National Preventive Mechanism Eleventh Annual Report 2019–20 An HMIPS report on an expert review of the provision of mental health services for young people entering and in custody at HMP YOI Polmont was published in May 2019.63 Recommendations included enhanced and more consistent Death in Prison Learning Audit and Review processes, by the Scottish Prison Service, to maximise learning from previous incidents, and further consideration by the Scottish Government of how the justice system can better respond to international evidence about maturation and alternative models of secure care. Reviews into prison conditions in Northern Ireland In November 2016, the Ministers of Justice and Health in Northern Ireland announced a joint review of vulnerable people in custody. This followed five consecutive deaths in prison in Northern Ireland, four relating to mental health issues, and incidents of prisoners committing acts of serious self-harm. Publication of the report has been paused, partly due to the delay in establishing the Executive in Northern Ireland. In December 2018, RQIA was commissioned to complete the report, which is now expected in June 2021. Prisoner voting rights Government and Elections (Wales) Bill, brought forward by the Welsh Government in March 2020, would, if passed, allow prisoners sentenced to less than four years to register to vote in Assembly and local government elections. Similarly, in 2018 guidance was issued to the Northern Ireland Prison Service that prisoners were allowed to vote if they were on unaccompanied temporary release or were released early on licence during the custodial element of their sentence on Conditional Early Release. There are no further plans to introduce voting for prisoners in England, though proposals were made in 2017 to allow prisoners on release on temporary licence (ROTL) to vote. This is despite a judgment made in 2005 (Hirst v United Kingdom (No 2)) which found the blanket ban on UK prisoners exercising the right to vote is contrary to the European Convention on Human Rights.64 Children in detention Significant attention has been paid to children in custody and secure care nationally and internationally over the period. There have also been legislative and policy developments on the care and treatment of children across the UK. In Scotland, the Scottish Elections (Franchise and Representation) Act 2020 will allow prisoners to vote in local and Scottish elections when they are serving a sentence of less than 12 months. The passing of this legislation was significant, as it was the first to require a super majority (two-thirds of all Members of Scottish Parliaments (MSPs)) to back it. It was voted through in February 2020 and received Royal Assent on 1 April 2020. Amendments to the Local 63 64 26 HMIPS, May 2019, Report on Expert Review of Provision of Mental Health Services at HMP YOI Polmont, available: https:// www.prisonsinspectoratescotland.gov.uk/publications/report-expert-review-provision-mental-health-services-hmp-yoipolmont [accessed 24/08/2020] House of Commons Library, August 2020, Research Briefing: Prisoners’ voting rights: developments since May 2015, https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-7461/ [accessed 24/08/2020]