Prison
Cat B, C, local, YOI
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Winchester
IMB Annual Report 2022 · Published 17 October 2022
HMP Winchester, a complex local B/C category prison, continues to face significant challenges, including high levels of violence and self-harm, a restricted regime with prolonged cell confinement, and critical issues with its outdated building infrastructure. While staff efforts to provide humane treatment are commendable, severe staffing shortages and high turnover undermine consistency and effective key working. The IMB highlights persistent problems such as cell overcrowding, inadequate CCTV, and vermin infestation, which compromise safety and wellbeing despite some recent positive trends in violence reduction and effective pandemic management.
Positive Findings
The report highlights effective pandemic management and a recent reduction in violence and self-harm since December. Staff are commended for largely fair and humane treatment, with many officers actively helping prisoners. Improvements include a streamlined reception process, effective body scanner for contraband detection, and enhanced living conditions in the relocated segregation unit. Strong cooperation between prison and healthcare staff, especially during Covid-19, is noted, as is increased education take-up due to financial incentives and a noticeable improvement in the physical environment of West Hill.
Key Concerns
Staffing
Repeated
Staffing levels that, even when aligning with the profile (the agreed number of staff), include up to 40% of officers who are inexperienced in managing either a normal regime or the volatile nature of the population.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The outdated design of the buildings and associated facilities – notwithstanding the restorative and replacement work carried out on two of the main wings during the year.
Overcrowding
Repeated
There is still permanent cell overcrowding through the main prison, with most prisoners being required to share a cell that was built to house one person.
Safety
Repeated
Incidents of violence, against prisoners and staff, were still high during this reporting period. The IMB expressed serious concerns last year about the coverage and effectiveness of the CCTV system and was disappointed by the responses of both the Minister and HMPPS, which gave a misleading impression of the current situation and plans underway to improve it. This remains a significant safety risk.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
The incarceration of the majority of prisoners behind their cell doors and in spaces that were designed for one rather than two occupants, for more than 22 hours each day, cannot be regarded as humane.
Other
Repeated
HMP Winchester has a significant vermin problem. Rats nest in the cabling of the underground control room. Their gnawing is suspected of being the cause of some of the recent broken cables there, which power the cameras pivotal to security of the prison.
Equality/Diversity
Repeated
Disabled prisoners are still unable to reach some parts of the prison, for example reception, library, education and some exercise yards.
Other
New prisoners have no access to money for canteen until their local spend account is organised. During this time new arrivals, particularly those who arrive on a Friday and experience the longest wait, are at significant risk of being encouraged into ordering on another prisoner’s canteen account at high rates of interest.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staffing levels remain a significant challenge, with up to 40% of officers being inexperienced and high turnover affecting consistency. The prison experienced 80 resignations across all grades, with a notable number of new and long-serving staff departing. This impacts key working, which was severely curtailed, leading to low satisfaction among prisoners regarding staff interaction and a decrease in prisoners feeling they had staff to turn to.
Healthcare
Healthcare, provided by Practice Plus Group in partnership with NHS, faces challenges due to high prisoner turnover and complex needs, particularly for mental health and addiction. Staff vacancies and reliance on agency staff persist, though recruitment for administrative and nursing roles has improved, and a psychiatrist was recently appointed. CQC noted generally favourable care but issued Regulation 17 and 18 notices for improvements in mental health provision for new arrivals and clinical and management supervision.
Regime & Daily Life
The prison largely operated under a restricted regime, often locking prisoners in their cells for over 22 hours daily, which the IMB deems inhumane. This significantly curtailed purposeful activity, workshops, and association, particularly impacting remand prisoners with short stays. Refurbishment work has progressed, but issues with shower availability for segregated prisoners continue to disrupt the regime, requiring additional staff and locking down other prisoners.
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) | 54 | 38 | |
| Activities and work | 13 | 14 | |
| Adjudications | 15 | 11 | |
| Bullying/victimisation/mistreatment | 15 | 14 | |
| Canteen and money | 28 | 39 | |
| Food | 7 | 6 | |
| Healthcare and medication | 39 | 42 | |
| Legal | 12 | 11 | |
| Other (including general treatment, conditions, complaints) | 154 | 133 | |
| Property | 46 | 45 | |
| Safety | 11 | 12 | |
| Staff/prisoner relationships | 15 | 14 | |
| Visits | 10 | 11 |
Recommendations (10)
Other: 2
HMPPS: 5
Governor / Director: 3
9 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
What measures can the minister outline to improve staff recruitment, motivation and retention?
Other
(minister)
Staffing
Recommendation 2
Repeated
Would the minister agree that safety at Winchester is unsatisfactory and explain what other steps will be taken to ensure the recent positive trend is maintained?
Other
(minister)
Safety
Recommendation 3
Repeated
There is still permanent cell overcrowding through the main prison, with most prisoners being required to share a cell that was built to house one person. What is the Prison Service’s plan to rectify this?
HMPPS
Overcrowding
Recommendation 4
Repeated
Given the safety and security concerns resulting from the inconsistent provision of CCTV facilities in and around the prison, when will the Prison Service supply the funds to install the modern, integrated equipment to rectify this?
HMPPS
Safety
Recommendation 5
Repeated
Given the high number of remand/unsentenced prisoners in Winchester, how does the Prison Service consider this policy treats prisoners whose length of stay is so short (12 weeks average) that they are unable to avail themselves of education or participation in workshops, and are thus locked behind their cell doors for over 22 hours per day?
HMPPS
Regime
Recommendation 6
Repeated
As many cells still get very hot in summer and very cold in winter, and showers are often non-functioning due to an outdated fabric and design, what are the Prison Service’s plans for resolving these issues?
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 7
How will HMPPS constructively support HMP Winchester’s efforts to help prevent prisoners getting into debt whilst they wait for their spend accounts to be set up?
HMPPS
Welfare
Recommendation 8
Repeated
How can greater compliance with systems and procedures by staff be encouraged to ensure a more consistent delivery?
Governor / Director
Staffing
Recommendation 9
Repeated
What measures can be taken to further reduce the supply of intoxicating substances, especially hooch, to prisoners?
Governor / Director
Substance misuse
Recommendation 10
Repeated
Given the continued impact of the vermin infestation, and the associated health and safety concerns, what more lasting and impactful arrangements can be made to resolve this issue?
Governor / Director
Estate
Other IMB Reports for Winchester
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
23 Oct 2024
Urgent Notification
7 Oct 2024
Unannounced
Safety: 1
Respect: 1
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.