Justice and Home Affairs Committee holds first evidence session for their inquiry into Fire Safety in Prisons
On Tuesday 09 March the House of Lords is questioning senior officials from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). Witnesses include: James McEwen, CEO of HMPPS; Alfred Jackson, Director of Prison Policy and Analysis; and Cohen Lewis, Deputy Director for HMPPS Estates, Safety, and Litigation.
Purpose of the session
The session is the first in a number of evidence sessions dedicated to the topic of Fire Safety in Prisons. The Committee will ask about the current levels of fire risk in the prison estate, the rollback of the commitment to install Automatic Fire Detection (AFD) equipment in all cells by the end of 2027, and the role of the Fire Safety Inspectorate. The session will also focus on fire risk management, training for prison staff, and the role of prison governors in ensuring fire safety in prisons.
Meeting details
Possible questions
- How do prisons currently manage fire risk, and what happens when there is a fire?
- What fire detection and suppression technologies are currently used in prisons?
- What are the main barriers to improving fire safety infrastructure across the prison estate?
- Do prison governors currently have the powers they need to manage fire safety risks effectively?