Russell Webster
russellwebster.com
Russell Webster
@russellwebster.com
Researcher, evaluator, consultant & writer in drugs, alcohol & criminal justice. My blog keeps you up-to-date on the latest policy, practice and research.
Victims protected through domestic abuse orders - Over 1000 issued in the pilot sites - Greater Manchester, 3 London boroughs (Croydon, Bromley and Sutton), Cleveland and North Wales - in the last 12 months
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Victims protected through game changing domestic abuse orders
More than 1,000 victims have been protected through first-of-its-kind domestic abuse protection orders since their roll out in November 2024.
www.gov.uk
November 25, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Concern about epilepsy deaths in prison
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman expresses concern about preventable epilepsy deaths in prison
www.russellwebster.com/concern-abou...
Concern about epilepsy deaths in prison
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman expresses concern about preventable epilepsy deaths in prison
www.russellwebster.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:23 AM
There are 87,332 people in prison today, an increase of 153 on last week and 374 over the last fortnight.
November 24, 2025 at 4:10 PM
HMP Ranby inspection by @hmiprisonsnews.bsky.social
Good progress overall but investment needed in houseblocks & drone prevention

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November 24, 2025 at 5:18 AM
Join Coaching Inside and Out’s interactive lunchtime workshop for simple practical ways to boost energy and free up time.
It's 10:00 - 11:30 on 25 November and free. Book here🔽
www.tickettailor.com/events/hmpps...
HMPPS Insights25
Buy tickets – HMPPS Insights25
www.tickettailor.com
November 21, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Nature for health and wellbeing in prison environments
Interesting webinar 8 December
ciria.org/CIRIA/Naviga...
Event Display
CIRIA Events
ciria.org
November 21, 2025 at 8:38 AM
The latest prison and probation staffing figures Winter 2025 HMPPS workforce bulletin shows fewer prison and more probation staff.
www.russellwebster.com/the-latest-p...
The latest prison and probation staffing figures
Winter 2025 HMPPS workforce bulletin shows fewer prison and more probation staff.
www.russellwebster.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:07 AM
MoJ to remove right to trial by jury for thousands of cases in controversial overhaul
Courts minister Sarah Sackman says change needed to stop criminals opting for juries to delay cases, sometimes by years, and clear huge backlog
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
MoJ to remove right to trial by jury for thousands of cases in controversial overhaul
Exclusive: Courts minister says change needed to stop criminals opting for juries to delay cases, sometimes by years, and clear huge backlog
www.theguardian.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:08 AM
‘Possibly the most prolific sex offender in British history’: the inside story of the Medomsley scandal | Society via Simon Hattenstone www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
‘Possibly the most prolific sex offender in British history’: the inside story of the Medomsley scandal
At a youth detention centre in north-east England, the paedophile Neville Husband raped and assaulted countless boys. Why was his reign of terror allowed to go on – and why hasn’t there been a public ...
www.theguardian.com
November 20, 2025 at 6:41 AM
What progress has Labour made on public services?
@cassiarowland.bsky.social from @instituteforgovernment.org.uk sums up overall government performance in the last of her series of performance tracker guest posts.
www.russellwebster.com/what-progres...
What progress has Labour made on public services?
Cassia Rowland from the Institute for Government sums up overall government performance in the last of her series of performance tracker guest posts.
www.russellwebster.com
November 20, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Lessons from Probation Service Reform
Harry Annison & Daniel Birungi on the impact on staff of repeated probation service reform
www.russellwebster.com/lessons-from...
