Prison
Cat C
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Lindholme
IMB Annual Report 2022 · Published 27 May 2022
HMP Lindholme continued to operate under COVID-19 restrictions, limiting regime and purposeful activity, yet saw the successful implementation of digital infrastructure and in-cell phones. While healthcare provision improved with reduced waiting times in most areas, significant concerns remain regarding persistent overcrowding, the high number of IPP prisoners, and the inadequate provision of resettlement services. Issues with the timely handling of prisoner complaints and property also need further attention.
Positive Findings
The introduction of a digital infrastructure and in-cell phones was enthusiastically welcomed, significantly improving communication and preparation for release. The Board commends efforts in the Covid vaccination programme and the considerable funds spent on refurbishing accommodation. Healthcare provision showed improvements, with reduced waiting times in most areas (except dentistry), better staffing, and prompt attention to mental health referrals. The chaplaincy demonstrated dynamic support for prisoners, and initiatives to improve the handling of property complaints showed noticeable positive effects by year-end.
Key Concerns
Other
Repeated
The number of men who remain in prison with indeterminate Imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentences, which the Board considers an iniquitous sentence.
Overcrowding
The problems of overcrowding caused by a lack of capacity in the prison estate, which is detrimental to both prison staff and the mental health of prisoners.
Estate/Conditions
Many buildings in the industrial area require significant investment for the prison to develop its role as a training prison.
Resettlement/Release
Little progress towards improving successful resettlement, with HMP Lindholme lacking resources for a satisfactory resettlement service, leading to 222 prisoners being released without a structured pre-release programme.
Complaints/Property
A large proportion of prisoners reported that their complaints were not handled in a timely manner, undermining confidence in the complaints system.
Other
A significant increase in complaints about the handling of prisoners’ property, particularly issues with accounting for property during transfers to and from other establishments.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Disappointingly low physical attendance at the library (only three prisoners over the past year) and the need to reintegrate library attendance into the weekly regime.
Safety
The high number of organised crime group (OCG) prisoners (214 by January 2022) poses a constant threat to security and safety.
Substance Misuse
Repeated
A high proportion of prisoners continue to perceive drug and alcohol problems as serious or moderate, with psychoactive substance (PS) use remaining a major challenge.
Overcrowding
Repeated
The proportion of cells designed for single occupancy that are authorised for double occupancy has not reduced, and there are no plans to reduce it in the foreseeable future.
Healthcare
Repeated
More than half of prisoners (56.6% in previous survey, similar now) still express the opinion that it is not easy to access healthcare.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
The processing of prisoners’ details on OASys has not improved, with a persistent backlog of 63 cases, diluting time for effective sentence management and prisoner engagement.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
Continued shortage of spaces in the open prison estate, causing frustration for prisoners and impacting their rehabilitation.
Resettlement/Release
The cessation of the RESOLVE course and insufficient provision of offending behaviour programmes (only one OBP with six courses a year), which is inadequate to address the backlog and reduce risk for IPP prisoners.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The need to increase visits capacity at weekends, given the current prison population and consistently fully booked weekend visits.
Other
Repeated
A concerning increase in prisoners unaware of the IMB's role (over a third), finding it difficult to contact the IMB (41%), and unaware of the 0800 applications number, partly linked to insufficient induction.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
A constant demand to replace privacy curtains in double occupancy cells due to damage or disappearance.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Prisoners arriving are not being allowed early access to their own clothing held in reception.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Complaints about unserviceable washing machines on wings preventing prisoners from washing personal clothing.
Food/Catering
Complaints regarding the size of food portions and its unappetising nature, with 53% of men finding the food unsatisfactory.
Complaints/Property
Repeated
Delays in completing Discrimination Incident Report Forms (DIRFs) within the correct timescale, mirroring lateness in other complaints and causing prisoner frustration.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staffing levels for the key worker scheme were impacted by the pandemic, leading to a reduced service primarily for vulnerable prisoners and a noted decline in consistent staff-prisoner contact. Healthcare staffing, however, showed improvement in numbers and retention, with only four vacant posts by October 2021. The Offender Management Unit staff are under considerable pressure, leading to concerns about diluted time for effective sentence management and prisoner engagement. Resources across the prison were generally stretched.
Healthcare
The healthcare team navigated significant challenges during the pandemic, successfully implementing the Covid vaccination program and improving most waiting times, though dental waits rose to 57 weeks. Despite prompt attention to rising mental health referrals and the filling of a consultant forensic psychiatrist post, over half of prisoners still report difficulty accessing healthcare. Staffing levels in healthcare have improved, and DNA rates for GP appointments remain low. Psychoactive substance misuse, however, continues to be a major challenge.
Regime & Daily Life
The prison operated under varying lockdown measures throughout the year due to the pandemic, leading to prisoners spending long periods in their cells with limited association and socialisation. While efforts were made to provide exercise and gym sessions, and despite the reopening of the gym in November, the extended lockdown adversely affected prisoner wellbeing. Education and work activities experienced interruptions, resuming mid-year only to be halted again in December due to the Omicron variant.
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 | 10 | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 7 | 4 | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, IEP, sanctions | 36 | 14 | |
| Equality | 18 | 4 | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 19 | 14 | |
| Food and kitchens | 3 | 3 | — |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 40 | 34 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 34 | 14 | |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 48 | 13 | |
| Property within this establishment | 49 | 14 | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 21 | 3 | |
| Sentence management, including HDC, release on temporary licence, parole, release dates, recategorisation | 75 | 41 | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 55 | 46 | |
| Transfers | 33 | 6 |
Recommendations (6)
Other: 1
HMPPS: 1
Governor / Director: 4
1 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
We continue to urge the Minister to maintain efforts to get rid of what we consider to be an iniquitous sentence altogether.
Other
(minister)
Resettlement
Recommendation 2
More needs to be done in the short term to address the problem [overcrowding], rather than waiting for a long-term building plan to provide the necessary additional capacity.
HMPPS
Overcrowding
Recommendation 3
The initiative to provide a satisfactory resettlement service should be continued until such time as men can be transferred to resettlement prisons before the end of their sentence.
Governor / Director
Resettlement
Recommendation 4
We recommend that the matter be reviewed in order to improve prisoners’ confidence in the complaints system.
Governor / Director
Complaints
Recommendation 5
We would urge that this initiative is reinforced in order to further reduce the dissatisfaction that arises amongst prisoners.
Governor / Director
Property
Recommendation 6
Consider ways to reintegrate library attendance into the weekly regime.
Governor / Director
Regime
Other IMB Reports for Lindholme
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
17 Jul 2023
Unannounced
Safety: 2
Respect: 3
Activity: 1
Release: 1
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.