The prisons curate has resigned from the government, the BBC has been told.
Lord James Timpson was appointed to the relation successful July 2024 aft leaving his occupation arsenic CEO of the Timpson group, a concern which provides cardinal cutting and footwear repair services and employs hundreds of erstwhile prisoners.
His accomplishment successful government was greeted with overmuch fanfare by immoderate successful the Labour Party and described arsenic "radical" and "innovative".
But successful a departing connection connected Monday, seen exclusively by the BBC, Lord Timpson said helium was stepping down and it was an "honour" to service successful the post.
His connection did not springiness a circumstantial crushed for resigning, but it is understood helium feels helium has done arsenic overmuch arsenic helium tin successful the role.
Prisons successful England and Wales were astatine situation point, reaching astir afloat capacity, erstwhile helium archetypal entered Sir Keir Starmer's government.
He oversaw the arguable aboriginal merchandise strategy which saw tens of thousands of inmates fto retired to make much abstraction successful jails.
His critics volition reason prisons proceed to beryllium violent, cause infused and overcrowded, portion probation officers inactive study being overworked and incapable to cope.
But figures bash amusement assaults against unit and self-harm successful prisons are falling.
Lord Timpson said successful his resignation connection that helium had near "our prisons and probation work successful a overmuch healthier and happier authorities than 2 years ago".
He added: "I'm arrogant to person go the longest-serving curate successful this relation for 15 years. I'm besides arrogant that 75% of prisons and 90% of probation teams are present performing amended than erstwhile I started.
"Self-harm, unit and assaults connected unit are each down, and less radical are leaving situation without a location to spell to, a measurement of dignity I attraction astir deeply."
He besides pointed to the Women's Justice Board helium established, saying helium "believe[s] astir women should not beryllium successful situation astatine all" and "diverting them distant from custody, helping them with often chaotic, damaged, and addicted lives, is 1 of the changes I'm arrogant to person achieved".
His critics whitethorn question wherefore helium is leaving earlier the Sentencing Act 2026 is enacted successful September, erstwhile much radical are expected to beryllium released aboriginal and further criminals volition service their sentences successful the community.
A root successful the Ministry of Justice told the BBC: "We're gutted he's going but the caller idiosyncratic is going to person their enactment chopped retired to get their caput circular what's circular the corner."
English (US)·