Announcement of preferred candidate for HM Chief Inspector of Prisons
Charlie Taylor announced as candidate for next Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons.
The Lord Chancellor, Rt Hon. Robert Buckland QC, confirmed today that his preferred candidate to be the next Chief Inspector of Prisons is Charlie Taylor - currently adviser to the Department for Education (DfE) on the development of new school-based behaviour hubs.
Mr Taylor has been selected following a rigorous assessment process conducted in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments. A panel of four, including two external members, assessed each of the candidates prior to consideration by the Lord Chancellor.
The role is subject to a pre-appointment hearing by the Justice Select Committee. Pre-appointment scrutiny is an important part of the appointment process for some of the most significant public appointments made by Ministers. It is designed to provide an added level of scrutiny to the appointment process.
Pre-appointment hearings are held in public and allow a Select Committee to take evidence before a candidate is appointed. Ministers consider the Committee’s views before deciding whether to proceed with the appointment.
HM Chief Inspectorate of Prisons
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons is an independent inspectorate. The Chief Inspector reports directly to Ministers, but operates independently of Government and the services under its scrutiny. The Chief Inspector has a duty to report on conditions for and treatment of those in prison, young offender institutions, secure training centres, immigration detention facilities, police and court custody suites, customs custody facilities and military detention in England and Wales.
Charlie Taylor Biography
Mr Taylor has over twenty-five years’ experience within education and has a longstanding interest in youth justice.
Mr Taylor is currently an adviser to the Department for Education (DfE) on the development of new school-based behaviour hubs. Prior to this, Mr Taylor was the Chair of the Youth Justice Board, and in 2019 he conducted an independent review into the use of pain inducing techniques in the Youth Secure Estate. In 2015, Mr Taylor was commissioned by the Ministry of Justice to conduct a review into the Youth Justice System in England and Wales. In 2012, Mr Taylor was the Chief Executive Officer at the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL), and in 2011-12, he acted as an Expert Advisor to the DfE on children’s behaviour.