Section two The NPM in 2019–20 • CQC responded to the Joint Committee on Human Rights ( JCHR) investigation into the detention of young people with learning disabilities and/or autism. The final report from the inquiry made important recommendations relating to CQC. In its response to the JCHR, CQC noted the need to improve the way in which mental health, learning disability and/or autism services are regulated to protect the human rights of those in detention. • HIW contributed to work on the Code of Practice for the new LPS. • RQIA submitted observations on the Mental Capacity (NI) Act 2016, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards Code of Practice. • CI contributed to the Scottish Government’s consultation on raising the criminal age of responsibility from eight to 12. It is hoped that the new laws will reduce the possibility of children under the age of 12 being placed in secure settings. • CJINI’s new Chief Inspector, Jacqui Durkin, appeared before the Northern Ireland Justice Committee in March 2020 to provide an introductory briefing on the work of the Inspectorate and summarise the findings of inspection reports published since January 2017. • HMICS responded to a Scottish Government consultation on the Letter of Rights (the documentation given to people detained in police custody with information on their legal rights). HMICS also contributed to the Scottish Government’s consultation on Strategic Police Priorities, which were published in December 2019. The new priorities reflect key NPM principles, including equality and human rights to support positive criminal justice outcomes, and emphasise the importance of collaborative work to improve outcomes for individuals. • HMI Prisons made written submissions to a range of consultations and inquiries, commented on the draft Detention Services Orders and gave oral evidence to Parliamentary committees, including the Justice Select Committee inquiry into prison governance and the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee (National Assembly for Wales) inquiry into provision of health and social care in the adult prison estate. • HMIPS gave evidence to the Equalities and Human Rights Committee on its inquiry into prisoner voting in Scotland, supporting the extension of voting rights to all prisoners. HMIPS also provided written evidence to the Justice Committee on the Management of Offenders (Scotland) Bill where it supported the greater use of electronic monitoring as an alternative to custodial sentencing. Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector presented evidence to the Justice, Public Audit and post-legislative Scrutiny parliamentary committees on the 2018–19 audit of the Scottish Prison Service. Following this, the Justice Committee visited HMP Barlinnie and found the conditions there gravely concerning, and paid tribute to the hard work of staff. HMIPS continued to participate in the parliamentary crossparty group for Women and Justice and the First Ministers’ National Advisory Council on women and girls. • As a result of the IMB evidence given to the Justice Select Committee inquiry on prison governance, the Committee recommended that the national IMB structure be given statutory underpinning by the MoJ to safeguard IMB independence at a national level. IMBs also contributed to HM Prison and Probation Service’s (HMPPS) consultations on use of force, raising concerns about 73