Prison
Cat reception and resettlement prison for adult men an
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Durham
IMB Annual Report 2022 · Published 31 March 2023
HMP Durham, a reception and resettlement prison, housed 976 prisoners at year-end, with 61.6% on remand, operating above its certified capacity. The Board commends staff for managing a challenging environment, noting that 93% of prisoners feel safe. Key concerns include persistent overcrowding, the increasing time unsentenced prisoners spend on remand due to court backlogs, and inadequate access to dentistry and certain induction processes. The report highlights improvements in staff attendance at key meetings and UoF monitoring, but also calls for better embedding of BWVC use and addressing regime limitations affecting education and resettlement.
Positive Findings
The Board commends the Governor and staff for their positive approach to managing changes in prison function and for their effective management of Covid-19 outbreaks. HMP Durham generally feels a safe environment, a view ratified by 93% of prisoners surveyed. NEPACS provides good support to prisoners and families, and the kitchens deliver an excellent, culturally diverse service. The chaplaincy team offers outstanding support, and prisoners speak highly of healthcare staff. The mental health team operates a valuable regional integrated support unit (ISU), and the Board is pleased with qualifications awarded and the library's support. The prison has made progress in ensuring cell checks and managing use of force monitoring.
Key Concerns
Overcrowding
Repeated
prison overcrowding (5.1.3) and its persistent impact on prisoner dignity.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
the increase in time that unsentenced prisoners are spending in HMP Durham due to backlog in criminal cases.
Estate/Conditions
The refurbishment of A wing was initiated at the beginning of November 2022. At best it is estimated to take two years. It would be speeded up considerably if the population management unit allowed the prison to decant prisoners.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Social video calls have been reduced to one per month per prisoner.
Resettlement/Release
remand prisoners access to probation services prior to release.
Healthcare
Repeated
the dire issue of access to dentistry.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
ensure that first night and first day inductions are delivered to those who move directly from reception to the SACU e.g., those under moved under the secreted items policy.
Healthcare
ensure that all prisoners in reception receive healthcare screening before moving to first night centres.
Safety
The Board regularly reviews ACCT documents and is concerned at the number of them that do not have supervisors’ daily checks completed.
Safety
Repeated
embed the use of BWVC in the prison.
Complaints/Property
The prisoner consultation meeting is valued by prisoners, however, often it is cancelled at the last minute.
Food/Catering
Since the contractual arrangement for running the tea bar in the visit’s hall changed there has been a significant deterioration of the refreshments available.
Resettlement/Release
The contract for early days in custody comes to an end in March 2023. The Board views this as an essential service.
Resettlement/Release
The implementation of the short sentence framework is now overdue.
Estate/Conditions
cells remain inappropriate for disabled or aged prisoners; basic showering arrangements and issues with heat control remain endemic.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
men held under Immigration Act powers remaining for too long a period in HMP Durham.
Equality/Diversity
the number of foreign national prisoners (FNPs) in HMP Durham and ‘out of area’ prisoners who do not receive social visits because of distance from family.
Resettlement/Release
the community rehabilitation service (CRS) provision excludes remand prisoners from support for accommodation on release.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Repeated
The backlog of personal learning plans has been a concern as has the allocation and low attendance of prisoners to education and work.
Safety
Repeated
Use of force is disproportionate in the age groups 18–21 and 22–29.
Complaints/Property
Repeated
the length of time it takes for actions to be enacted in the minutes of prison meetings, e.g. DIAT and use of force.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
prisoners are working as cleaners before checks are completed and they are not receiving back-pay.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staffing shortages have impacted the mental health team. Changes in management over the year led to slow implementation of action points, though recent months have seen an improvement in attendance and completion of action points for the safer prisons team. Unlike the previous year, the Board reported no concerns relating to staffing levels in the SACU.
Healthcare
Prisoners have spoken highly of relationships with healthcare staff but express frustration with waiting lists, particularly for dentistry, which remains a great cause of concern. Improvements are needed to ensure all new arrivals receive healthcare screening before moving to first night centres, though secondary screening within seven days has improved. The mental health team provides a valuable regional ISU, but has been affected by staffing shortages. Healthcare attendance at Good Order or Discipline (GOoD) reviews is still unsatisfactory, though an increasing trend is noted with the recruitment of two new nurses planned.
