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Police custody in Essex
Report on an inspection visit to police custody suites in Essex (7 - 11 January 2013) by HM Inspectorate of Prisons and HM Inspectorate of Constabulary

HMP Lindholme
Report on an unannounced inspection of HMP Lindholme (11 - 15 February 2013) by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons

Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centre
Report on an announced inspection of Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centre (28 January - 8 February 2013) by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons

HMYOI Ashfield
Report on an unannounced inspection of the decommissioning of HMYOI Ashfield (11 - 14 February 2013) by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons

About

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons for England and Wales (HMI Prisons) is an independent inspectorate which reports on conditions for and treatment of those in prison, young offender institutions and immigration detention facilities.

The role of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons is to provide independent scrutiny of the conditions for and treatment of prisoners and other detainees, promoting the concept of 'healthy prisons' in which staff work effectively to support prisoners and detainees to reduce reoffending or achieve other agreed outcomes.

HM Chief Inspector of Prisons is appointed by the Justice Secretary from outside the Prison Service, for a term of five years. The Chief Inspector reports directly to the Justice Secretary and Ministers on the treatment of prisoners, conditions in prisons in England and Wales and other matters as directed by the Justice Secretary. The Inspectorate also reports to the Home Secretary on conditions and treatment in all places of immigration detention in the United Kingdom.

The Prisons Inspectorate also has statutory responsibility to inspect all immigration removal centres and holding facilities. In addition, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons is invited to inspect the Military Corrective Training Centre in Colchester, prisons in Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and Isle of Man.

Together with HM Inspectorate of Constabulary the Inspectorate of Prisons inspects police custody in England and Wales and, with HM Inspectorate of Probation, offender management arrangements in custody during all full announced prison inspections.

The Inspectorate's work constitutes an important part of the United Kingdom's obligations under the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention against Torture and Inhuman and Degrading Treatment: to have in place regular independent inspection of places of custody.

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