Prison
Cat C
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
The Verne
IMB Annual Report 2022 · Published 22 February 2023
HMP The Verne, an adult training prison for men convicted of sexual offences, has largely restored its 'core day' regime following COVID-19, maintaining a safe environment with good staff-prisoner relationships and high-quality healthcare. However, the report highlights critical issues, particularly regarding the inadequate 24-hour social care and onsite hospital provision for its growing elderly and frail population. Significant understaffing in the Offender Management Unit continues to undermine resettlement efforts for the substantial number of prisoners released directly from this training prison, alongside concerns about low prisoner pay and a third of the population lacking purposeful activity.
Positive Findings
The Verne is a very safe prison where instances of violence are rare, and disruptive behaviour is dealt with promptly. The prevailing ethos is one of mutual respect between staff and prisoners, and relationships are good. The IMB is confident that HMP The Verne effectively monitors and addresses the needs of all communities, with staff showing conscientiousness in respecting minorities. Healthcare provision is of a consistently high standard, with reduced waiting lists and mental health provision assessed as 'excellent' by the CQC. The chaplaincy team's dedication is highly regarded.
Key Concerns
Healthcare
Repeated
The lack of 24-hour provision for an as yet small but growing number of frail elderly prisoners who need regular personal care.
Staffing
The Offender Management Unit is seriously understaffed, with only two part-time probation officers against a complement of eight full-time, and similar shortfalls in POMs and senior probation officers.
Resettlement/Release
The Board does not consider the resettlement provision to be satisfactory, especially for the significant number of prisoners released directly into the community from a training prison, compounded by a lack of dedicated funding.
Healthcare
Repeated
There is currently no plan to establish a 'community hospital' at The Verne, despite previous discussions, which would save staff time on escort and bedwatch duties and reduce cancelled external appointments.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Around one-third of the prison roll are not engaged in purposeful activity.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Discontent among prisoners regarding very low pay, considerably lower than in most other prisons.
Board Commentary
Staffing
The Offender Management Unit is seriously understaffed, with only two part-time probation officers against a complement of eight full-time, and similar shortfalls in POMs and senior probation officers. This places a significant strain on resettlement efforts. The key worker scheme, suspended during the pandemic, is hoped to see increased contact once staffing levels permit. Staff shortages also lead to appointments being cancelled due to a lack of escorts, creating difficult choices for healthcare staff.
Healthcare
The Verne provides a consistently high standard of healthcare with most needs adequately met, and mental health provision rated 'excellent' by CQC. Waiting lists for routine care have significantly reduced post-pandemic, and vaccination uptake is high. However, there is a critical lack of 24-hour provision and adequate social care for the growing number of frail, elderly prisoners, with current care packages deemed minimal and insufficient for those with incontinence. The absence of an onsite hospital unit for overnight care and frequent cancellation of external appointments due to escort shortages also remain significant concerns for the ageing population.
Regime & Daily Life
The Verne has largely restored its 'core day' regime post-Covid, offering 3-5 hours of purposeful activity or association daily, though staff shortages occasionally necessitate curbs on association. The prison maintains an ethos of mutual respect, and prisoners generally accepted Covid-related restrictions. However, approximately one-third of the population remains disengaged from purposeful activity, and low prisoner pay compared to other prisons leads to discontent.
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 | 7 | 1 | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 5 | 1 | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions | 3 | 1 | |
| Equality | 2 | 0 | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 3 | 1 | |
| Food and kitchens | 0 | 0 | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 7 | 3 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 9 | 0 | |
| Miscellaneous, including complaints system | 8 | 2 | |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 8 | 2 | |
| Property within this establishment | 3 | 1 | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 3 | 1 | |
| Sentence management, including HDC, release on temporary licence, parole, release dates, recategorization | 5 | 3 | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 2 | 1 | |
| Transfers | 2 | 0 |
Recommendations (3)
Ministry of Justice: 1
HMPPS: 1
Governor / Director: 1
1 repeated
Recommendation 1
The Board invites the Minister to consider whether a community hospital, serving other prisons in the south-west, could be sited at HMP The Verne.
Ministry of Justice
Healthcare
Recommendation 2
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The Board urges HMPPS to expedite the establishment of a facility enabling 24-hour social care at The Verne (para. 6.3.5).
HMPPS
Healthcare
Recommendation 3
The Board encourages the Governor to continue the search for further employment opportunities for Verne prisoners (para. 7.2.3).
Governor / Director
Purposeful Activity
Other IMB Reports for The Verne
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
8 Jul 2024
Unannounced
Safety: 4
Respect: 3
Activity: 2
Release: 2
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.