unsafe, Ministry of Justice admits

Tens of thousands of prisoners in England and Wales at risk of cell fires
About a quarter of prison places are unsafe, Ministry of Justice admits
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

Structured treatment via drug and alcohol treatment orders reduces reoffending Study into pathways between probation and addiction treatment shows half engage in structured treatment which reduces reoffending.

Structured treatment via drug and alcohol treatment orders reduces reoffending
Study into pathways between probation and addiction treatment shows half engage in structured treatment which reduces reoffending.
www.russellwebster.com/structured-t...

Yoga & Meditation Pack | Prisons Mental Health Awareness Week Prisons Mental Health Awareness Week: free Give It 10 pack with illustrated yoga sequences & meditation guidance | The Prison Phoenix Trust

Free Yoga & Meditation Pack for Better Mental Health in Prison from @prisonphoenix.bsky.social
www.theppt.org.uk/2026/03/19/g...