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Prison inspection on the other side of the world

Published:

October 23, 2026

Podcast

This week, Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor is joined by Russell Underwood, Assistant Chief Inspector for the Office of the Inspectorate in New Zealand, to explore prison inspection on the other side of the world.

They discuss what prisons are like in New Zealand, the issues facing the system and where approaches differ from England and Wales. They also explore how the Office of the Inspectorate responds to risk and encourages improvement. Finally, they share the lessons that can be learned from the approaches to inspection in both countries.

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Prison inspection on the other side of the world