46
PRISONS AND PROBATION OMBUDSMAN
Making a complaint to the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) carries out independent investigations into complaints from people in prison and on probation. Frankie, a member of the PPO’s assessment team, tells us more about making a complaint.
A
s an Assessment Officer at the PPO, I’m part of the team that receives complaints from people in prison and assesses whether the PPO can investigate them or not. I’m also the first woman who has been in prison to be employed by the PPO. If you are reading this as a woman in prison, I have been where you are; I served two and a half years, so I understand what it feels like to be in your shoes. Now that I work for the PPO, I can see first-hand how they help people in prison with problems that the prison hasn’t been able to solve. I know that life in prison can be very difficult for women, and this is
where the PPO can really make a difference; it is their job to investigate complaints concerning your care, treatment, and supervision. I have seen cases, for example, where the PPO have arranged compensation for lost or damaged property and made sure decisions about temporary release are fair and in line with policy. It is important to mention that the PPO cannot help with a complaint if you haven’t first completed the internal complaints process. You must have submitted a complaints form (e.g. COMP1 and COMP1A) to the prison and the prison staff must have replied before you can approach
