Prison
Cat C
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Five Wells
IMB Annual Report 2023 · Published 12 September 2023
HMP Five Wells, a Category C prison, opened in February 2022 and housed 1200 prisoners by March 2023, below its operational capacity of 1680. The IMB noted successes such as positive visitor feedback and streamlined safeguarding, but raised significant concerns including widespread illicit items, severe staffing shortages, and numerous design flaws in the new build. Key areas needing development involve consistent regime application, improved food and canteen services, and the re-establishment of resettlement-focused programmes like ROTL.
Positive Findings
The Board welcomed the successful introduction of integrated wings for the general population and prisoners convicted of sexual offences. The standard of wing accommodation is good, with prompt attention to critical maintenance issues. Healthcare needs are generally met, and the safeguarding process has been streamlined. The prison has shown good engagement with local businesses, offering numerous employment opportunities for those approved for ROTL. Visitor feedback on the overall experience and family engagement events is overwhelmingly positive.
Key Concerns
Substance Misuse
The Board is concerned about the number and range of illicit items found in the prison. Drugs seem to be available on most houseblocks.
Staffing
A high proportion of operational staff have less than one year’s service and staff shortages mean they have little support.
Estate/Conditions
There are a number of design faults, eg, low mobility cells on each wing cannot be occupied for safety reasons, air flow on the landings is poor and the original gym location was unsuitable.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The application of the incentives scheme has been inconsistent, with enforcement dependent on the confidence and knowledge of staff on duty.
Food/Catering
The Board received many complaints from prisoners about the quality, quantity, and range of choices for food. There have been instances when the Board has observed food shortages and occasionally some prisoners going without meals.
Food/Catering
The canteen system, serviced by DHL, has been a major cause for concern, including the standard and shortage of items, and delays in prisoners receiving refunds.
Segregation
There has been inconsistent management of the segregation unit, with a regime which did not clearly distinguish between rights and privileges. Damage to cells in the unit resulted in one third being out of action at the end of the year.
Staffing
There is little evidence of key worker support, and the roll-out is behind schedule.
Healthcare
Only one of the two medication hatches has been commissioned on each houseblock, leading to delays of up to two hours and regime disruption.
Healthcare
Wheelchairs are not always available, and no maintenance system for the wheelchairs is in place.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Education provision had a slow start due to difficulties in recruiting tutors and a lengthy clearance process. Some vocational workshops were not equipped, and some had insufficient power supply.
Education/Purposeful Activity
The allocation procedure has been problematic, and prisoners were not always allocated an appropriate course in line with their resettlement plan. A recent survey indicates 23% of prisoners did not choose the course they are on.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Attendance in vocational workshops and education averaged at 56%, partly due to inconsistencies in penalising non-attendance.
Safety
The Head of Education has raised serious concerns about the safety of staff in his department.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Vocational training provision is behind schedule which has limited work opportunities for prisoners.
Staffing
Original and revised Key Working targets have not been met.
Resettlement/Release
ROTL has been suspended.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Intervention programmes have not been delivered as anticipated.
Estate/Conditions
What plans are there to ensure that design omissions in this new design prison are addressed in future builds?
Staffing
Staffing, equipment, and facilities were not all in place when the prison opened, and discrepancies remain. How can this situation be avoided in the future?
Resettlement/Release
The Board is concerned that many prisoners were transferred to Five Wells with the promise of an experience that was not available on arrival. This caused problems for prisoners and staff and affected their progression. What steps can be taken to prevent this happening in the future?
Resettlement/Release
A significant number of prisoners transferred to Five Wells were not suitable for what the prison had to offer. What steps can be taken to minimise this practice?
Staffing
Key work support has been eroded by staffing shortages and operational requirements. What steps are being taken to ensure prisoners get the support they need?
Complaints/Property
Loss of property (particularly for inter-prison transfers) is problematic and creates anxiety for prisoners and extra work for staff. What immediate steps are being taken to address this?
Food/Catering
How will the prison improve the canteen system? The Board considers the distribution and processing of missing items and refund process unworkable, time consuming and not fit for purpose.
Safety
What action can be taken to address concerns about the Prisoner Led Initiative (PLI) activities? The Board considers that whilst much of the work has had a positive impact, there are serious concerns (expressed by both prisoners and staff) about the methods of recruitment, selection, management, and supervision of some individuals.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The Board’s rota reports have highlighted that inconsistencies and frequent changes in regime have undermined the running of the houseblocks, with some staff feeling unsupported and lacking the confidence to enforce where necessary. What action will be taken to remedy this?
