Criminal justice joint inspections

HMICFRS has a long history of engaging in joint inspection activity with:

• HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate;
• HM Inspectorate of Probation;
• HM Inspectorate of Prisons; and
• until its closure, HM Inspectorate of Court Administration.

The Police and Justice Act 2006 established a statutory responsibility on each of the five inspectorates to:

• co-operate with each other, and other named inspectorates
• draw up a joint inspection programme and associated framework
• consult their Secretary of State, other inspectorates and named stakeholders in the formulation of the plan
• act as ‘gatekeeper’ for all inspection of specified organisations, and
• delegate authority to inspect such organisations to each other, or other public authorities, as appropriate.