Prison
Cat Women's, YOI
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
New Hall
IMB Annual Report 2023 · Published 3 November 2023
HMP/YOI New Hall reported a population of 335 and an operational capacity of 381 for the year ending February 2023. The prison saw a significant reduction in self-harm incidents (609, down from 965) and use of force, alongside a good HMIP report and positive staff-prisoner relationships. Key concerns include underfunded trainee officer allocations, slow recruitment checks, the need to address OFSTED recommendations, and frustrating waiting lists for prisoner jobs.
Positive Findings
The Board noted an overall good HMIP report and positive changes within the senior management team, leading to new initiatives. Excellent work on the first night centre, successful HOPE project, and the positive impact of in-cell technology were highlighted. Staff-prisoner relationships were very good, and new healthcare education programmes were well received. The prison also initiated a Literacy Innovation Fund project and effectively reduced illicit substances through intelligence-led searches.
Key Concerns
Other
Funding to enable a “drop down” spends allowance for a prisoner, which takes into account the rising cost of living.
Staffing
There are concerns over the number of new trainee officers allocated to the prison, which are not funded and above the staffing requirements resulting in prison being subject to detached duty.
Staffing
Speedier security and background checks for new recruits to enable them to come into the prison within an appropriate time from initial offer.
Education/Purposeful Activity
A strategy to meet the OFSTED recommendations following a disappointing inspection.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
There is a waiting list for most jobs within the prison. This causes frustration for prisoners who want to work.
Board Commentary
Staffing
There are concerns regarding the allocation of new trainee officers who are unfunded and exceed staffing requirements, leading to detached duties. The Board also recommends speedier security checks for new recruits. Despite this, relationships between staff and prisoners are very good, and the key worker scheme has been successfully established, benefiting support within the prison.
Healthcare
Healthcare, delivered by Practice Plus Group, successfully navigated post-Covid challenges by introducing new initiatives like yoga, menopause forums, and health promotions. Improvements include a new medication hatch and clinic schedule. While primary healthcare access is good, with some services like dentistry exceeding community standards, prisoner applications highlighted concerns around prescribing and the appropriateness of care.
Regime & Daily Life
The prison benefits from in-cell technology, including laptops and phones, which provides distraction and enhances contact with family, reducing calls to support services. Significant work is underway to split the main exercise yard, aiming to improve access to activities and outdoor time for a larger portion of the population. However, there are frustrating waiting lists for most jobs, impacting prisoners' ability to engage in purposeful activity.
Applications to the IMB
Prisoners can apply to their IMB about any aspect of their treatment. This table shows application counts by category.
| Category | Current | Previous | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation, including laundry, clothing, ablutions | 7 | 11 | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogues | 1 | 2 | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions | 5 | 4 | |
| Equality | 4 | 2 | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 5 | 7 | |
| Food and kitchens | 2 | 1 | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 28 | 23 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection, restrictions | 12 | 13 | |
| Miscellaneous | 10 | 8 | |
| Property during transfer or in another facility | 4 | 3 | |
| Property within the establishment | 6 | 4 | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, time out of cell | 9 | 12 | |
| Sentence management, including HDC, ROTL, parole, release dates, re-categorisation | 4 | 95 | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 10 | 11 | |
| Transfers | 2 | 2 | — |
Recommendations (5)
Ministry of Justice: 1
HMPPS: 2
Governor / Director: 2
Recommendation 1
Funding to enable a “drop down” spends allowance for a prisoner, which takes into account the rising cost of living.
Ministry of Justice
Finance
Recommendation 2
There are concerns over the number of new trainee officers allocated to the prison, which are not funded and above the staffing requirements resulting in prison being subject to detached duty.
HMPPS
Staffing
Recommendation 3
Speedier security and background checks for new recruits to enable them to come into the prison within an appropriate time from initial offer.
HMPPS
Staffing
Recommendation 4
A strategy to meet the OFSTED recommendations following a disappointing inspection.
Governor / Director
Education
Recommendation 5
There is a waiting list for most jobs within the prison. This causes frustration for prisoners who want to work.
Governor / Director
Purposeful Activity
Other IMB Reports for New Hall
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.