The Latest Breaking News from the Ministry of Justice

Prison population climbs to six-month high despite early-release scheme

The prison population hit 87,556 on Monday, according to new data published by the Ministry of Justice.

Evening Standard · Mar 17, 2025

Prisons face ‘total gridlock’ in 2026 amid failure to increase capacity – MPs

A Westminster committee said lives are being increasingly put at risk by the Government’s historic failures to increase capacity.

The Independent UK · Mar 14, 2025

Antonia Romeo named as new top civil servant at the Home Office

Dame Antonia replaces Sir Matthew Rycroft, who announced in February he would leave the Home Office after a 35-year Civil Service career.

Evening Standard · Mar 12, 2025

Woman unable to stop husband’s suicide in prison ‘due to broken intercom’

Isaiah Adekunle Olugosi hanged himself in his HMP Wormwood Scrubs prison cell overnight between March 27 and 28 2022.

Evening Standard · Feb 27, 2025

Plans for secretive online magistrates court hearings axed in media victory for open justice

Plans to allow more secrecy in magistrates courts dropped after backlash condemning the idea as ‘justice in the dark’

Evening Standard · Feb 25, 2025

Raw deal for those who are wrongfully convicted

Letter: Glyn Maddocks and Dr Jon Robins call for the government to repeal the 2014 change to the law on compensation and raise the £1m threshold for payouts

The Guardian - UK · Feb 17, 2025

Prison accused of lack of candour in probe into three self-inflicted deaths in 19 days – including ex Dreamboys boss

A coroner has hit out at multiple failures in prison and healthcare services at HMP Lowdham Grange which led to the spate of deaths

The Independent UK · Feb 14, 2025

MoJ to pay Andrew Malkinson ‘significant’ sum over wrongful rape conviction

Exclusive: Malkinson, who spent 17 years in prison, says he plans to use interim payment to visit family in Australia

The Guardian - UK · Feb 12, 2025

MoJ apologises to woman subjected to racism in prison mother and baby unit

The woman, who is black, was told to go back to her country, while her baby boy was referred to as a ‘monkey’

The Guardian - UK · Feb 12, 2025

Former solicitor general says miscarriage of justice watchdog is ‘beyond a joke’

Exclusive: Lord Garnier’s comments come after allegations about the ‘absent leadership’ of the Criminal Cases Review Commission

The Guardian - UK · Feb 11, 2025