Prison
Cat C (adult male, young adult)
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Hindley
IMB Annual Report 2022 · Published 30 May 2023
HMP/YOI Hindley was deemed a safe environment with reduced violent incidents, but persistent staffing shortages led to extended lockdowns, negatively impacting prisoner wellbeing and mental health. The Board noted an increase in use of force and concerns over delays in parole hearings and inquests. While healthcare was satisfactory, low purposeful activity engagement and a lack of a clear incentives scheme remain significant issues.
Positive Findings
The Board found Hindley to be an overall safe environment with a reduction in violent incidents and humane treatment of prisoners. Healthcare provision, particularly mental health, was satisfactory, and release services improved. Positive feedback was received on reception and induction, and the chaplaincy team provided excellent support. There was good access to exercise, an increase in peer support roles, and successful achievement of employment on release targets.
Key Concerns
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
The continued impact of uncertainties and delays in parole board hearings, with continued imprisonment in many cases being disproportionate, inhumane, and inappropriate.
Safety
Repeated
Significant delays in holding inquests, causing distress to the families and staff involved – one inquest has been outstanding since 2019.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
Lack of funding to upgrade the existing accommodation to an acceptable level, risking further aggravation for prisoners with two-tier accommodation and differentiated experience.
Staffing
The selection and recruitment of staff does not currently involve the local prison, leading to a weakness in selection, induction or initial training, as indicated by a 23% attrition rate in the first year.
Staffing
Repeated
The ongoing issue of high staff turnover across the prison has significantly impacted prisoner experience and led to extended periods of lockdown, negatively affecting prisoner mental health.
Education/Purposeful Activity
The number of cancelled work or training sessions and the comparatively low attendance at any purposeful daily activity, hindering meaningful preparation for release.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
The absence of an effective, comprehensive and clear incentives scheme and payments policy, leading to confusion, inconsistent treatment and frustration amongst prisoners and staff.
Complaints/Property
Repeated
The unacceptable level of lost property, particularly sentimental personal effects, having a significant detrimental impact on prisoners’ mental health and ability to settle.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Hindley faced major staffing challenges with an 18.8% turnover rate, reaching 21.1% for operational officers, the highest in the region. This led to a high number of inexperienced staff and limited mentoring capacity. The Board raised concerns about the prison's lack of involvement in recruitment and the impact of staff shortages on prisoner activities, support, and relationships. High sickness absence, totalling 8,500 working days lost, further exacerbated these issues.
Healthcare
Healthcare provision at Hindley saw a contract split in April 2022, with Spectrum Healthcare Ltd taking over primary care while GMMH continued mental health services, leading to less integrated support. Despite this, prisoners reported high satisfaction. GP surgeries, initially reduced, increased to four days a week. The mental health team was highly valued, with urgent appointments handled daily, though non-urgent mental health appointments averaged a two-week wait.
Regime & Daily Life
Hindley's regime was frequently disrupted, initially by Covid restrictions and later by severe staffing shortages, leading to confusion and inconsistency. Prisoners endured extended, short-notice lockdowns, often spending up to 23 hours daily in cramped, shared cells, which the Board deemed inhumane and detrimental to wellbeing and mental health. These restrictions also exacerbated drug use and contributed to low attendance at purposeful 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| OMU | 33 | 30 | |
| Property | 25 | 45 | |
| Residential | 10 | 22 |
Recommendations (7)
Ministry of Justice: 2
HMPPS: 2
Governor / Director: 3
5 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Whilst the Board acknowledges that the government is reviewing prisoners on indeterminate sentences, it is concerned about the continued impact of uncertainties and delays in parole board hearings. The Board requests a review of individual cases as their continued imprisonment in many cases is disproportionate, inhumane, and inappropriate with time served significantly exceeding the original tariff.
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 2
Repeated
The Board queries the significant delays in holding inquests and the resultant distress to the families and staff involved – one inquest has been outstanding since 2019. Would the Minister examine what can be done to reduce this unacceptable delay?
Ministry of Justice
Safety
Recommendation 3
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The prison continues to progress plans for expansion and work will shortly be underway on site. However, current financial constraints nationally mean that there is no funding to upgrade the existing accommodation to an acceptable level. The Board is concerned that this will further aggravate prisoners with two tier accommodation and a differentiation of experience. The Board believes that there is an opportunity to raise the overall physical condition of the estate to an acceptable standard and requests that this work is included.
HMPPS
Estate
Response
Plans and their extent were confirmed by Minister in his letter 14 July 2022 & HM Treasury in October 2022. However, the Board remain concerned that the project when fully complete will have significant differentials between wings and prisoner experience.
Recommendation 4
The selection and recruitment of staff does not currently involve the local prison and so no consideration can be given to the specific needs of the prison or the personal aptitude of the applicant. As the attrition rate of 23% in the first year indicates a weakness in selection, induction or initial training, is anything being done to review the recruitment process?
HMPPS
Staffing
Recommendation 5
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The Board recognises that this has been a particularly challenging year for the prison as it moves out of Covid restrictions and reverts to a more normal regime. However, the ongoing issue of high staff turnover across the prison has impacted significantly on the prisoner experience and has had far reaching consequences regarding quality of life for both staff and prisoners. Most significantly the Board is concerned about the extended periods of lockdown and their impact on the mental health of prisoners. The Board recognises that action has been taken but seeks reassurance that this will be developed further and then maintained.
Governor / Director
Regime
Response
New regime, allowing the re-establishment of increased meaningful activities introduced. However, in the final half of the year a restricted regime was again introduced because of staffing shortages. This was often at short notice much to the frustration of men.
Recommendation 6
The Board is concerned about the number of cancelled work or training sessions and the comparatively low attendance at any purposeful daily activity. Meaningful preparation for release includes prisoners being ‘work ready’ and employable, both of which are significantly improved by regular attendance at an activity. The additional lockdowns, loss of personal motivation brought about by Covid and changes to regular routine have had a negative impact. The Board is concerned about whether this will be resolved in a timely manner.
Governor / Director
Education
Recommendation 7
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
As has been highlighted in previous annual reports, there is still no effective, comprehensive and clear incentives scheme and payments policy. This is leading to confusion, inconsistent treatment and frustration amongst prisoners and staff. The Board urges that one is implemented at the earliest opportunity.
Governor / Director
Regime
Response
Draft versions have been produced but not yet reached implementation and so the prison remains without an understandable policy with clear demarcation between levels.
Other IMB Reports for Hindley
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.