The Prison Service Professional Standards Unit receives, develops and analyses intelligence on staff misconduct. The gathering and evaluation of this intelligence is carried out by area and local professional standard managers.
It is not within the remit of the Professional Standards Unit to be involved in prisoner-related intelligence unless there is a staff misconduct element.
(2) how many investigations were conducted by the Professional Standards Unit Investigation Support Section at HM Prison Service into alleged staff misconduct in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.
The Investigation Support Section is an administrative function set up to register, track and store all formal investigations commissioned in the Prison Service. It also monitors the progress of investigations, maintains a register of trained investigators and provides advice and statistical reports. The section does not conduct investigations. Instead, conducting investigations is the responsibility of the management line.
(2) how many staff are employed in the intelligence section of the Professional Standards Unit at HM Prison Service; and if she will make a statement.
The Professional Standards Unit currently employs 14 staff. Of those 14, eight are allocated to the Intelligence Support Section.