Prison
Cat C
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Risley
IMB Annual Report 2021 · Published 27 January 2022
HMP Risley demonstrates high safety standards with reductions in self-harm and violence, good healthcare provision, and strong equality and diversity initiatives. However, the Board raises significant concerns about long repatriation times for foreign nationals and property management issues. The pandemic severely impacted regime, education, and Key Worker scheme delivery, leading to limited time out of cell and restricted activities.
Positive Findings
The Board notes that the overall safety of the prison meets a high standard, with a steady decline in incidents of self-harm and violence. Managerial oversight of the use of force is commended, with incidents of PAVA spray and baton use significantly reduced. The prison has reacted well to challenges in reducing drug ingress and the catering quality remains very impressive. The Key Worker scheme has notably reduced violent and self-harm incidents. Equality and diversity have a high profile, and transgender prisoners report feeling safe and supported. The chaplaincy team provides excellent pastoral support, and healthcare services are generally good, with timely provision of special aids and adaptations.
Key Concerns
Resettlement/Release
With reference to items 4.2.10 and 5.4.16 in the body of the report, what discussions are you having with colleague ministers in order to help improve the long repatriation/deportation timeframes for foreign national prisoners?
Resettlement/Release
There are frequent instances of prisoners being transferred to establishments that cannot facilitate the courses needed for their identified requirements with regard to sentence management and rehabilitation.
Other
Repeated
The Board continues to receive a large number of applications regarding loss of prisoners’ property.
Safety
Repeated
There have been instances where the Board has not been called to serious incidents, particularly out of hours.
Other
Repeated
The Board still has concerns about the efficient provision of prisoners’ property.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
the observation regarding the absence of any provision of books and/or magazines made in our last report is still a valid one.
Complaints/Property
the complaints processes are not always consistently handled and/or explained verbally in any depth, which has caused some confusion, especially for first-time prisoners.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
sessions are not always consistent in the delivery of information – for example, sometimes not mentioning the role of the Board, the Samaritans, Listeners or the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman service.
Safety
Emergency evacuation procedures are not covered as part of the induction session.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The issue of many of the cell vents on F wing being inoperable and in need of repair is ongoing.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
Again, the issue of telephone faults has been a consistent problem.
Other
The Board still has concerns that cell clearances are not carried out promptly when a prisoner moves location within the prison, leading to loss of property and also potentially posing risks due to Covid-19.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Discussions are continuing with regard to the Board’s concerns over the issuing of clothes and footwear, as there have been issues of new arrivals not receiving clothing from the stores.
Mental Health
The Board remains concerned about the vulnerable prisoners with mental health issues held in the CSU. We believe that more appropriate accommodation should be provided for these individuals.
Safety
many prisoners with disabilities say that they have experienced a high level of bullying and/or victimisation, which corresponds to the results published in the recent HMIP survey.
Education/Purposeful Activity
The Board would welcome a modernisation of the current work offer for prisoners, giving them the chance to gain skills for the current and, indeed, future world of work, which could help them gain employment when they leave prison.
Resettlement/Release
It is of concern that there are no intervention programmes offered to these prisoners, who are often sent to other establishments to carry out relevant schemes.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
continual complaints from prisoners about the lack of contact with their allocated person (POM).
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
significant delays in telephone call monitoring. As yet, there appears to have been no improvement in this.
Board Commentary
Staffing
The Key Worker scheme has been severely affected by the pandemic, operating at 20-30% of its target compared to an initial 90%. Staff absences have led to redeployments and backlogs in offender management assessments. Healthcare appointments are sometimes cancelled due to staff shortages. However, the Listener scheme has seen a recruitment drive, increasing the number of Listeners from 15 to 27.
Healthcare
Healthcare services, including physical and mental health, are provided by Greater Manchester West NHS Foundation Trust, aiming for community-equivalent provision. While waiting lists for GP, dental, and optometry are within national timescales, services were limited due to Covid-19, and some appointments were cancelled due to staff shortages. Healthcare and mental health staff attendance at ACCT reviews has been excellent. A mental health care unit provides comprehensive input. However, the Board remains concerned about vulnerable prisoners with mental health issues held in the Care and Separation Unit (CSU) and suggests more appropriate accommodation.
Regime & Daily Life
During the pandemic, prisoners averaged one hour out of their cells daily, with changes to the regime generally accepted. Education and library services were curtailed for most of the year, relying on in-cell work packs with varied return rates. Vocational training and work opportunities were extremely limited. Family contact was severely restricted, although secure social video calls were introduced, with mixed prisoner views. The issue of inoperable cell vents, consistent telephone faults, and delays in telephone call monitoring remain ongoing concerns.
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) | 45 | 38 | |
| Discipline | 2 | 1 | |
| Healthcare | 18 | 11 | |
| Legal | 8 | 12 | |
| Other | 30 | 16 | |
| Property | 102 | 88 | |
| Release (including immigration) | 19 | 19 | — |
| Sentence management | 13 | 12 | |
| Total | 237 | 197 |
Recommendations (5)
Other: 1
HMPPS: 2
Governor / Director: 2
3 repeated
Recommendation 1
With reference to items 4.2.10 and 5.4.16 in the body of the report, what discussions are you having with colleague ministers in order to help improve the long repatriation/deportation timeframes for foreign national prisoners?
Other
(minister)
Resettlement
Recommendation 2
There are frequent instances of prisoners being transferred to establishments that cannot facilitate the courses needed for their identified requirements with regard to sentence management and rehabilitation. Why are prisoners transferred to prisons which cannot ensure completion of sentence management requirements, and might the Prison Service consider a more efficient way of eradicating these problems, going forward?
HMPPS
Progression
Recommendation 3
Repeated
The Board continues to receive a large number of applications regarding loss of prisoners’ property. What plans does the Prison Service have to introduce a more streamlined system of handling prisoners’ property when being transferred between prisons? This would avoid unnecessary distress for prisoners being transferred and also minimise the number of compensation claims.
HMPPS
Property
Recommendation 4
Repeated
There have been instances where the Board has not been called to serious incidents, particularly out of hours. What are your plans, going forward, to ensure that Board members may monitor and observe serious incidents, while maintaining all appropriate safety and security protocols?
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 5
Repeated
The Board still has concerns about the efficient provision of prisoners’ property. What plans does the prison have regarding developing a more efficient, consistent and streamlined approach to handling and allocating prisoners’ property, on arrival, departure and movement within the prison?
Governor / Director
Property
Other IMB Reports for Risley
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
12 Apr 2023
Unannounced
Safety: 3
Respect: 2
Activity: 1
Release: 2
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.