The post of Prisons and Probation Ombudsman was established in 1994 in response to a recommendation of the Woolf Inquiry into riots at Strangeways and other Prisons.

The Ombudsman provides independent adjudication of complaints from prisoners, offenders under probation supervision and immigration detainees and also investigates deaths, due to any cause, in detention and approved premises.

The Secretary of State for Justice has agreed to an extension of tenure for the current Ombudsman, Nigel Newcomen, until 31 July 2017.