We have revised our Expectations for UK Armed Forces Service Custody Facilities (SCFs) and the Military Corrective Training Centre (MCTC) so that we can continue to fulfil our responsibility to deliver independent and objective assessments of outcomes for detainees held in military detention. The revision follows consultation with a range of stakeholders, including detainees held at the MCTC. Expectations for SCFs and the MCTC were previously published together in one set. Following our revision of expectations for both types of premises, they now have their own separate editions.

The two sets of Expectations have been developed independently and set out the criteria by which we inspect outcomes for detainees held in these establishments. The Expectations are underpinned by human rights treaties and standards.

The SCF expectations have been amended to make it easier to follow a detainee’s journey through from initial arrest to release or subsequent transfer to the MCTC.

For the MCTC, we have retained four healthy establishment tests – safety, respect, purposeful activity and rehabilitation and release planning. Rehabilitation and release planning is the new name for ‘Resettlement’, as it more accurately describes the content of that test. We have also included expectations for judging the effectiveness of leadership in the establishment.

We have thought carefully about the content of each test and made changes to reflect the particular challenges of military detention. For example, the MCTC holds men, women and children, so the revised Expectations have been revised to focus more clearly on the needs of these distinct groups. Previous inspections have identified shortcomings in public protection arrangements, so there is an increased focus on the risk of serious harm that a minority of detainees can represent on release. There is also a clearer focus on the different destinations for detainees on release. Many return to the services, but others need support as they face discharge and life back in the community.

We hope that the updates we have made to these Expectations will lead to improved outcomes for detainees.