Downview

The continuing arrival of an increasing number of women with more significant and complex (including acute) mental health problems has affected all areas and functions of the prison.

The considerable rise in the number of prisoners being transferred to the prison, often from HMP Bronzefield, who exhibit more challenging mental health symptoms and consequent behavioural issues is causing safety concerns. Prison is not an appropriate environment for these women and staff do not have the appropriate training to manage them.

Severely mentally unwell women arriving at the prison sometimes face long delays in transfer to psychiatric secure units, following assessment.

Towards the end of the reporting period, we started to see the effect of population pressure, with more women being transferred into the prison, sometimes with unsuitable profiles. This is starting to have a significant effect on the operation and safety of the prison.

We are concerned about the effect of the new transgender policy on the operation of, and resource planning, for E wing (and Downview generally). It appears to be managed in a reactive manner by HMPPS centrally.

We routinely see unnecessary disruption when women transfer prisons (to their monies; telephone access to family and friends; their property; and educational progress). Transferring between prisons is a stressful event which is being exacerbated by basic administrative processes not functioning.

There seems to be some limitations in communication between HMP Bronzefield and the prison (for example, with regards to transferred prisoners with significant mental health conditions and with missing property and medication issues). Is this because HMP Bronzefield is a private prison, and systems and processes may not be compatible?

We have been made aware at times of significant resistance from HMP Bronzefield and HMP Peterborough to accepting transfers from Downview of women requiring hospital support.

Property applications are rising significantly – the new prisoners’ property policy framework appears to have had no effect in resolving the issue.

We understand that there is no commissioned provision for dementia testing in prisons. Given the trend towards a rising ageing population in prison, how will this be resolved?

Applications relating to missing property have increased significantly.

The Board is concerned about the implementation of key working. What local actions are underway to ensure that key working is functioning effectively across the prison?

At the end of the reporting period, the meeting schedule was in its sixth iteration since the previous summer. However, meetings are often cancelled at short notice and are often not well-attended. There is minimal process in evidence regarding attendance, the timely circulation of minutes and accountability for action points.

A lack of consistency in the application of prison rules by staff is frequently mentioned by prisoners during our monitoring. This may be exacerbated by staff inexperience and the ongoing regular staff redeployment.

There are no privacy curtains in the consulting rooms in healthcare.

We saw a sharp increase in use of force towards the end of the reporting period.

The care and separation unit (CSU) has provided a safe regime. However, we have increasing concerns about the use of the unit for women who have acute mental health conditions, behavioural challenges and substance misuse issues.

Problems with medication distribution have the ongoing ability to impact every part of the prison regime.

Education attendance has remained lower than desired.

We saw ongoing evidence of the challenges for the prison offender management team in getting information from and communication with community offender managers. Probation resources in the community appear to be inadequate.

Recommendation 1 Repeated Prev. unaddressed

As commented on last year, the considerable rise in the number of prisoners being transferred to the prison, often from HMP Bronzefield, who exhibit more challenging mental health symptoms and consequent behavioural issues is causing safety concerns. Prison is not an appropriate environment for these women and staff do not have the appropriate training to manage them. The Board is particularly concerned about the impact of segregation on these vulnerable individuals. Severely mentally unwell women arriving at the prison sometimes face long delays in transfer to psychiatric secure units, following assessment. The Board notes with concern that the draft Mental Health Bill (which would ensure that applicable women are transferred within an appropriate time scale) has not yet been introduced to Parliament. If the prison is to continue to be expected to manage mentally unwell women, it is seriously recommended that a major review of both staffing and facilities takes place. Will the Minister speak to colleagues in the Department for Health and Social Care to ensure prisoners receive timely access to specialist mental health facilities, where required?

Other (minister) Mental Health

Recommendation 2 Repeated

Towards the end of the reporting period, we started to see the effect of population pressure, with more women being transferred into the prison, sometimes with unsuitable profiles. This is starting to have a significant effect on the operation and safety of the prison. As we raised in our 2019-20 report, the Ministry of Justice Female Offender Strategy (2018) sets out the Government’s vision to see fewer women entering the justice system – can the Minister clarify what steps are to be taken to implement the recommendations in the strategy to manage the rising population pressures in the women’s estate?

