CAT/OP/GBR/CSPRO/1 prisoners. Prisons are challenging places to live and work. Staff and prisoners are increasingly exposed to threats including levels of violence, the impacts of substance misuse and criminal activity, all of which increase the risk for potential physical harm. Reducing violence and improving staff prisoner relationships will reduce the need for force to be used. 66. We are working with the Race Action Plan team to tackle disproportionality. We have accepted the Lammy recommendation that Use of Force committees should not be ethnically homogenous and involve at least one individual with explicit remit to consider interests of prisoners. We are working towards implementing this across all our prisons. 67. A Use of Force evaluation team has been established to conduct research into use of force in prisons, and we will use this evidence to inform our approach moving forward, so that we can use evidence-based practice to tackle disproportionality. Scotland 68. In 2021, Police Scotland will engage in a consultation with community stakeholders in order to inform revised Use of Force Policy. As part of the consultation views will be sought from ethnic minority stakeholders on policies that ensure proportionate use of force. 69. Operational Safety Training Instructors will also undertake for the first time, additional, externally provided Equality and Diversity training in order to better inform training development and operational safety course content. The training will deepen their understanding of equality and diversity related issues in their role in the provision of advice on the proportionate use of force. Police Scotland intend to utilise this enhanced knowledge to provide specific tactical advice to officers to counteract the effect of any biases they may hold. “c) implement programmes, which support reintegration, produce tangible outcomes and focus on preventing reoffending of persons from ethnic minority background in prisons,” 70. Across the range of interventions and programmes that address reducing reoffending, we will need to ensure that we understand the impact across cohorts and consider how we address specific needs in all that we do. This can be observed in our evaluation programme and our work analysing the drivers of reoffending for cohorts. We aim to carry out equality impact assessments in our programmes and work to ensure that factors such as protected characteristics, do not act as a hinderance for successful rehabilitation. 71. Following the HMIP ‘Thematic review of Minority ethnic prisoners’ experiences of rehabilitation and release planning’ an action plan has been agreed to enable Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) to make the changes identified to improve matters for the identified cohort. Fundamentally, the purpose of this work is to understand the cultural needs of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) and Gypsy, Roma and Travellers (GRT) prisoners in order to provide improved and culturally sensitive services around rehabilitation and release planning. This will include working to identify potential areas of discrimination and embedding improvements into the services HMPPS offers so that minority ethnic prisoners’ experiences are improved, aiding their rehabilitation. “d) reduce the over-representation of children from ethnic minorities in youth custody, including through adoption of alternatives to detention;” 72. We want people to have confidence in a justice system where no person suffers discrimination of any sort. We share where we are now in terms of disproportionality. We will understanding and tackling of disproportionality within the recognise the absolute need for systemic change. that is fair and open - one deeply the concerns about continue to prioritise the youth justice system and 73. While there is important work to be done to improve the treatment and outcomes of these communities in the Criminal Justice System, this will only partially address the key issues linked to over-representation. This is because the ‘upstream’ factors that lead to crime are similarly disproportional. That is why there have been wider efforts by the Government to tackle over-representation through health, education and policing - demonstrating the significance of a holistic approach. 13