Stephen Shaw, CBE (born 26 March 1953) is former Prisons and Probation Ombudsman for England and Wales. He was first appointed Prisons Ombudsman in October 1999; from September 1, 2001 his remit was extended to take in complaints against the National Probation Service (NPS) from those under supervision in the community. His remit was further extended to take in complaints from those in immigration detention in October 2006. He departed in April 2010.
In 2003-04, Mr Shaw personally led the investigations into a number of deaths in prisons in England, the first time such deaths had been investigated independently. From April 1, 2004, the Ombudsman’s office has been responsible for the investigation of all deaths in prisons and immigration removal centres, as well as the deaths of residents of NPS hostels (approved premises). Mr Shaw’s office conducts around 200 such investigations each year. The office also has a discretionary power to investigate post-release deaths.
In 2009, Mr Shaw chaired two public inquiries into serious self-harm incidents that have not resulted in death (he stepped down from the second of these in June). These ‘near deaths’ may also invoke the investigative obligation under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
As Ombudsman, Mr Shaw conducted a range of other investigations including the major inquiry into the fire and disturbance that occurred at Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre in February 2002. He also served as one of two independent members of the Parole Board’s review committee that considers the cases of released prisoners who have committed serious further offences.
Prior to becoming Prisons Ombudsman, Mr Shaw was director of the Prison Reform Trust (PRT) charity for eighteen years.