Prison
Cat C
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Bure
IMB Annual Report 2022 · Published 28 February 2023
HMP Bure maintained fair and humane treatment for prisoners and managed the Covid-19 pandemic effectively, with high vaccination rates and low violence. However, persistent issues such as double cells, delayed maintenance for the heating system and solar panels, and the absence of in-cell telephony remain. The Board also highlighted concerns about IPP prisoners, the lack of palliative care, and the unfunded resettlement provision.
Positive Findings
The Board believes HMP Bure managed the Covid-19 pandemic and its restrictions very well, commending all staff for their efforts. The healthcare department was fully staffed, providing services comparable to the local community. Relationships between staff and prisoners were generally good, fostering a rehabilitative culture. The chaplaincy team is respected, and the Covid vaccination programme was highly successful. There was an improvement in managing prisoner incentives and a significant reduction in property-related applications.
Key Concerns
Overcrowding
Repeated
There are some double cells which are cramped and unsuitable for an establishment such as this – especially those on residential unit 7.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
The position of imprisonment for public protection (IPP) prisoners who are imprisoned far beyond their tariffs at HMP Bure.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The heating system on residential unit 7 was in need of replacement, and despite a sum of money being allocated pre-pandemic, the work was never carried out.
Estate/Conditions
Solar panels installed on the kitchen and residential unit 7 have not worked since early 2022 due to technical problems, preventing much-needed energy savings.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
The lack of in-cell telephony at HMP Bure means prisoners cannot hold private conversations and calls are limited to daytime hours when relatives may be at work.
Other
Prisoner pay rates differ significantly across establishments for similar jobs, while canteen and catalogue item costs are national, leading to unfairness.
Equality/Diversity
With only four accessible cells available, disabled prisoners in normal cells face significant difficulties, including basic issues like easy access from cell door to bed.
Healthcare
Delays in prisoners getting to medication and medical appointments on time occur because wing roll checks are not always completed promptly.
Healthcare
HMP Bure cannot offer palliative and end of life care, necessitating transfers to other facilities despite an aging population that would benefit from such a provision within the establishment.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Delays in offending behaviour programme delivery impede prisoner progression and cause frustration, negatively impacting the wellbeing of both prisoners and staff.
Resettlement/Release
HMP Bure, despite not being funded for resettlement, regularly releases men into the community due to a lack of suitable places in designated resettlement prisons.
Resettlement/Release
There is a limited resettlement pathway specifically designed to support men convicted of sexual offences.
Board Commentary
Staffing
The healthcare department achieved full staffing, including the mental health team and a mental health prescriber, with Practice Plus Group offering apprenticeships and training. The key worker scheme, disrupted by Covid-19, resumed in May 2022, with officers taking individual responsibility for prisoner wellbeing during restrictions. Staffing levels have generally increased since the last report.
Healthcare
HMP Bure's healthcare centre operates seven days a week, with GP visits three days a week and a nurse practitioner five days. Full staffing levels have been achieved by Practice Plus Group. While a respiratory nurse has been employed and specialist nurses are sought, delays sometimes occur in prisoners accessing medication and appointments due to wing roll checks. The establishment cannot offer palliative and end-of-life care, a facility that would benefit its aging population.
Regime & Daily Life
The Covid-19 pandemic led to significant regime restrictions, including lockdowns of up to 23 hours a day, which prisoners found frustrating and detrimental to mental and physical health. Despite this, gym staff were commended for organising outdoor activities in all weathers, appreciated by prisoners. The prison moved to a progressive regime from May 2022, though wing lockdowns still occasionally impacted education attendance.
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 laundry, clothing, ablutions | 12 | 5 | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 0 | 0 | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions | 7 | 3 | |
| Equality | 0 | 8 | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 4 | 6 | |
| Food and kitchens | 3 | 3 | — |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 8 | 9 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 9 | 19 | |
| Miscellaneous, including complaints system | 0 | 0 | |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 5 | 5 | — |
| Property within this establishment | 12 | 16 | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 5 | 4 | |
| Sentence management, including home detention curfew, release on temporary licence, parole, release dates, recategorisation | 8 | 8 | — |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 6 | 5 | |
| Transfers | 7 | 3 |
Recommendations (6)
Ministry of Justice: 2
HMPPS: 4
4 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Will the Minister ensure that HMP Bure operates at its nominal accommodation level?
Ministry of Justice
Overcrowding
Recommendation 2
Repeated
Will the Minister act swiftly on this report?
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 3
Repeated
Could HMPPS explain why this work was never carried out and reallocate funding as a matter of urgency so that it can be completed?
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 4
Could this now be given top priority so that the much-needed savings can be made?
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 5
Repeated
Will HMPPS make funding available within the next financial year to enable work to start?
HMPPS
Regime
Recommendation 6
Will the Prison Service consider the introduction of national pay rates for prisoners across the whole of the estate?
HMPPS
Other
Other IMB Reports for Bure
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
2 Oct 2023
Unannounced
Safety: 4
Respect: 4
Activity: 1
Release: 3
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.