Pact responds to appointment of new Prisons Minister

In response to the appointment of Catherine McKinnell as Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, Andy Keen-Downs, Pact CEO said:
 
“We’d like to congratulate Catherine McKinnell and welcome her to the role. Since 2024, ministers have helped to stabilise a prison system that was facing severe pressures. While there are encouraging signs of improvement, prisons remain overcrowded and many parts of the system remain in a state of near crisis. The incoming ministerial team should be under no illusion about the scale of the challenges that face them.
 
“It is vital that measures introduced in the Sentencing Act to manage prison capacity are not reversed. Whilst the concerns of victims and the wider public need to be taken seriously, a lengthy pause without sustainable alternatives in place risks placing huge pressure on overcrowded prisons and would mean prisons will run out of spaces by Christmas.  We believe prison should be reserved for those who pose the greatest risk to the public, and we encourage Ministers to look again at the use of recall for technical breaches of license conditions that don't involve a further criminal offences.'
 
“As a national charity supporting prisoners and their families, Pact sees every day the vital role that relationships play in rehabilitation. Strong family ties help create safer prisons, improve wellbeing and reduce reoffending. Evidence shows that prisoners who maintain meaningful contact with loved ones are more likely to engage positively and less likely to be involved in violence. Families provide stability, identify risks and support people through some of the most challenging periods of their lives.
 
“We hope the new Minister will champion an approach that recognises families as partners in rehabilitation and public safety. At a time of pressure on public finances, investing in family services is a practical, cost-effective measure that can deliver safer prisons, less reoffending and better value for taxpayers.
 
“We look forward to working with the Minister to build on the positive progress that has been made across the criminal justice system in recent years.”