Board Commentary
Staffing
A significant concern is the high proportion of operational staff with less than one year's service, leading to staff shortages and limited support for new recruits. Prisoners report a lack of support from officers and inconsistent application of rules. The key worker roll-out is behind schedule, with key work support eroded by staffing shortages and operational demands, leading to many key working targets not being met. Staff reluctance to challenge prisoners' non-compliance with rules, such as vaping in unauthorised areas, has also been observed.
Healthcare
Healthcare provision is generally meeting prisoners' needs, although hampered by approximately 15 clinical staff vacancies, particularly in nursing and pharmacy. Only one of the two medication hatches on each houseblock is commissioned, causing delays of up to two hours and disrupting the regime. There is an inconsistent attendance of healthcare staff at ACCT reviews, and issues with the availability and maintenance of wheelchairs persist. Despite these challenges, two mental health transfers to secure hospitals were completed without delay.
Regime & Daily Life
Time out of cell is generally good, averaging 9.5 hours Monday to Thursday and 7 hours Friday to Sunday, though this has occasionally been affected by staff shortages. Inconsistencies and frequent changes in the regime have undermined the running of houseblocks, with staff feeling unsupported. The Board notes limited appropriate activities for older prisoners and expresses disappointment that a garden area, accessible from the vulnerable prisoner wing, is not used due to security reasons.
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 | 13 | — | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogues | 23 | — | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions | 9 | — | |
| Equality | 0 | — | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 21 | — | |
| Food and kitchens | 12 | — | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 18 | — | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection, restrictions | 23 | — | |
| Miscellaneous | 45 | — | |
| Property during transfer or in another facility | 43 | — | |
| Property within the establishment | 40 | — | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, time out of cell | 10 | — | |
| Sentence management, including HDC, ROTL, parole, release dates, re-categorisation | 22 | — | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 15 | — | |
| Transfers | 3 | — |
Recommendations (14)
Ministry of Justice: 1
HMPPS: 5
Governor / Director: 8
Recommendation 1
What plans are there to ensure that design omissions in this new design prison are addressed in future builds?
Ministry of Justice
Estate
Recommendation 2
Staffing, equipment, and facilities were not all in place when the prison opened, and discrepancies remain. How can this situation be avoided in the future?
HMPPS
Staffing
Recommendation 3
The Board is concerned that many prisoners were transferred to Five Wells with the promise of an experience that was not available on arrival. This caused problems for prisoners and staff and affected their progression. What steps can be taken to prevent this happening in the future?
HMPPS
Resettlement
Recommendation 4
A significant number of prisoners transferred to Five Wells were not suitable for what the prison had to offer. What steps can be taken to minimise this practice?
HMPPS
Resettlement
Recommendation 5
Key work support has been eroded by staffing shortages and operational requirements. What steps are being taken to ensure prisoners get the support they need?
HMPPS
Staffing
Recommendation 6
Loss of property (particularly for inter-prison transfers) is problematic and creates anxiety for prisoners and extra work for staff. What immediate steps are being taken to address this?
HMPPS
Complaints
Recommendation 7
What steps are being taken to ensure a good standard of food is available for prisoners, and food safety requirements are met?
Governor / Director
Food
Recommendation 8
How will the prison improve the canteen system? The Board considers the distribution and processing of missing items and refund process unworkable, time consuming and not fit for purpose.
Governor / Director
Food
Recommendation 9
What action can be taken to address concerns about the Prisoner Led Initiative (PLI) activities? The Board considers that whilst much of the work has had a positive impact, there are serious concerns (expressed by both prisoners and staff) about the methods of recruitment, selection, management, and supervision of some individuals.
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 10
The Board’s rota reports have highlighted that inconsistencies and frequent changes in regime have undermined the running of the houseblocks, with some staff feeling unsupported and lacking the confidence to enforce where necessary. What action will be taken to remedy this?
Governor / Director
Regime
Recommendation 11
What steps are being taken to ensure the consistent application, management, and review of the incentives scheme?
Governor / Director
Regime
Recommendation 12
What steps are being taken to ensure that prisoners attend their allocated purposeful activity and, if returned, or refusing to attend, that there is consistency in the action taken?
Governor / Director
Education
Recommendation 13
What security measures are being implemented to limit the number of illicit items found on the premises?
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 14
What steps are being taken to safely reinstate the ROTL programme?
Governor / Director
Resettlement
Other IMB Reports for Five Wells
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
2 Jan 2024
Unannounced
Safety: 2
Respect: 2
Activity: 1
Release: 3
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.