Regime & Daily Life
The prison experienced significant disruption due to national lockdowns in the previous monitoring year (Nov 2020-April 2021) and returned to a 23-hour prisoner lockdown in December 2021. Restrictions gradually eased, with the prison returning to Stage 1 by April 2022. Covid-19 outbreaks continued to impact outcomes, with support provided in-cell during outbreaks. A backlog of personal learning plans and low attendance in education and work remain concerns. Prisoners generally had daily access to showers, with exceptions due to outbreak control or staff shortages.
Recommendations (14)
Ministry of Justice: 2
HMPPS: 3
NHS / Healthcare Provider: 1
Governor / Director: 8
4 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
by prison overcrowding (5.1.3) and its persistent impact on prisoner dignity. We ask again what, specifically for HMP Durham, can be done to alleviate this problem?
Ministry of Justice
Overcrowding
Response
Generic response re the national position. Comments specific to Durham were: Whilst the average number of prisoners living in crowded conditions at HMP Durham and across the prison estate did fall during 2020/21, as a local prison there has been a need for HMP Durham to continue to operate in excess of its certified normal accommodation level. The challenge for HMP Durham remains in the turnover of the prisoner population and ensuring that cells are maintained to required standards. In recognition of the condition within cells, the prison has implemented the CRED programme which is making improvements to the prison environment.
Recommendation 2
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
by the increase in time that unsentenced prisoners are spending in HMP Durham. The Board awaits the Minister’s response on what else can be done to reduce the backlog in criminal cases and hence reduce time on remand (3.1/ 4.1.2).
Ministry of Justice
Remand time
Response
Generic response acknowledging the national backlog on criminal cases. Investment over the next three years expects the Crown Court backlogs to be reduced to an estimated 53,000 by March 2025.
Recommendation 3
The refurbishment of A wing was initiated at the beginning of November 2022. At best it is estimated to take two years. It would be speeded up considerably if the population management unit allowed the prison to decant prisoners. Why will they not do this (4.3.4 / 4.3.5)?
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 4
Social video calls have been reduced to one per month per prisoner. What can be done to increase access for those living out of area or from overseas (7.4.6)?
HMPPS
Family ties
Recommendation 5
What can be done to give remand prisoners access to probation services prior to release (7.5.2)?
HMPPS
Resettlement
Recommendation 6
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
How does the Prison Service intend to address the dire issue of access to dentistry (6.1.2)?
NHS / Healthcare Provider
Healthcare
Recommendation 7
How will you ensure that first night and first day inductions are delivered to those who move directly from reception to the SACU e.g., those under moved under the secreted items policy (4.1.5)?
Governor / Director
Regime
Recommendation 8
How will you ensure that all prisoners in reception receive healthcare screening before moving to first night centres (4.1.6)?
Governor / Director
Healthcare
Recommendation 9
The Board regularly reviews ACCT documents and is concerned at the number of them that do not have supervisors’ daily checks completed (see 4.2.10).
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 10
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
What more can the Governor do to embed the use of BWVC in the prison (4.4.5)?
Governor / Director
Safety
Response
We will continue to encourage staff to wear them, numbers of cameras drawn are monitored daily at both the residential and senior managers meeting. The reminder from the ECR to activate body worn cameras will also remain in place. Interestingly we had a visit from the BWVC lead from HQ last week who advised us that Durham was the stand out performer in the whole estate for BWVC usage!
Recommendation 11
The prisoner consultation meeting is valued by prisoners, however, often it is cancelled at the last minute. What can be done to ensure this meeting is held regularly (5.3.9)?
Governor / Director
Complaints
Recommendation 12
Since the contractual arrangement for running the tea bar in the visit’s hall changed there has been a significant deterioration of the refreshments available. What can be done to rectify this (7.4.9)?
Governor / Director
Food
Recommendation 13
The contract for early days in custody comes to an end in March 2023. The Board views this as an essential service; is there a possibility that the prison may decide to take this service in-house (7.4.11)?
Governor / Director
Resettlement
Recommendation 14
The implementation of the short sentence framework is now overdue; when will this be implemented (7.5.2)?
Governor / Director
Resettlement
Other IMB Reports for Durham
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
30 Apr 2024
Unannounced
Safety: 2
Respect: 2
Activity: 1
Release: 3
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.