Prison
Cat Local, Female, YOI
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Eastwood Park
IMB Annual Report 2022 · Published 10 March 2023
HMP/YOI Eastwood Park faced a challenging reporting year (Nov 2021 – Oct 2022), marked by critical staffing shortages (17.5% below target), two deaths in custody, and exceptionally high self-harm levels, leading the IMB to no longer consider it safe for all women. The prison struggled with an increasing number of women with complex mental health needs, exacerbated by inadequate facilities and a lack of external secure placements, resulting in extended periods of segregation for some. Despite these issues, the Board commended staff professionalism, welcomed the new ONE women’s centre, and noted the prison’s high functional skills achievements.
Positive Findings
The Board commended staff and management for their professional and humane duties during a challenging period, and for their prompt responses to enquiries. Reception services were highly praised by prisoners. The new ONE women's centre at Eastwood Park is a positive development, offering through-the-gate support. The prison also achieved the highest number of functional skills achievements in the women's estate.
Key Concerns
Staffing
Repeated
Staffing levels are 17.5% below target, contributing to an unsafe environment and frequent cancellation of essential regime activities.
Safety
There are exceptionally high levels of self-harm and two deaths in custody, highlighting severe mental health issues among prisoners.
Mental Health
Repeated
The prison struggles to manage women with severe mental health and complex needs due to unsuitable facilities (e.g., Residential Unit 4) and a critical shortage of external secure mental health beds, leading to containment rather than treatment.
Segregation
Repeated
A prisoner with an acquired brain injury was continuously segregated for 1,484 days due to the absence of appropriate secure facilities for women with such injuries.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
Ongoing delays in the construction of the new activities centre are hindering rehabilitation and purposeful activity provision.
Other
Prisoners face lengthy and uncomfortable daily journeys to court in PECS transport with unsuitable sanitary facilities.
Staffing
The national instruction to end team-based rostering led to officer resignations and a breakdown of staff-prisoner relationships, further impacting key work and staff experience.
Segregation
Lengthy delays in convening complex case boards mean transgender prisoners are held in segregation for extended periods.
Complaints/Property
Repeated
Inadequate property management continues to be a major source of prisoner complaints and distress.
Equality/Diversity
Repeated
There is a lack of suitable accommodation and facilities for older prisoners and those with disabilities.
Equality/Diversity
Repeated
Disproportionality in complaint rates from minority ethnic groups with no clear action.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Eastwood Park faced severe staffing shortages, operating 17.5% below target, which critically impacted safety, daily regimes, and access to education, activities, and key worker sessions. New shift patterns led to a breakdown of staff-prisoner relationships and increased concerns about staff inexperience. The ending of team-based rostering resulted in 10 officer resignations, exacerbating the challenges of recruitment and retention.
Healthcare
Healthcare services faced significant challenges, with a near doubling of applications to the IMB, particularly concerning mental health. The number of women entering prison with severe mental health and complex needs severely impacted the establishment, with residential unit 4 often full and unsuitable for these prisoners. There are ongoing issues with the acute shortage of appropriate external hospital beds and delays in transferring prisoners, especially those from Wales, leading to containment rather than specialist treatment.
Regime & Daily Life
The regime at Eastwood Park was significantly impacted by prolonged Covid-19 lockdowns and subsequent chronic staffing shortages, leading to inhumane treatment due to excessive time locked in cells. Despite the lifting of national restrictions, crucial activities like education, gym, and visits were frequently cancelled. Prisoners reported insufficient time out of their cells, and efforts to increase purposeful activity were consistently hampered by inadequate staffing.
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) | 45 | 38 | |
| Bullying/Safeguarding | 19 | 15 | |
| Chaplaincy / Faith | 1 | 0 | |
| Children’s Welfare | 0 | 0 | |
| Discrimination / Equality / Diversity | 6 | 8 | |
| Drugs / Alcohol | 2 | 2 | — |
| Education / Learning / Library | 1 | 4 | |
| Family Contact (visits / phones / post) | 4 | 5 | |
| Food | 2 | 16 | |
| Healthcare | 66 | 36 | |
| Incentives and Earned Privileges (IEP) | 2 | 1 | |
| Legal / Court | 22 | 11 | |
| Offender Management | 1 | 3 | |
| Other | 46 | 29 | |
| Property | 121 | 43 | |
| Regime / Activities | 9 | 10 | |
| Staff Behaviour | 11 | 9 | |
| TOTAL | 358 | 232 | |
| Work / Pay | 0 | 1 |
Recommendations (12)
Other: 2
HMPPS: 6
Governor / Director: 4
7 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
After 1,484 days in continuous segregation a prisoner with an acquired brain injury was transferred from Eastwood Park to a medium secure NHS facility in September 2022 for assessment. What discussions has the Minister had with the Department of Health to ensure that adequate secure facilities for women with acquired brain injuries are available to avoid such inhumane treatment of women in the future?
Other
(minister)
Healthcare
Recommendation 2
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
In response to questions raised in previous annual reports about the establishment of a women’s centre in Wales, the Minister responded by advising that seed funding had been made available. What progress has been made with this project and when is the centre likely to open?
Other
(minister)
Resettlement
Recommendation 3
Repeated
Our annual report again highlights ongoing concerns about low staffing levels at Eastwood Park and the debilitating effect that this has on safety and regimes throughout the prison. What action is being taken to provide adequate resources so that a full programme to rehabilitate women can be provided?
HMPPS
Staffing
Recommendation 4
The opening of the ONE women’s centre at Eastwood Park provides a unique service to continuously support women before and after their release from prison. What long-term funding is being made available to ensure that this invaluable service continues beyond May 2023?
HMPPS
Resettlement
Recommendation 5
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Ongoing delays with the construction of a new activities centre mean that completion of this desperately needed facility is late by several months. Why are such delays accepted?
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 6
The Board’s survey of prisoners on trial from Devon and Cornwall highlighted lengthy daily journeys to court in prisoner escort services (PECS) transport, with toilet / sanitary facilities unsuitable for women. This caused considerable discomfort and embarrassment. What transport improvements or alternative facilities can be offered to avoid these lengthy journeys?
HMPPS
Respect
Recommendation 7
The national instruction to end team based rostering in December 2021 led directly to the resignation of 10 officers at Eastwood Park. Prior to issuing this instruction was any consideration given to the effect that it would have on the retention of officers in prisons which were already under-resourced?
HMPPS
Staffing
Recommendation 8
Following a national instruction, transgender prisoners (male to female) in the female estate, who either have male genitalia and / or have committed sexual offences, must be held in segregated conditions until a complex case board is held which must be chaired by a prison group director. The lengthy delays in holding complex case boards meant that these transgender prisoners were being held in segregation for several weeks. What is the Prison Service doing to ensure that such boards are convened as a matter of urgency?
HMPPS
Equality
Recommendation 9
Repeated
Construction of the new activities centre is way behind the original June 2022 completion date. From handover of the building how long will it take for this important training facility to become operational?
Governor / Director
Estate
Recommendation 10
Repeated
What action is being taken to improve officer recruitment and retention at Eastwood Park?
Governor / Director
Staffing
Recommendation 11
Following the closure of residential unit 7’s first floor due to fire safety concerns, what is the future for this building and will alternative accommodation / facilities for women suitable for open conditions be provided?
Governor / Director
Estate
Recommendation 12
Repeated
What action is being taken to reduce the exceptionally high levels of self-harm in the prison?
Governor / Director
Safety
Other IMB Reports for Eastwood Park
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.