Crime in Prison: Where now and Where Next?

Four Police and Crime Commissioners in the West Midlands are presenting to government a hard-hitting six-month study into crime in prisons after months of research and multi-agency work. The in-depth look at crime behind bars also presents a future plan for straightforward solutions to tackle criminality across the prisons estate. Matthew Ellis, Staffordshire’s Commissioner has taken a lead on the work on behalf of all West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioners and visited prisons throughout the region. Staffordshire itself has 8 prisons – one of the highest number of prisons in a single county across the country. Mr Ellis commissioned Staffordshire University’s Professor James Treadwell and Dr Kate Gooch, from University of Leicester, both experts in the field, to carry out the in-depth study. They spoke to prisoners, prison governors, staff and multiple agencies throughout the West Midlands over a period of 6 months