Prison
Cat B local and resettlement
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Exeter
IMB Annual Report 2022 · Published 18 July 2023
HMP Exeter, a Category B local and resettlement prison, experienced persistent high levels of violence and self-harm, alongside challenges with staffing instability and extensive refurbishment work in 2022. While healthcare provision was generally satisfactory, access to psychological therapies remained limited, and living conditions were often impacted by overcrowding and restricted regimes. Progress towards successful resettlement was hindered by short sentences, lack of work opportunities, and staff shortages.
Positive Findings
The Board welcomes the physical improvements to reception and the deployment of Insiders. Management of use of force has improved in coordination, oversight, and quality assurance. The segregation unit has seen a tangible improvement in atmosphere and running, and communal areas and shower facilities are cleaner. Prisoner peer support schemes like Insider roles have also improved. Healthcare provision was generally satisfactory, and the appointment of a patient engagement lead helped address complaints and organize health events. Education staffing issues were largely resolved, and the probation team performed well. The kitchen and catering staff are commended for their good quality food, and the chaplaincy team provides excellent, well-organized service with significant pastoral and psychological value.
Key Concerns
Safety
Repeated
HMP Exeter continues to experience high levels of violence and self-harm, with vulnerabilities at managerial and operational levels.
Safety
Concerns about the effectiveness and timely execution of Challenge, Support and Intervention Plan (CSIP) processes.
Mental Health
The number of prisoners with mental health issues and a significant number of prisoners with a history of self-harm have played a part in adversely affecting efforts to improve safety.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
Inhumane living conditions due to slow exit from Covid restrictions, staff shortages, extensive refurbishment, and overcrowded conditions.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Issues with clothing and kit have, at times, undermined the decency agenda.
Mental Health
Limited access to psychological therapies, either online or face-to-face, for both anxiety and mild to moderate depression.
Resettlement/Release
Limited progress towards successful resettlement for prisoners on short-term sentences and those who have reached the resettlement phase of their sentences, due in part to the short time available to have some impact on a helpful resettlement plan, and lack of work opportunities.
Staffing
Insufficient human and financial resources required to more effectively support the rehabilitative and resettlement role of local prisons.
Staffing
Backlog in staff training and particularly control and restraint (C&R), basic, refresher and advanced training.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
Poor management of prisoners’ property, both internally and on transfer between prisons, leading to losses and compensation costs.
Safety
Repeated
Inadequate arrangements for prisoners’ induction (particularly support for young adults) and lack of quality assurance systems to make sure that prisoners new to custody are given all the information they need in their early days at Exeter.
Board Commentary
Staffing
At the end of the year, Band 3 officers were at complement, but 25% were unavailable due to various factors including temporary promotion, detached duty, training, or long-term absence. A high proportion of inexperienced officers (less than two years’ service) was noted. The lack of stability within the Senior Management Team (SMT), a grave concern, persisted despite being raised previously by the IMB and HMIP. The keyworker scheme continued to fall short of original targets, and healthcare faced significant staffing challenges with 42% vacancies at the end of 2022.
Healthcare
Healthcare provision faced significant challenges in 2022 due to persistent Covid-19 outbreaks and uncertainty surrounding new healthcare contracts, which led to an already stretched resource being further challenged. At year-end, approximately 40 vacant posts (42% of the total) existed across the service, with temporary staff covering nursing and pharmacy technician roles. While overall provision appears satisfactory compared to the community, access to psychological therapies for anxiety and mild to moderate depression remains limited. Additionally, essential mental health awareness training for operational staff, halted during the pandemic, has not yet been re-established.
Regime & Daily Life
The regime at HMP Exeter, along with available opportunities and facilities, is noted to be best suited for prisoners serving shorter sentences. Early in the year, intermittent Covid-19 outbreaks continued to significantly impact the regime and, consequently, the amount of time prisoners spent out of their cells. Throughout the year, a combination of staffing shortages and a limited purposeful activity program further restricted the regime. Overcrowded conditions, extensive refurbishment work, and issues with clothing and kit also contributed to living conditions not always being humane.
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 transfers) | 54 | 39 | |
| Adjudications | 11 | 11 | — |
| Complaints (including responses to complaints) | 24 | 37 | |
| Discipline/segregation | 0 | 0 | |
| Discrimination | 2 | 2 | — |
| Diversity | 1 | 0 | |
| Finance/pay/canteen | 6 | 15 | |
| Food | 10 | 9 | |
| Healthcare (including appointments/treatment/medication) | 20 | 18 | |
| Other | 35 | 34 | |
| Property (including lost/damaged property) | 46 | 68 | |
| Regime | 5 | 11 | |
| Release/Recall | 0 | 0 | |
| Staff issues (including staff attitude/behaviour) | 21 | 16 | |
| Total applications | 244 | 266 | |
| Visits | 2 | 3 | |
| Work/education/training/purposeful activity | 7 | 3 |
Recommendations (6)
Ministry of Justice: 2
HMPPS: 2
Governor / Director: 2
3 repeated
Recommendation 1
Address and improve His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service’s (HMPPS) support for the Governor.
Ministry of Justice
Staffing
Recommendation 2
Review the human and financial resources required to more effectively support the rehabilitative and resettlement role of local prisons.
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 3
Address the backlog in staff training and particularly control and restraint (C&R), basic, refresher and advanced training.
HMPPS
Staffing
Recommendation 4
Repeated
Invest in improving systems, processes and expectations associated with the management of prisoners’ property. Current arrangements often reflect insufficient care and attention to the management of prisoners’ property, both internally and on transfer between prisons.
HMPPS
Regime
Recommendation 5
Repeated
Improve the current arrangements for prisoners’ induction (particularly support for young adults) and implement quality assurance systems to make sure that prisoners new to custody are given all the information they need in their early days at Exeter. This should include information on the IMB.
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 6
Repeated
Improve systems and processes for the receipt, recording and distribution of prisoners’ property to reduce losses and compensation costs.
Governor / Director
Regime
Other IMB Reports for Exeter
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
18 Nov 2025
Unannounced
13 Nov 2023
IRP
18 Nov 2022
Urgent Notification
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.
Prevention of Future Deaths Reports
Coroner PFD reports issued to this establishment.