Lessons from Probation Service Reform
Harry Annison on the lessons from repeated probation service reform
www.russellwebster.com
November 19, 2025 at 6:06 AM
Children in care who lash out may no longer face automatic arrest under new review
Plan aims to restrict ‘over-policing’ of looked-after young people and ensure challenging behaviour is met with support rather than criminalisation
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Children in care who lash out may no longer face automatic arrest under UK review
Plan aims to restrict ‘over-policing’ of looked-after young people and ensure challenging behaviour is met with support rather than criminalisation
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:01 AM
More details of UK crime suspects may be released to stop misinformation
Information such as age and nationality will generally not constitute contempt of court under proposed laws
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
More details of UK crime suspects may be released to stop misinformation
Information such as age and nationality will generally not constitute contempt of court under proposed laws
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:59 AM
Good food and Good Lives
Kevin Wong & Julie Parsons guest blog on their new book exploring how food interventions contribute to desistance
www.russellwebster.com/good-food-an...
Good food and Good Lives
Good food and good lives: how food interventions contribute to desistance
www.russellwebster.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:52 AM
There are 87,179 people in prison today, an increase of 221 on last week.
November 17, 2025 at 12:23 PM
HMP/YOI Deerbolt inspection
@hmiprisonsnews.bsky.social finds some positive developments on major concerns but staff shortages hampering progress
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November 17, 2025 at 6:58 AM
HMP Leicester inspection
@hmiprisonsnews.bsky.social very concerned about drugs, violence & inconsistent regime
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November 17, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Crime-cutting jobs plan sees hundreds of firms join hiring drive to get prison leavers into work
Over 300 businesses join efforts to plug labour shortfalls and grow the economy
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Crime-cutting jobs plan sees hundreds of firms join hiring drive
Britain’s biggest businesses have joined the Government’s hiring drive to get prison leavers into work in effort to cut crime as part of the Plan for Change.
www.gov.uk
November 17, 2025 at 6:52 AM
‘Dire’ prison conditions putting rehabilitation at risk
Justice Committee report says ‘Dire’ prison conditions are putting rehabilitation at risk
www.russellwebster.com/dire-prison-...
‘Dire’ prison conditions putting rehabilitation at risk
Justice Committee report says ‘Dire’ prison conditions are putting rehabilitation at risk
www.russellwebster.com
November 17, 2025 at 6:47 AM
‘There is a gap where Alex should be’: the young woman who lost her life in a neglectful prison system An inquest finds HMP Styal guilty of neglect after Alex Davies, 25, was found dead inside a segregation cell after a lifetime of mental health struggles
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
‘There is a gap where Alex should be’: the young woman who lost her life in a neglectful prison system
An inquest has found a Cheshire prison guilty of neglect after Alex Davies, 25, was found dead inside a segregation cell after a lifetime of mental health struggles
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 7:19 AM
She was a prison officer. He was a convicted rapist. How did she fall for him?https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/nov/15/prison-officer-convicted-rapist-relationship
November 16, 2025 at 7:16 AM
CPS charges prison custody manager, nurse and healthcare staff with misconduct in public office and neglect over the death of Chris Pearson at HMP Leeds in 2021 via INQUEST
mailchi.mp/inquest/inqu...
Chris Pearson: CPS charges Leeds prison custody manager, nurse and healthcare staff with misconduct in public office and neglect over death
mailchi.mp
November 14, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Why Don’t We Enable More Heretical Thinking At Work?
Paul Taylor always makes me think
paulitaylor.com/2025/11/14/w...
Why Don’t We Enable More Heretical Thinking At Work?
In today’s corporate environment, the instinct of the system is to demand order, predictability, and consensus. Yet, the reality facing us is that nearly half of CEOs don’t think their …
paulitaylor.com
November 14, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Which Way for Youth Custody?
@robroballen.bsky.social analyses constructive options for a better way forward
reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2025/11/whic...
Which Way for Youth Custody?
Radical stuff from the Childrens Commissioner in her Longford Lecture this week- urging that Young Offender Institutions are closed now, ...
reformingprisons.blogspot.com
November 14, 2025 at 6:43 AM
How does the MoJ spend its money?
Interesting facts and figures from the MoJ annual report and accounts
www.russellwebster.com/facts-and-fi...
How does the MoJ spend its money?
Interesting facts and figures from the MoJ annual report and accounts
www.russellwebster.com
November 14, 2025 at 6:37 AM