Our new Approved Premises (APs) inspection programme began in July 2025.
Approved Premises (APs) are residential units providing a temporary placement in the community for high-risk and complex people on probation and offer enhanced supervision and rehabilitative support to individuals following their release from prison.
They have two main roles: to help rehabilitate and resettle those who have committed some of the most serious offences and to make sure that the public are protected during an individual’s early months in the community.
Our focus through these inspections is on how well APs protect the public and promote rehabilitation. We look at whether they do so in an environment that is safe, governed and led effectively and staffed by people who are skilled, motivated, and supported to do a good job.
We inspect APs over a period of one week, with on-site fieldwork taking place over two days, on the Wednesday and Thursday. Inspectors rate APs against five standards which contribute both to effective service delivery, and areas that AP residents told us are important to them. These are leadership, staffing, safety, public protection, and rehabilitation.
Contextual information
Of the 104 APs in England and Wales, eight are women-only and most are men-only. Twelve are Psychologically Informed Planned Environments (PIPEs) which are co-commissioned with NHS England. Fourteen APs are independent, including six of the eight women-only APs*. These independent APs are led by third sector providers that are contract managed by the Probation Services. They are mostly owned by charities with boards of trustees and operate as a component of the AP estate and are delivered under contract and partnership with HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).
*Numbers correct as of 01 September 2025.