Prison governors should be encouraged to empty prison wings during the day, using release on temporary licence (ROTL) and get far more prisoners out on temporary release to engage in work, training and education in the community, a new briefing by the Prison Reform Trust (PRT) says.

As part of its forthcoming employment strategy for prisoners, the government should introduce a radical approach to using release on temporary licence (ROTL) at scale across the prison estate. This would be a huge incentive to good behaviour in prison as well as an effective aid to resettlement, the briefing suggests.

The Police Federation of England and Wales’ annual conference is taking place at the ICC in Birmingham on May 22 and 23 – and organisers are urging those wishing to attend to register now.

Running from 9am on the Tuesday with an opening address from chair Calum Macleod, and concluding at 5pm on Wednesday, the theme for this year is “Protecting the Protectors – the reality of policing”, focusing on issues including better protection for officers assaulted on duty and for those who undertake emergency response and pursuit drives.