To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance is available to commissioning authorities of investigations within HM Prison Service to ensure that investigating officers do not have personal interests in the outcome of the investigations they are commissioned to conduct. (85478)

Guidance to commissioning authorities on the appointment of investigating officers is contained in Section 3.B of Prison Service Order (PSO) 1300—Investigations.

In particular it states that

“Investigators must have no significant conflicts of interest with the matter or persons under investigation. Should such conflicts arise within the course of an investigation the matter must be immediately referred to the commissioning authority”.

This is a mandatory requirement and commissioning authorities must ensure that this requirement is met.