Charlie Taylor has today (2 November 2020) started as Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons, after being appointed in the role by the Queen. He leads HM Inspectorate of Prisons, reporting directly to ministers but operating independently of government and the services inspected.

Mr Taylor, who follows Peter Clarke in the post, has more than 25 years’ experience in education, having taught in both primary and secondary schools in inner London. He has a longstanding interest in supporting children with special educational needs, and in youth justice. He is a former Chair of the Youth Justice Board (YJB) for England and Wales (from 2017 to 2020) and has acted as an adviser to government on children’s behaviour.

Mr Taylor said: “It is an enormous honour to be taking on the role of Chief Inspector of Prisons. The Inspectorate has an international reputation as a fearless, independent organisation that provides expert scrutiny of our prisons, immigration detention centres, police cells and court detention.

“I am extremely fortunate to be taking over from Peter Clarke, who has been an outstanding and inspirational leader during what have been some turbulent times. Recently he and his team have made sure that, despite the huge challenges caused by coronavirus, the Inspectorate has continued to operate effectively and safely, providing essential feedback for governors, the prison service, ministers, parliament and the public.”