Prison
Cat D
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Kirkham
IMB Annual Report 2022 · Published 20 October 2023
HMP Kirkham, a Category D open prison, maintained a population of 470 against a capacity of 699 during 2022. The Board reported low levels of violence and no deaths in custody, commending staff efforts to re-establish a workable regime post-Covid. Key concerns included the persistent transfer of unsuitable prisoners, the urgent need for CCTV and in-cell technology upgrades, and the curtailment of prisoner activities due to staff redeployments. Despite challenges, 100% of prisoners were accommodated on release, and 62% secured employment.
Positive Findings
The Board commended the planning and careful implementation of a workable regime post-Covid, supported by positive and proactive staff. HMP Kirkham is considered a safe environment with low levels of violence and a positive approach to resettlement. Improvements were noted in addressing disability review recommendations and implementing an abscond strategy. The Board praised the cohesive SMT, the effective healthcare team, and the pivotal chaplaincy. Positively, 100% of prisoners were accommodated on release, and 62% secured employment post-release.
Key Concerns
Safety
Repeated
The continued transfer of prisoners unsuitable for open conditions, leading to an increased number of returns to closed conditions (187 in 2022 vs 149 in 2021) due to drugs and behaviour issues, despite ministers' assurances.
Estate/Conditions
The CCTV system is in need of an urgent upgrade.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The lack of in-cell technology and telephony is a contributing factor to the use of illicit mobile phones and all its ramifications, concerning the use of drugs, debt and bullying.
Staffing
Whilst staffing is at a high level and the number of prisoners remains relatively low, various activities, including gym, C2W and the mail room, have been curtailed due to staff being redeployed to operational duties, such as escorts and checks on potential employers.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The disparity in prisoner pay between outworkers and those working in activities is a cause for concern, leading to discontent among the prisoners.
Estate/Conditions
Improvements need to be made around adding ventilation in the bathrooms to reduce condensation. The showers that have not yet been refurbished need to also take priority. There are still recurring problems with the heating and hot water supplies to some billets.
Healthcare
Waiting time for standard dental check-ups is 21 weeks.
Other
The volume of property received on transfer creates issues, and clearer guidance for property transfers between prisons would be well received to reduce angst amongst prisoners.
Substance Misuse
Drug usage has decreased but is still a concern and an enduring problem across the north-west region in the closed and open estate.
Board Commentary
Staffing
The prison experienced staff shortages in substance misuse and healthcare, and staffing issues impacted education attendance. The Board noted that while overall staffing was at a high level, redeployments curtailed some activities like the gym, C2W, and the mail room. Key worker schemes under the OMiC model improved staff-prisoner contact, and there is now a full complement of POMs and probation officers. Recruitment for a dedicated diversity and inclusion post is underway.
Healthcare
Spectrum Community Health provides healthcare, with Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Trust handling mental health services. The healthcare team, despite low staffing and some shortages in substance misuse, is well-established and skilled, providing essential services. Waiting times are generally low for GP, optician, psychiatrist, and physiotherapy, but dental check-ups have a significant 21-week wait. Mental health services provide a range of therapies and support for continuity of care post-release, and Buvidal prescribing has positively impacted the population.
Regime & Daily Life
Re-establishing a workable regime post-Covid was challenging but successfully implemented with staff effort. However, exercise regimes remain reduced due to the lack of suitable gym facilities (a new one is under construction) and staff redeployments. Some activities, including gym and C2W, have been curtailed as a result. Parkrun has become a regular feature in the Saturday morning programme.
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 | 1 | 2 | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 0 | 0 | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives, sanctions | 2 | 0 | |
| Equality | 0 | 0 | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 2 | 0 | |
| Food and kitchens | 0 | 0 | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 0 | 3 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 1 | 3 | |
| Miscellaneous, including complaints system | 1 | 0 | |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 7 | 4 | |
| Property within this establishment | 0 | 1 | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 2 | 1 | |
| Sentence management, including HDC, ROTL, parole, release dates, recategorisation | 5 | 7 | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 1 | 0 | |
| Transfers | 0 | 0 |
Recommendations (7)
Ministry of Justice: 1
HMPPS: 3
Governor / Director: 3
1 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Despite ministers’ assurances over the last five years that the categorisation of prisoners was being correctly implemented, a total of 187 prisoners were returned to closed conditions, mainly due to drugs and behaviour issues. Trust plays a big part in an open prison, and those requiring closer supervision need to be returned to closed conditions. This figure has increased from the previous year (149), despite population numbers remaining low.
Ministry of Justice
Safety
Response
Intervention by the Secretary of State; The categorisation is being carried out correctly (but this has not solved the issue)
Recommendation 2
While a number of major projects (i.e. new timbers building, new gym and new concept building) have either been completed or are well advanced, the CCTV is in need of an urgent upgrade.
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 3
The lack of in-cell technology and telephony is a contributing factor to the use of illicit mobile phones and all its ramifications, concerning the use of drugs, debt and bullying. Feedback suggests that category D prisons are at the bottom of the list where funding is concerned. Whilst the pressure on budgets is recognised, this is considered a short-sighted approach, as the rollout of in-cell telephony would go a long way to reducing the level of illicit phones and providing a significant and well-received benefit to the prisoners.
HMPPS
Regime
Recommendation 4
The IMB is concerned that, whilst staffing is at a high level and the number of prisoners remains relatively low, various activities, including gym, C2W and the mail room, have been curtailed due to staff being redeployed to operational duties, such as escorts and checks on potential employers.
Governor / Director
Staffing
Recommendation 5
The disparity in prisoner pay between outworkers and those working in activities is a cause for concern. This is leading to issues within farms and gardens and timbers, resulting in discontent among the prisoners.
Governor / Director
Regime
Recommendation 6
It is recommended that prisoners are transferred with an overnight bag only, with remaining property delivered the following day or as soon as possible following transfer.
HMPPS
Other
Recommendation 7
Improvements need to be made around adding ventilation in the bathrooms to reduce condensation. The showers that have not yet been refurbished need to also take priority. There are still recurring problems with the heating and hot water supplies to some billets.
Governor / Director
Estate
Other IMB Reports for Kirkham
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
9 Sep 2024
Unannounced
Safety: 3
Respect: 2
Activity: 2
Release: 2
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.