Prison
Cat C
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
High Down
IMB Annual Report 2022 · Published 14 June 2023
HMP High Down transitioned to a Category C training and resettlement prison in 2022, implementing gradual regime changes that have positively impacted prisoner life, including improved time out of cell and new community units. The Board noted reductions in self-harm and assaults, and commended improvements in induction and the visits hall. However, significant concerns remain regarding the welfare of IPP prisoners, long delays in transferring mentally unwell individuals, and a high proportion of prisoners leaving without settled accommodation. Persistent issues with lost property, inconsistent key work, and a lack of high-quality employment opportunities continue to hinder effective resettlement and overall humane treatment.
Positive Findings
The Board commends a reduction in self-harm and assaults, along with improved planning for prisoner mixing post-freeflow. Time out of cell has increased, and evening association has been positively received, as has the introduction of a prisoner council. There has been progress in DIRF reporting and improved induction. The successful launch of an Incentivised Substance Free Living unit and a community living unit for lifers/IPP prisoners is welcomed. Improvements to the visits hall, including murals and children's play areas, have also been praised, alongside efforts by staff and security. The Offender Management Unit's completion of over 600 OASys documents and the positive employment outcomes from the DHL project are also highlighted.
Key Concerns
Resettlement/Release
The problem of prisoners serving indeterminate sentences for public protection (IPPs) and the lack of additional support for their reintegration.
Mental Health
Significant delays in the assessment and transfer of prisoners requiring outside secure mental health units.
Resettlement/Release
The lack of adequate accommodation for prisoners upon release, making successful resettlement difficult.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Continued issues with missing and lost property during transfers and cell moves, causing unnecessary anxiety and distress.
Food/Catering
Unresolved issues with the supply of canteen items and timely refunds for prisoners.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Repeated
The lack of high-quality employment and training available to men, with many in part-time work that does not adequately prepare them for release.
Equality/Diversity
The disproportionate application of the incentives scheme, particularly its discriminatory impact on black prisoners, and the need for more positive behaviour entries.
Staffing
Ineffective and irregular delivery of key work, with many prisoners unaware of their key worker or receiving infrequent support.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
Some showers remain in an unsanitary and unsuitable state, with refurbishment works not completed as promised in 2022.
Food/Catering
Repeated
Kitchen equipment often out of use and awaiting repair, affecting food choice and staff stress.
Mental Health
The inappropriate holding of mentally unwell men, particularly those on constant watch, in the Care, Separation and Reintegration Unit (CSRU) due to lack of suitable alternatives and transfer delays.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Ongoing concerns about educational provision, including poor attendance rates (40%) and recruitment/retention of tutors.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Lack of courses to address offending behaviour, particularly for those convicted of sexual offences.
Resettlement/Release
Difficulties with sentence progression due to outstanding OASys reports and poor communication with offender managers, exacerbated by high caseloads and lack of key work.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staff shortages remain a significant issue, impacting evening regimes due to cross-deployment, leading to reduced time out of cell for prisoners, and affecting the availability of gym and evening association sessions. Relationships between staff and prisoners are variable, with some prisoners reporting staff being unavailable or 'con shy'. The key worker scheme, while restarted, is failing to deliver sufficient sessions due to understaffing. Recruitment and retention challenges are noted for education tutors and PE staff, and offender manager caseloads are excessively high, compounded by the lack of effective key work.
Healthcare
Healthcare provision saw the closure of the inpatients unit, with its space being repurposed, and this created challenges in placing some long-term inpatients. There's an increase in healthcare concerns, particularly regarding medication and access to care, though GP waiting times improved significantly. However, waiting times for dental, optical, physiotherapy, and podiatry services remain a concern. Mental health provision is challenged by long waits for transfers to secure facilities (average 50 days, one up to 241 days), and the inappropriate holding of seriously unwell prisoners in the CSRU, sometimes on constant watch, despite staff commendations for their efforts.
Regime & Daily Life
The prison underwent significant regime changes following recategorisation, including the introduction of freeflow, a new uptime/downtime model, and an adjusted regime. Time out of cell has generally improved, and evening association is a welcome addition, though both are often curtailed by staff shortages, especially on weekends. Illicit items and substance misuse remain a major concern, with prisoners reporting easy access to drugs. Library services have seen improvements with full reopening and resumed group activities.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complaints against staff | 92 | 95 | |
| Healthcare complaints | 139 | — | |
| Property missing on transfer | 115 | 69 | |
| Property missing within High Down | 87 | 72 |
Recommendations (9)
Ministry of Justice: 3
HMPPS: 2
Governor / Director: 4
1 repeated
Recommendation 1
When is the minister going to address the problem of prisoners serving indeterminate sentences for public protection? (see section 7.3.)
Ministry of Justice
Sentence Progression
Recommendation 2
What steps does the minister intend to take to ensure that prisoners who require transfer to an outside secure mental health unit are assessed and transferred without delay? (see section 5.2.)
Ministry of Justice
Mental Health
Recommendation 3
Without accommodation on release it is difficult for people to find a job, support themselves and make a fresh start, avoiding a return to prison. What steps does the minister intend to take to ensure that everyone leaving custody has somewhere to live immediately on release? (see section 7.5.)
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 4
What steps can the Prison Service take to tackle the issue of loss of property for men being transferred to or from High Down? (see section 5.8.)
HMPPS
Property
Recommendation 5
What steps can the Prison Service take to ensure that issues with the supply of canteen and refunds are resolved in a timely manner? (see section 5.7.)
HMPPS
Food
Recommendation 6
Repeated
What can the prison do to ensure that there is high-quality employment and training available to men in High Down, with links to employment on release? It is of concern that there are high numbers of men in only part-time or half-time work which does little to prepare them for life on the outside (see section 7.2).
Governor / Director
Purposeful Activity
Recommendation 7
What action is the prison taking to tackle the disproportionate way that the incentives scheme is applied, which has a particularly discriminatory impact on black prisoners? (see section 5.6.)
Governor / Director
Equality
Recommendation 8
What can the prison do to ensure that key work is delivered effectively and regularly to ensure that it supports the men during their sentence? (see section 5.3.)
Governor / Director
Staff-prisoner relationships
Recommendation 9
Can the prison develop a more efficient process for handling prisoners’ property, particularly in relation to cell clearances for moves between house blocks? (see section 5.8)
Governor / Director
Property
Other IMB Reports for High Down
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
31 Jul 2023
Unannounced
Safety: 2
Respect: 3
Activity: 1
Release: 2
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.