Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment has been made of the adequacy of support for problem gamblers serving (a) custodial and (b) suspended sentences.

Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) delivers a broad range of interventions to address individual’s criminogenic risks and needs, including an accredited offending behaviour programme to improve thinking skills. While it was not specifically formulated with problem gambling including addiction in mind, the programme aims to enable participants to be less impulsive, more flexible and less rigid in their thinking. It also tackles a number of the cognitive deficits common to gamblers.

A number of prisons provide access and signposting to external, specialist organisations such as Gamblers Anonymous and “Gamcare” or using debt counselling services and services provided through the chaplaincy and education services. In addition, all prisoners are seen by NHS healthcare services on reception and can be referred to addiction services to help address problem gambling.

Probation staff also assess individual needs and can assist with referrals to local or national services to address gambling or to access debt counselling services where suitable, including those on suspended sentences. A support guide for staff supervising those with gambling issues has been produced.