Safer Custody and Offender Policy Group

Safer Custody & Offender Policy (SCOP) is part of the Commissioning & Operational Policy Directorate in the National Offender Management Service (NOMS). The 'Safer Custody' side of the group is responsible for Safer Custody policy develoment. This includes Safer Prisons and accommodation for offenders, Suicide Prevention, Self-harm Management and Violence Reduction. It also manages and supports NOMS’ partnership with Samaritans. Area Safer Custody Advisors are also based in each geographical prison area, working closely with SCOP. They also have some responsibility for supporting the Samaritans' relationship with the Prison Service at regional and local level.

National Offender Management Service (NOMS)

The National Offender Management Service in the Home Office was established in 2004. Its objective is to reduce re-offending, which at the time of writing (April 2006) is around 60%. NOMS manages the Probation Service, Prison Service and works with external agencies to produce policies and services which manage offenders from 'end-to-end' of their sentence, i.e. from the time they enter the Criminal Justice System to resettlement once their sentence has been served.

For more information, visit:

NOMS on justice.gov.uk

HM Prison Service on justice.gov.uk