News

  • Fragmented approach to duty of care for detained persons highlighted by Lay Observers in Annual Report

    In his second annual report to the Secretary of State for Justice, the Chairman of Lay Observers for England and Wales details failings in the care of people held in custody at courts and transported between police stations, prisons and courts by escort contractors.   In his annual report for 2016-17, Tony FitzSimons highlighted the … Read more >

  • Lay Observers at MoJ Public Appointments event, encouraging diversity

    The Public Appointment’s team’s ‘Engage, Encourage and Excite’ event took place this week in London, forming part of a wider strategy to increase the diversity of candidates to MoJ public appointee roles. Representing Lay Observers at this event were Moawia Bin-Sufyan (Lay Observer and also member at IMB Parc) and Rachel Stuart, Head of the Secretariat. Both spoke … Read more >

  • Lay Observer Autumn 2017 recruitment campaign now open

    Our Autumn 2017 recruitment campaign is now live. We are recruiting across England in the following areas: South West (Devon, Somerset & Avon) Oxfordshire South East (Sussex) London Essex/Hertfordshire Durham East Midlands (Derbyshire and Lincolnshire) North West (Manchester, Liverpool and Chester areas) West Midlands (Worcestershire) Applications will close at midnight, November 5th. To find out more and … Read more >

  • Recruitment campaign for Lay Observers now closed

    Our recruitment campaign for new Lay Observers has now closed. If you wish to be put on the vacancy alert list, please send an email to: LOrecruitment@justice.gsi.gov.uk.

  • Chair of Lay Observers publishes Annual Report for 2015/16

    Repeated communication failures and inconsistent medical support are causing risks to the health of detainees in court custody and their ability to communicate their defence adequately says Tony FitzSimons Chair of the Prisoner Escort and Custody Services Lay Observers in his annual report to the Secretary of State for Justice. In the report he urges … Read more >

  • Our website

    Welcome to the Lay Observers website. We hope you find the information here both helpful and informative. We also hope this site will encourage you to find out more about the organisation & consider becoming a new member, to undertake this interesting, challenging and important work.