This session explores the use of force in adult prisons in England and Wales through the lens of the Swiss Cheese Model - a framework that helps us understand how incidents can arise when small gaps across different organisational layers align.
Drawing on national data of over 160,000 incidents and interviews with officers, managers, healthcare and prisoners, the talk highlights how force is often used in response to complex needs, and how staff are navigating these challenges with professionalism and care despite having limited support and training.
The talk maps risks and opportunities at different levels:
Frontline: Emotional strain, training needs, and the importance of support
Institutional: Gender- and age-specific challenges in managing vulnerability
Managerial/Policy: Variation in oversight and learning systems
Rather than viewing force as a single act, the session frames it as a signal of systemic strain—an opportunity to reflect, learn, and improve. It offers practical recommendations for training, governance, and staff support, and will be especially relevant to those working in prison operations, safety, and reform.
Moderated by Mariana Martin, Deputy Commissioner-General: Rehabilitation and Reintegration, Namibian Correctional Service, Namibia
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Sarah Ashcroft
Head of Operational Response and Resilience Unit and International Engagement Lead, HMPPS, England, United Kingdom
Sarah Ashcroft serves as Head of the Operational Response and Resilience Unit and International Engagement Lead at His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). With extensive experience across multiple levels of the prison service, she plays a pivotal role in shaping national policy and operational readiness.
Sarah is responsible for Use of Force policy and oversees the deployment of the National Tactical Response Group—a specialist unit tasked with responding to the most challenging incidents in custody, including hostage situations. She co-authored the national vision for professional standards in Use of Force, published in Prison Service Journal, Issue 252, and continues to lead efforts to ensure safety, accountability, and resilience across the estate.
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Dr Grant Bosworth
Head of Insights and Assurance, HMPPS, United Kingdom
Dr. Grant Bosworth leads the Insights and Assurance team at His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), overseeing the monitoring and assurance of Use of Force across adult and youth custodial settings in England and Wales. With a PhD in behavioural psychology and a background in research methods and economics, he encourages an evidence-based approach to prison research and assurance.
He has co-authored a vision for professional standards in Use of Force for HMPPS (Prison Service Journal, Issue 252) and led a first-of-its-kind review of over 160,000 incidents of force from 2018–2023, now published by the Ministry of Justice on gov.uk.
