Ministry of Justice accused of wasting £115,000 of taxpayers' money by hiring actors to play dead inmate's relatives in 'real-life' training scenario

By ISAAC CROWSON and SAM HUDSON and PATRICK HARRINGTON, UK NEWS REPORTER Published: 19:49, 12 August 2026 | Updated: 19:49, 12 August 2026 The Ministry of Justice has been accused of wasting taxpayer money on actors to play dead prisoners' relatives in 'bonkers' role-play training sessions. The department is set to spend £115,000 on actors to allow family liaison officers (FLOs) to practice breaking the news of an inmate's death to families. A contract has been advertised for organisations to supply two professional actors for a series of two-day sessions. It comes amid a national prisons crisis that is seeing dangerous criminals released early due to overcrowding. Critics argue the scheme, estimated to cost £115,000 over five years, is a waste of money and time.  Its five-year cost is almost equivalent to the annual salaries of three prison officers. During the training, family liaison officers will be assessed on their 'delivery and engagement skills'. The actors are supposed to bring 'a sense of realism to the scenarios in order for the FLOs to prepare for real life situations'. The Ministry of Justice has been accused of wasting taxpayer money on actors for 'bonkers' training sessions Tory MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: 'It's bonkers. This will not help things at all. 'Senior prison officers are the best people to do it (break the news). They work in a restricted environment. 'What you don't need to do is waste your money on actors. The government should be building temporary prisons to accommodate prisoners, rather than releasing dangerous criminals onto our streets. 'Burnham has got himself into a mess over this. 'This sounds to me like a ridiculous little distraction for the Government from the main issue, which is solving their imposed prison crisis.' Tendering out the opportunity to organisations who can bid for the contract, the MoJ wrote: 'Family Liaison Officers (FLOs) are responsible for maintaining communication with a prisoner's next of kin, including making initial contact and supporting families whilst handling sensitive discussions.  'In order to undertake this role, all FLOs complete a four-day training programme delivered by Prison Learning Design and Delivery (PLD&D) within HMPPS, which equips them with the skills to support family members through grief and bereavement following a prisoner's death, and terminal illness diagnoses. The actors will receive a brief outlining the role of the next of kin they are required to play. This will specify their relationship to the prisoner, key emotions they need to portray, their religion and information about their fictional background. The tender adds: 'There will not be a specific script, and instead actors are expected to respond and adapt to the interaction as it develops whilst remaining within the boundaries set out within the brief. 'Following the exercise, actors will provide feedback on the conversation with the FLO from the perspective of the next of kin, detailing how the FLO made them feel. 'The actors provided must have experience in role play, simulation or scenario based acting specifically where emotionally sensitive material is involved.' The government was already under pressure over its early release scheme after it emerged two of the killers of PC Andrew Harper will be among those let out. Ministers argue the early release initiative is needed to avoid the entire system collapsing. A Prison and Probation Service spokesperson said: 'The contract value covers a five-year period, making comparisons with an annual salary misleading.'