Other (minister) Overcrowding

Recommendation 3

We have seen evidence of unhelpful intervention by the Secretary of State for Justice in decision-making regarding women’s progression. We welcome the recent reversal in this area3, but query whether this would also extend to the situation referred to in section 7.3.

Other (minister) Progression

Recommendation 4

We are concerned about the effect of the new transgender policy on the operation of, and resource planning, for E wing (and Downview generally). It appears to be managed in a reactive manner by HMPPS centrally. Given that the population in E wing is expanding, as of the end of the reporting period, how can this be more effectively managed?

Other (minister) Equality

Recommendation 5

We routinely see unnecessary disruption when women transfer prisons (to their monies; telephone access to family and friends; their property; and educational progress). Transferring between prisons is a stressful event which is being exacerbated by basic administrative processes not functioning.

HMPPS Resettlement

Recommendation 6

There seems to be some limitations in communication between HMP Bronzefield and the prison (for example, with regards to transferred prisoners with significant mental health conditions and with missing property and medication issues). Is this because HMP Bronzefield is a private prison, and systems and processes may not be compatible?

HMPPS Other

Recommendation 7

We have been made aware at times of significant resistance from HMP Bronzefield and HMP Peterborough to accepting transfers from Downview of women requiring hospital support – how can this be managed more effectively?

HMPPS Healthcare

Recommendation 8

Property applications are rising significantly – the new prisoners’ property policy framework appears to have had no effect in resolving the issue. How will the situation be improved by the new national framework? Given that so many other areas of prison operations are managed via national performance indicators, could property management be added to these?

HMPPS Other

Recommendation 9

We understand that there is no commissioned provision for dementia testing in prisons. Given the trend towards a rising ageing population in prison, how will this be resolved?

HMPPS Healthcare

Recommendation 10 Repeated Prev. unaddressed

Does the prison consider there to be a benefit in the healthcare/prison partnership meetings and, if so, will appropriate resources be dedicated to them?

Governor / Director Healthcare

Recommendation 11

Applications relating to missing property have increased significantly. Would it be possible to appoint a single point of contact to be responsible for property matters? This may secure better co-operation from transferring prisons and more accountability for the resolution of issues.

Governor / Director Other

Recommendation 12

The Board is concerned about the implementation of key working. What local actions are underway to ensure that key working is functioning effectively across the prison?

Governor / Director Staffing

Recommendation 13

At the end of the reporting period, the meeting schedule was in its sixth iteration since the previous summer. However, meetings are often cancelled at short notice and are often not well-attended. There is minimal process in evidence regarding attendance, the timely circulation of minutes and accountability for action points. Staff have sometimes commented that meetings are arranged for meeting’s sake, with little positive impact on outcomes for the prison.

Governor / Director Other

Recommendation 14

A lack of consistency in the application of prison rules by staff is frequently mentioned by prisoners during our monitoring. This may be exacerbated by staff inexperience and the ongoing regular staff redeployment. Staff tell us they feel undermined and less confident in maintaining safety, and prisoners cite frustration at perceived unfairness when senior managers overrule decision-making (sections 5.3, 5.6).

Governor / Director Staffing

Recommendation 15

There are no privacy curtains in the consulting rooms in healthcare (section 6).

Governor / Director Healthcare

Recommendation 16 Repeated Prev. unaddressed

lack of infrastructure for digital education.

Other (minister) Education

Recommendation 17 Repeated Prev. unaddressed

healthcare complaints management.

Governor / Director Healthcare

Recommendation 18 Repeated Prev. unaddressed

delivery of the contracted family engagement resource.

Governor / Director Resettlement

Recommendation 19 Repeated Prev. unaddressed

lack of support for the Listeners scheme.

Governor / Director Safety