Reform
To reform offenders, we need to be sure they are being given the right services and opportunities across the different areas we know support rehabilitation and help prevent a return to crime.
These include improving prisoners’ mental health and tackling substance misuse, improving prisoners' progress in English and maths and increasing the numbers of offenders in employment and accommodation after release.
Audits and inspections are reported on a 4-point scale, from 1 (lowest rating) to 4 (highest rating).
Visit prisons and probation statistics for data sources and more details.
Random mandatory drug testing (traditional drugs)
The percentage of random mandatory drug tests which show drugs to be present, hence a downward trend is positive. This measure excludes tests for new psychoactive substances.
The values for 2018/19 onwards are calculated using a new weighted methodology - please refer to the HMPPS Annual Digest 2018 to 2019 for more details.
| Period | Random mandatory drug testing (traditional drugs) |
|---|---|
| Apr 1998 to Mar 1999 | 18.1 % |
| Apr 1999 to Mar 2000 | 14.4 % |
| Apr 2000 to Mar 2001 | 12.0 % |
| Apr 2001 to Mar 2002 | 11.4 % |
| Apr 2002 to Mar 2003 | 11.4 % |
| Apr 2003 to Mar 2004 | 12.3 % |
| Apr 2004 to Mar 2005 | 11.8 % |
| Apr 2005 to Mar 2006 | 10.3 % |
| Apr 2006 to Mar 2007 | 8.8 % |
| Apr 2007 to Mar 2008 | 9.1 % |
| Apr 2008 to Mar 2009 | 7.7 % |
| Apr 2009 to Mar 2010 | 7.8 % |
| Apr 2010 to Mar 2011 | 7.1 % |
| Apr 2011 to Mar 2012 | 7.0 % |
| Apr 2012 to Mar 2013 | 7.2 % |
| Apr 2013 to Mar 2014 | 7.5 % |
| Apr 2014 to Mar 2015 | 7.0 % |
| Apr 2015 to Mar 2016 | 7.8 % |
| Apr 2016 to Mar 2017 | 9.3 % |
| Apr 2017 to Mar 2018 | 10.9 % |
| Apr 2018 to Mar 2019 | 10.4 % |
| Apr 2019 to Mar 2020 | 10.5 % |
Apr 2019 to Mar 2020
10.5 %
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the HM Prison and Probation Service annual digest publication.
Publication date
Published: 25 July 2024.
Random mandatory drug testing - new psychoactive substances only
The percentage of random mandatory drug tests which show drugs to be present, hence a downward trend is positive. This measure includes tests for new psychoactive substances ("NPS"), as defined in the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016.
Note this measure replaces "random mandatory drug testing including new psychoactive substances".
Apr 2019 to Mar 2020
4.3 %
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the HM Prison and Probation Service annual digest publication.
Publication date
Published: 25 July 2024.
Prisoners completing treatment free from dependence
The percentage of adults exiting treatment free from dependence on drugs or alcohol.
| Period | Prisoners completing treatment free from dependence |
|---|---|
| Apr 2015 - Mar 2016 | 22.4% |
| Apr 2016 - Mar 2017 | 25.6% |
| Apr 2017 - Mar 2018 | 28.1% |
| Apr 2018 - Mar 2019 | 25.9% |
| Apr 2019 - Mar 2020 | 25.8% |
| Apr 2020 - Mar 2021 | 31.0% |
| Apr 2021 - Mar 2022 | 32.3% |
| Apr 2022 - Mar 2023 | 35.5% |
| Apr 2023 - Mar 2024 | 37.9% |
Apr 2023 - Mar 2024
37.9%
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Substance misuse treatment in secure settings (annual) publication.
Publication date
Published: 30 January 2025.
Average prisoners working in prisons
The average number of prisoners working in public sector and privately managed prisons.
The Government remains committed to the ambition to increase work in prisons and to have more prisoners working and working longer hours in an "employment-like" atmosphere. The aim of this is:
- to ensure that prisoners are occupied in purposeful activity whilst in establishments;
- to give offenders the opportunity to learn new skills and experience and support finding employment on release.
Currently only incomplete data is available on prisoners working in prison and as such will not be included in the 2023/24 update. Work is ongoing to improve data, and this will be published once completed.
Apr 2019 to Mar 2020
12,500
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the HM Prison and Probation Service annual digest publication.
Publication date
Published: 25 July 2024.
Prisoner hours worked in industry
The number of prisoner work hours (millions) in public sector and privately managed prisons.
The Government remains committed to the ambition to increase work in prisons and to have more prisoners working and working longer hours in an "employment-like" atmosphere. The aim of this is:
- to ensure that prisoners occupied in purposeful activity whilst in establishments;
- to give offenders the opportunity to learn new skills and experience and support finding employment on release.
Currently only incomplete data is available on prisoners working in prison and as such will not be included in the 2023/24 update. Work is ongoing to improve data, and this will be published once completed.
Apr 2019 to Mar 2020
17.4
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the HM Prison and Probation Service annual digest publication.
Publication date
Published: 25 July 2024.