Prison
Cat Category C
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Buckley Hall
IMB Annual Report 2021 · Published 19 November 2021
The reporting year at HMP Buckley Hall (Aug 2020 - July 2021) was largely defined by Covid-19, leading to significant operational challenges and a restrictive regime. Despite these difficulties, the IMB judged the prison to be safe, with dedicated leadership and staff, and good healthcare provision. Key concerns persist regarding prisoner progression, funding for new initiatives, and some basic decency issues such as secure in-cell medication storage and shower quality.
Positive Findings
The Board judged Buckley Hall to be a safe environment, commendating the experienced leadership and the resilience of staff and prisoners in coping with Covid-19 restrictions. Significant improvements were noted in daily briefings, body scanner use, and monitoring of complaints. Relationships between staff and prisoners remained largely positive, and healthcare provision was considered good, with staff efforts highly praised.
Key Concerns
Complaints/Property
Ensure the return of the independent adjudicator (see paragraph 5.2.9)
Other
Endeavour to reduce the number of prisoners with indeterminate public protection (IPP) sentences (5.2.6 and 7.3.3-4)
Resettlement/Release
Ensure the speedy resumption of moves to open and resettlement prisons (7.3.5 and 7.5.1)
Substance Misuse
Provide sufficient additional funding for the new integrated drug recovery wing (6.5.1)
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Install in-cell telephony (7.4.8)
Healthcare
Provide secure medication in-cell facilities (6.1.14)
Other
Improve the transfer of prisoners’ monies between prisons in the private and public sector (5.1.16)
Safety
Review the criteria for prisoners to reside on D wing (4.4.6)
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Ensure that all prisoners have ready access to a cell courtesy key (5.1.13)
Safety
Improve the playback facilities for the use of force assurance committee (4.5.3)
Staffing
Increase the number of key work sessions as soon as is practical (5.3.3)
Healthcare
Repeated
Install CCTV in the healthcare waiting area (6.1.17)
Education/Purposeful Activity
Increase the number of prisoners enrolled on programmes courses (6.6.5 and 6.6.2-3)
Other
Review the decision to confiscate Sony Giga Jukes from newly arriving prisoners (5.8.4)
Safety
Review the operation of the current challenge, support and intervention plan (CSIP) scheme (4.4.9)
Safety
Ensure that the cell-bell call data is downloaded and monitored (5.1.3)
Estate/Conditions
Improve the prisoner showers on the wing (5.1.8)
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Provide newly arriving prisoners with a means of transporting their property to the wings (4.1.7)
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staff experienced physical and emotional fatigue due to Covid-19, with 105 positive tests impacting cover. There were concerns about a high number of young, inexperienced officers and the regular redeployment of safer custody staff, though the Governor ring-fenced some roles. Key work sessions significantly declined, falling by 69% in the first three months of 2021 compared to the previous year, due to staff shortages.
Healthcare
The provision of health and wellbeing was considered good, despite a small staff team exacerbated by Covid-19. Healthcare staff proactively offered Covid vaccines (59% received second dose, 30% declined) and hepatitis C tests. However, waiting times for external hospital appointments increased to over 18 weeks for some, and the dental waiting list grew to at least eight weeks due to treatment cessation and equipment faults. Mental health staff observed no increase in deteriorating mental health or self-referrals, but more structured dual diagnoses links with drug recovery are needed. The absence of CCTV in the healthcare waiting area, a previously reported issue, remains a concern.
Regime & Daily Life
The daily regime was significantly impacted by Covid-19, with out-of-cell time often limited to two 30-40 minute sessions per day. A majority of prisoners reported feeling their time out of cell and sense of occupation were 'reasonable' or 'poor'. Lock-up at 5:15pm resulted in a much quieter evening. The lack of movement to open prisons and restricted access to programmes caused frustration for men seeking progression.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adjudications | 34 | 43 | |
| Equality | 11 | 15 | |
| Facilities | 29 | 38 | |
| General | 21 | 22 | |
| Healthcare | 32 | 34 | |
| Meals | 17 | 13 | |
| Other | 19 | 16 | |
| Property | 158 | 159 | |
| Requests | 114 | 208 | |
| Transfers | 65 | 73 |
Recommendations (18)
Other: 2
HMPPS: 5
Governor / Director: 11
1 repeated
Recommendation 1
Ensure the return of the independent adjudicator (see paragraph 5.2.9)
Other
(minister)
Adjudication
Recommendation 2
Endeavour to reduce the number of prisoners with indeterminate public protection (IPP) sentences (5.2.6 and 7.3.3-4)
Other
(minister)
Progression
Recommendation 3
Ensure the speedy resumption of moves to open and resettlement prisons (7.3.5 and 7.5.1)
HMPPS
Resettlement
Recommendation 4
Provide sufficient additional funding for the new integrated drug recovery wing (6.5.1)
HMPPS
Substance Misuse
Recommendation 5
Install in-cell telephony (7.4.8)
HMPPS
Communication
Recommendation 6
Provide secure medication in-cell facilities (6.1.14)
HMPPS
Healthcare
Recommendation 7
Improve the transfer of prisoners’ monies between prisons in the private and public sector (5.1.16)
HMPPS
Administration
Recommendation 8
Review the criteria for prisoners to reside on D wing (4.4.6)
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 9
Ensure that all prisoners have ready access to a cell courtesy key (5.1.13)
Governor / Director
Regime
Recommendation 10
Improve the playback facilities for the use of force assurance committee (4.5.3)
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 11
Increase the number of key work sessions as soon as is practical (5.3.3)
Governor / Director
Staffing
Recommendation 12
Repeated
Install CCTV in the healthcare waiting area (6.1.17)
Governor / Director
Healthcare
Recommendation 13
Increase the number of prisoners enrolled on programmes courses (6.6.5 and 6.6.2-3)
Governor / Director
Education
Recommendation 14
Review the decision to confiscate Sony Giga Jukes from newly arriving prisoners (5.8.4)
Governor / Director
Property
Recommendation 15
Review the operation of the current challenge, support and intervention plan (CSIP) scheme (4.4.9)
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 16
Ensure that the cell-bell call data is downloaded and monitored (5.1.3)
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 17
Improve the prisoner showers on the wing (5.1.8)
Governor / Director
Estate
Recommendation 18
Provide newly arriving prisoners with a means of transporting their property to the wings (4.1.7)
Governor / Director
Induction
Other IMB Reports for Buckley Hall
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
12 Feb 2024
Unannounced
Safety: 3
Respect: 3
Activity: 2
Release: 4
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.