Stephen Shaw (ombudsman)
Encyclopedia
Stephen Shaw, CBE is former Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
for England
and Wales
. He was first appointed Prisons Ombudsman in October 1999; from September 1, 2001 his remit was extended to take in complaints against the National Probation Service (NPS) from those under supervision in the community. His remit was further extended to take in complaints from those in immigration detention
in October 2006. He departed in April 2010.
In 2003-04, Mr Shaw personally led the investigations into a number of deaths in prison
s in England, the first time such deaths had been investigated independently. From April 1, 2004, the Ombudsman’s office has been responsible for the investigation of all deaths in prisons and immigration removal centres, as well as the deaths of residents of NPS hostel
s (approved premises). Mr Shaw’s office conducts around 200 such investigations each year. The office also has a discretionary power to investigate post-release deaths.
In 2009, Mr Shaw chaired two public inquiries into serious self-harm
incidents that have not resulted in death (he stepped down from the second of these in June). These ‘near deaths’ may also invoke the investigative obligation under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights
.
As Ombudsman, Mr Shaw conducted a range of other investigations including the major inquiry into the fire
and disturbance that occurred at Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre
in February 2002. He also served as one of two independent members of the Parole Board’s
review committee that considers the cases of released prisoners who have committed serious further offences.
Prior to becoming Prisons Ombudsman, Mr Shaw was director of the Prison Reform Trust
(PRT) charity for eighteen years.
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman for England and Wales is an independent body appointed by the Secretary of State for Justice to investigate complaints from prisoners and those subject to probation supervision, or those upon whom reports have been written...
for England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. He was first appointed Prisons Ombudsman in October 1999; from September 1, 2001 his remit was extended to take in complaints against the National Probation Service (NPS) from those under supervision in the community. His remit was further extended to take in complaints from those in immigration detention
Immigration detention
Immigration detention is the policy of holding individuals suspected of visa violations, illegal entry or unauthorised arrival, and those subject to deportation and removal in detention until a decision is made by immigration authorities to grant a visa and release them into the community, or to...
in October 2006. He departed in April 2010.
In 2003-04, Mr Shaw personally led the investigations into a number of deaths in prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
s in England, the first time such deaths had been investigated independently. From April 1, 2004, the Ombudsman’s office has been responsible for the investigation of all deaths in prisons and immigration removal centres, as well as the deaths of residents of NPS hostel
Hostel
Hostels provide budget oriented, sociable accommodation where guests can rent a bed, usually a bunk bed, in a dormitory and share a bathroom, lounge and sometimes a kitchen. Rooms can be mixed or single-sex, although private rooms may also be available...
s (approved premises). Mr Shaw’s office conducts around 200 such investigations each year. The office also has a discretionary power to investigate post-release deaths.
In 2009, Mr Shaw chaired two public inquiries into serious self-harm
Self-harm
Self-harm or deliberate self-harm includes self-injury and self-poisoning and is defined as the intentional, direct injuring of body tissue most often done without suicidal intentions. These terms are used in the more recent literature in an attempt to reach a more neutral terminology...
incidents that have not resulted in death (he stepped down from the second of these in June). These ‘near deaths’ may also invoke the investigative obligation under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights
European Convention on Human Rights
The Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms is an international treaty to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms in Europe. Drafted in 1950 by the then newly formed Council of Europe, the convention entered into force on 3 September 1953...
.
As Ombudsman, Mr Shaw conducted a range of other investigations including the major inquiry into the fire
Fire
Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. Slower oxidative processes like rusting or digestion are not included by this definition....
and disturbance that occurred at Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre
Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre
Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre is an immigration detention centre at Milton Ernest in the Borough of Bedford in Bedfordshire. It opened on 19 November 2001 and was built to hold up to 900 people making it the largest immigration detention centre in Europe at the time. Since opening in 2001...
in February 2002. He also served as one of two independent members of the Parole Board’s
Parole Board for England and Wales
The Parole Board for England and Wales was established in 1968 under the Criminal Justice Act of 1967. It became an independent executive non-departmental public body on 1 July 1996 under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. The Parole Board's role is to make risk assessments about...
review committee that considers the cases of released prisoners who have committed serious further offences.
Prior to becoming Prisons Ombudsman, Mr Shaw was director of the Prison Reform Trust
Prison Reform Trust
The Prison Reform Trust was founded in 1981 in London, England by a small group of prison reform campaigners who were unhappy with the direction in which the Howard League for Penal Reform was heading, concentrating more on community punishments than on traditional prison reform issues...
(PRT) charity for eighteen years.