Prisoners: Incentives and Earned Privileges Scheme

In November 2013, the National Offender Management Service revised the Incentives and Earned Privileges scheme for prisoners – this was the first review of the policy for 10 years. When coming to his role as Justice Secretary, Chris Grayling announced that the current policy was in need of an overhaul. He said that he wanted to ensure that the new policy properly addressed the issue of reoffending and was something that the public would have confidence in.

The changes have been controversial, particularly in relation to prisoners’ ability to have steel-stringed guitars in their possession or to receive books sent from outside prison.

It was reported on 29 July 2014 that, in response to feedback from prison governors, the ban on steel-stringed guitars had been reversed, although the ban on receiving books would remain.