Prison
Cat B local remand
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Altcourse
IMB Annual Report 2022 · Published 9 December 2022
HMP Altcourse remains a generally safe and humane prison, showing a reduction in self-harm and violence, and improved healthcare facilities. However, significant concerns persist regarding the containment of severely mentally unwell prisoners in unsuitable conditions and chronic staffing shortages impacting various services. The Board also highlights issues with the national food budget and a lack of external support following a 'cluster death site' designation.
Positive Findings
The Board finds HMP Altcourse remains a safe prison, with continuing reductions in self-harm and violence, and general fair and humane treatment. Significant improvements include the refurbishment of the healthcare inpatient unit, the introduction of an in-house bakery, and new staff roles like IAG mentors and a wellbeing officer. Staff-prisoner relationships are noted as good, contributing to lower violence and use of force.
Key Concerns
Mental Health
Repeated
Once again, the Board has highlighted the plight of severely mentally unwell men being contained in totally unsuitable conditions and without access to appropriate treatment for long periods of time before being transferred to appropriate secure units.
Education/Purposeful Activity
The lack of offence-related courses for men convicted of sexual offences is delaying their progression and could have a detrimental impact on public safety.
Food/Catering
Repeated
The national budget allowance for prisoners’ daily food is insufficient, particularly in the context of the current economic climate.
Safety
The prison was designated a ‘cluster death site’ in October 2021 but no additional support/training was forthcoming from the centre which would have been helpful in identifying any areas for development.
Staffing
Recruitment of staff has to be a priority to minimise the redeployment of staff from designated roles to cover for vacancies elsewhere.
Staffing
Repeated
Timely recruitment of a complaints clerk and family unit social worker to ensure that the current level of service in those areas is maintained.
Equality/Diversity
More focus on diversity in recruitment.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staffing shortages across various departments, including healthcare, probation, and the SOAR team, have been a significant concern, leading to redeployment of staff and impacting service delivery. The prison has seen experienced frontline staff leave, replaced by inexperienced personnel. The Board emphasizes the priority of staff recruitment to ensure continuity and maintain service levels, particularly for critical roles like complaints clerk and family social worker.
Healthcare
Overall healthcare needs are largely met, with GP and dental waiting times comparable to the community. However, provision has been stretched by staffing issues. A significant concern is the rising number of severely mentally unwell prisoners awaiting transfer, often exceeding the 28-day limit, who are held in unsuitable custodial settings. The refurbished inpatient unit has improved facilities, but managing a mix of mental, physical, and palliative care patients remains challenging. The number of prisoners reporting mental health issues has dramatically increased.
Regime & Daily Life
The reporting year saw a gradual return to pre-Covid regimes, with lockdown restrictions easing and association time increasing. However, purposeful activity remains limited, with prisoners attending work or education for only half the day, impacting their pay. Gym access has also been restricted due to staffing shortages. There was a perceived lack of understanding among prisoners as to why regime relaxation was slower than in the local community.
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 | 17 | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 7 | 16 | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions | 10 | 25 | |
| Equality | 3 | 14 | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 10 | 32 | |
| Food and kitchens | 13 | 26 | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 47 | 59 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 19 | 31 | |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 16 | 29 | |
| Property within this establishment | 17 | 25 | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 9 | 16 | |
| Sentence management, including HDC, release on temporary licence, parole, release dates, re-categorisation | 12 | 71 |
Recommendations (7)
Ministry of Justice: 2
HMPPS: 2
Governor / Director: 3
3 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Once again, the Board has highlighted the plight of severely mentally unwell men being contained in totally unsuitable conditions and without access to appropriate treatment for long periods of time before being transferred to appropriate secure units.
Ministry of Justice
Mental Health
Recommendation 2
The lack of offence-related courses for men convicted of sexual offences is delaying their progression and could have a detrimental impact on public safety.
Ministry of Justice
Education
Recommendation 3
Repeated
The Board is of the opinion that the national budget allowance for prisoners’ daily food is insufficient, particularly in the context of the current economic climate.
HMPPS
Food
Recommendation 4
The prison was designated a ‘cluster death site’ in October 2021 but no additional support/training was forthcoming from the centre which would have been helpful in identifying any areas for development.
HMPPS
Safety
Recommendation 5
Recruitment of staff has to be a priority to minimise the redeployment of staff from designated roles to cover for vacancies elsewhere.
Governor / Director
Staffing
Recommendation 6
Repeated
Timely recruitment of a complaints clerk and family unit social worker to ensure that the current level of service in those areas is maintained.
Governor / Director
Staffing
Recommendation 7
More focus on diversity in recruitment.
Governor / Director
Equality
Other IMB Reports for Altcourse
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
7 Jul 2025
Unannounced
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.