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<p>A balanced estate, with a mix of public, voluntary and private sector involvement
has been shown to introduce improvements and deliver value for money for the taxpayer.
The private sector has an important role to play in our system; it has led the way
in driving innovation in areas such as in-cell technology and family support services.</p><p>
</p><p>Some privately run prisons are among the best performing across the estate.
For example, HM Inspectorate of Prisons said in July 2018 that Oakwood is an “impressive
prison” and found it to be reasonably good or better on all four healthy prison tests
(safety, respect, purposeful activity, and rehabilitation and release planning). General
living conditions, staff-prisoner relationships and prisoner consultation were reported
to be very good or excellent.</p><p> </p><p>To manage the performance indicators set
out in the contracts, each privately managed prison has a full-time on-site Controller,
Deputy Controller and Assistant Controller, all employed by HM Prison and Probation
Service (HMPPS). The Controller has regular review meetings with the contractor against
a range of performance indicators that will reflect numbers of staff in post, recruitment,
training, sickness, and attrition. Where action is needed, progress is monitored by
the Controller and escalated within HMPPS where appropriate action can be taken in
accordance with the contract. This may include a requirement for urgent improvement
and/or financial deductions.</p><p> </p><p>The Prison Operator Framework will increase
the diversity and resilience of the custodial services market in England and Wales,
by creating a pool of prison operators who can provide high quality, value for money,
custodial services and enable us to effectively and efficiently manage a pipeline
of competition over the next six years. The MoJ sets out very clearly the standards
that all private prison operators are required to deliver. Bids will be subject to
value for money and affordability tests. Contracts will not be awarded if bids do
not meet quality or value for money thresholds based on a public sector benchmark,
and in this scenario, HMPPS would act as the provider.</p><p> </p><p>Although privately
managed prisons do face many of the same challenges encountered in public sector prisons,
by providing good quality custodial and rehabilitation services, private operators
are helping us to reduce reoffending and deliver long term savings to the taxpayer.</p>
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