Prison
Cat C
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Stocken
IMB Annual Report 2021 · Published 9 November 2021
HMP Stocken, a category C training prison, experienced significant disruption during the reporting year (May 2020 – April 2021) due to the Covid-19 pandemic, yet managed a commendable response to the outbreak and achieved high vaccination rates. Despite an extended period of restricted regime, the Board found the prison generally safe and commended the leadership and staff. Key concerns include persistent issues with prisoner transfers, resettlement support, and access to programmes.
Positive Findings
The Board was pleased that Stocken’s outbreak of Covid-19 was formally closed by Public Health England in April 2021, and the prison achieved a high vaccination rate, ranking second nationally. The Board found the prison generally safe, and physical healthcare well-catered for, with a commendable 97% hepatitis C testing rate. Education and training, though disrupted, were considered excellent. The Governor and staff were commended for their leadership and work during the pandemic, which positively impacted prisoners.
Key Concerns
Overcrowding
Repeated
Persistent lack of capacity in category D (open) prisons, leading to significant numbers of category D prisoners remaining at Stocken.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
Delays in the recategorisation and transfer of non-category C prisoners from Stocken. Prisoners recategorised from C to B often wait over 42 days for transfer, and those recategorised to D also face long waits to move to open conditions.
Resettlement/Release
The ‘prisoner flow’ system is not working effectively at Stocken, resulting in a significant number of prisoners being released directly from Stocken without adequate resettlement support, as the prison is not funded for this purpose.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Grave concerns over the lack of access to programmes which can lead to a prisoner’s inability to reduce their risk of reoffending and their progression to a category D establishment.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
Too many instances where category B prisoners at Stocken are not transferred within 72 hours and wait for over 42 days for transfer, with Governors of category B prisons having too much discretion in refusing to accept them.
Other
High number of applications regarding property loss during transfer, indicating a lack of cooperation from other establishments and inadequate volumetric control, leading to uncompensated loss of personal memorabilia.
Mental Health
Lack of places at secure mental health facilities, meaning prisoners with severe mental health difficulties are inappropriately held in prison, necessitating substantial resources to keep them safe.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staffing levels fluctuated throughout the year, mainly due to Covid-19 self-isolation, which also impacted staff morale. Despite this, governing staff worked to maintain optimism and professionalism. The key work scheme, crucial for staff/prisoner relationships, was suspended for most of the year but recommenced in March. OMU staffing remained incredibly tight.
Healthcare
Healthcare services, provided by Practice Plus Group, generally ran well despite staff shortages, with GP access better than in the community and dental wait times around six weeks. A Covid-19 vaccination program was initiated, and 97% of prisoners were tested for hepatitis C. Mental healthcare staffing was adequate, though a lack of secure mental health facility places remains a significant concern for prisoners with severe mental health needs.
Regime & Daily Life
The reporting year was largely dominated by Covid-19 restrictions, leading to an extended lock-up period where prisoners were often out of cell for only 1.25 hours a day. Most recreational activity was suspended, but the prison provided in-cell televisions, books, and distraction packs to mitigate boredom. Towards the end of the year, the regime began to ease, with plans for a more purposeful 50/50 regime and increased time out of cell.
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 | 5 | 9 | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 0 | 2 | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, IEP, sanctions | 10 | 20 | |
| Equality | 3 | 5 | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 10 | 15 | |
| Food and kitchens | 3 | 4 | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 25 | 23 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 17 | 20 | |
| Miscellaneous, including complaints system | 0 | 0 | |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 6 | 72 | |
| Property within this establishment | 23 | 29 | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 16 | 16 | — |
| Sentence management, including home detention curfew, release on temporary licence, parole, release dates, recategorisation | 14 | 41 | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 38 | 31 | |
| Transfers | 16 | 42 |
Recommendations (3)
HMPPS: 3
1 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
There needs to be more active and prompt action in moving non-category C prisoners from Stocken. Prisoners who are recategorised from C to B should be moved within 72 hours but often are still in the segregation unit 42 days later. Those recategorised from C to D are also waiting too long to move to open conditions.
HMPPS
Resettlement
Recommendation 2
increased funding for Stocken to undertake resettlement work with prisoners who are released direct from Stocken
HMPPS
Resettlement
Recommendation 3
more urgency in moving prisoners who meet the criteria for a resettlement prison from Stocken to a resettlement prison.
HMPPS
Resettlement
Other IMB Reports for Stocken
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
16 Jan 2023
Unannounced
Safety: 4
Respect: 3
Activity: 2
Release: 3
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.