News and communications

As part of our efforts to reduce crime, fill gaps in the job market and grow the economy, we’re encouraging businesses to recruit more prison leavers.    

• Updated: 24 April 2024

Mitie Care & Custody has been awarded the contract to operate HMP Millsike, the UK’s first all-electric prison that will provide around 1,500 places. 

• Updated: 23 April 2024

Communities blighted by vandalism and fly-tipping will be cleaned up by offenders as part of delivering on plans to crackdown on anti-social behaviour.

• Updated: 22 March 2024

Thousands of rehabilitated ex-prisoners serving long-since abolished indefinite sentences will become eligible to have their licence period terminated earlier as part of new reforms.

• Updated: 28 November 2023

Over 120,000 former offenders will find it easier to get work and turn their lives away from crime following a change in the law.

• Updated: 30 October 2023

GFSL regularly operates Purposeful Prisoner Working Programmes, giving prisoners the opportunity to work alongside our trade teams in all roles from electrical to painting and decorating.

• Updated: 18 October 2023

Overhaul of learning behind bars to include specialist teaching staff, apprenticeships and digital reading tools.

• Updated: 29 September 2023

Erith site closed by court order over fire and flood concerns

• Updated: 14 August 2023

A record number of offenders at risk of homelessness will be temporarily housed in basic accommodation as part of a national initiative to cut crime, Prisons Minister Damian Hinds has announced.

• Updated: 18 July 2023

Hundreds of prisoners are being encouraged to take jobs in the retail and logistics sector on release to plug skills gaps in entry level roles, helping reduce reoffending while supporting businesses.

• Updated: 10 July 2023

HMP Fosse Way opens - key milestone in 20,000-place building programme.

• Updated: 30 June 2023

Thousands of prisoners vulnerable to addiction, mental health issues or homelessness will no longer be released on Fridays as a new Bill to reduce reoffending becomes law today (29 June 2023).

• Updated: 30 June 2023

Criminals serving community orders for low level offences will be closely monitored by judges as part of a new pilot forcing offenders to clean up their acts or be put behind bars.

• Updated: 28 June 2023

New Community Payback teams to clean up fly-tipping or vandalism within 48 hours.

• Updated: 22 June 2023

£15 million for services that work with women in the justice system.

• Updated: 26 May 2023

More than double the number of ex-offenders found work following a major government drive to reduce reoffending and plug labour shortages to help grow the economy.

• Updated: 24 May 2023

Government awards £1.8 million to prepare more offenders for work and training.

• Updated: 24 March 2023

More than 90 business experts have been enlisted as prison employment advisors to help drive thousands of prison leavers into work and away from a life of crime.

• Updated: 23 March 2023

Thousands of prisoners are getting clean thanks to a doubling of drug-free wings in jails as the government’s war on addiction steps up a gear.

• Updated: 10 February 2023

Construction firms have pitched up in prisons across England and Wales for the latest major drive to match offenders with jobs in sectors facing skill shortages and cut crime.

• Updated: 4 February 2023