The government has introduced an AI transcription tool, 'Justice Transcribe', developed by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS). The tool, designed to help probation officers record meeting notes, was rolled out to all officers between February and March 2026, following testing and a 2025 pilot.
It is estimated that 'Justice Transcribe' will save officers around 450,000 hours a year and improve note quality, allowing them to focus more on engaging with the people they supervise. The National Audit Office (NAO) viewed the AI tool positively in a new report on Wednesday, citing it as an example of technology supporting frontline public sector services.
Catherine McKinnell, minister for prisons, probation and reducing reoffending, stated the tool has saved staff close to a quarter of a million hours of administrative work, enabling them to focus on reducing reoffending. The introduction of the tool coincides with ongoing measures to address prison overcrowding, which has led to a second batch of hundreds of prisoners being released early on Tuesday under a scheme for inmates serving fixed sentences of up to 19 months.
The MoJ is also considering expanding 'Justice Transcribe' for use within the prison and court systems, as well as by the police.