The work undertaken by Prison Visiting Committees provides an invaluable perspective on our prisons and the experiences of those in their care, and ensures important issues are highlighted.
There are currently Prison Visiting Committee in place in all prisons, including Cloverhill.
Following a review of the Prison Visiting Committees, the report on a Review of Prison Visiting Committees, completed in 2023, makes a series of recommendations, including that a public competition to select members is the appropriate approach to take in appointing members of committees in the future.
I have now approved a new process for appointments to Committees through Expressions of Interest, which will be advertised by the Public Appointment Service in the near future.