Welcome to the PPO

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) carries out independent investigations into complaints and deaths in custody. The detailed roles and responsibilities of the PPO are set out in our office’s Terms of Reference. The PPO has three main duties:

  • to investigate complaints made by prisoners, young people in detention (prisons and secure training centres), offenders under probation supervision and individuals detained under immigration powers (detained individuals)
  • to investigate deaths of prisoners, young people in detention, approved premises’ residents and detained individuals due to any cause
  • to investigate deaths of recently released prisoners that occur within 14 days of release from prison (except homicide)

The purpose of these investigations is to understand what happened, to correct injustices and to identify learning for the organisations whose actions we oversee so that the PPO makes a significant contribution to safer, fairer custody and offender supervision.

Click here to read our 2021/22 Annual Report

Latest news

  • Recruitment opportunity: Support Team Manager

    The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman is hiring for a Support Team Manager. The role is permanent and is based in London. The core function of the Support Team Manager is to provide first line management of up to seven administrative… Read More

  • Issue 12 of our newsletter, The Investigator is OUT NOW!

    Welcome to issue 12 of The Investigator! Welcome to issue 12 of The Investigator which focuses on research carried out by the PPO’s Research team. The PPO’s Research team regularly analyses the data gained from our investigations as a means… Read More

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