Prison
Cat local, B, C, YOI
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Winchester
IMB Annual Report 2021 · Published 29 October 2021
HMP Winchester successfully navigated the Covid-19 pandemic, preventing internal outbreaks and earning commendation for its management. Despite this, the prison continues to face significant challenges including high levels of violence, severe regime restrictions, and ongoing issues with overcrowding and the dilapidated prison estate. While healthcare provision has improved and ACCT cases have reduced, the IMB raises multiple concerns regarding the inhumane out-of-cell time, inadequate facilities for vulnerable prisoners, and a lack of funding for critical improvements.
Positive Findings
HMP Winchester is to be congratulated on its professional approach to managing the Covid-19 epidemic, preventing internally generated infection and establishing an efficient system of necessary isolation and segregation. Focused attention on improving ACCTs has reduced cases and contributed to no self-inflicted deaths this year. Progress is demonstrated by its removal from special measures, now known as the PPSP. Healthcare provision has improved with the new contract holders, Practice Plus Group, resulting in fewer missed clinical appointments and effective management of mental health caseloads. The kitchen staff maintained efficient meal provision through the epidemic, receiving almost no complaints. The reception department has also enhanced its environment and communication, with an encouraging increase in emergency call bells being answered promptly.
Key Concerns
Safety
HMP Winchester continues to experience very high levels of violence. For much of the year the prison has been the highest in its comparator group for assaults on staff and the second highest for prisoner-on-prisoner assaults.
Mental Health
The lack of a facility appropriate to the housing of prisoners with very challenging behaviour, presenting as mentally ill, who fall below the threshold for in-patient health care, presents a risk both to the prisoners and staff in the CSU.
Estate/Conditions
It cannot be said that the fundamental fabric of the prison creates a safe or progressive environment. The accommodation in HMP Winchester is becoming increasingly unsafe for use by staff and prisoners alike.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
64% of prisoners surveyed stated that they spent less than an hour out of cell daily, which cannot be regarded as humane.
Equality/Diversity
Repeated
IMB’s previous findings about the difficulty of prisoners with physical disabilities gaining access to facilities remain extant. Although some mitigating measures have been put in place, the design and structure of the building makes it almost impossible to meet this basic requirement, with disabled prisoners having to be helped by staff or fellow prisoners to shower, receive food or enter their cells.
Overcrowding
Repeated
Overcrowding in the prison is an ongoing problem. Most cells are designed for one person but are almost always used to house two.
Estate/Conditions
Practically every cell on the main wings in HMP Winchester fails to meet the requirements of PSI 17/2012 regarding WC privacy.
Staffing
HMP Winchester is neither provided with the budget nor the staffing levels to fulfil its obligation to provide young offenders (18-21) with extra, more nourishing food, more exercise and increased opportunities for education.
Substance Misuse
Repeated
Illicit substances continue to be a major issue in the prison.
Segregation
Repeated
The CSU at HMP Winchester continues to be an ongoing major concern to the IMB, with delivery of fair and humane treatment of prisoners verging on the impossible due to inappropriate siting, previously highlighted deficiencies, and damaged cells reducing capacity.
Safety
Repeated
Significant deficiencies in the surveillance arrangements on the prison site, including the continuing problem of the defective vehicle entrance barrier, require urgent resources and action.
Healthcare
Repeated
The upgrade to the healthcare bathroom and shower area, which should be condemned, is very long overdue and was raised in the last two annual reports.
Staffing
Repeated
The provision of clerking to the board, as agreed in the memorandum of understanding between the IMB and the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), continues to be an issue due to the shortage of administrative staff in the business hub.
Board Commentary
Staffing
The Covid-19 pandemic led to high staff absenteeism due to illness or isolation, placing significant stress on those working. Despite this, staff treated prisoners as humanely and fairly as circumstances allowed. However, the prison lacks the necessary staffing levels to adequately meet the needs of young adults, and administrative staff shortages hinder the provision of agreed clerking to the IMB. Senior staff also face an extensive workload from HMPPS policy initiatives and tasks, which are often time-consuming and bureaucratic, diverting focus from front-line progress.
Healthcare
Healthcare at HMP Winchester is commended for its successful management of the Covid-19 epidemic and prevention of internal infection. Integration between healthcare and prison staff has improved significantly since Practice Plus Group (PPG) took over in July 2020. Fewer clinical appointments are now missed, and mental health services effectively manage their large caseload, despite continuous strain. However, the healthcare bathroom and shower area are overdue for upgrade, and more clinical space is needed on the wings for confidential mental health consultations.
Regime & Daily Life
The Covid-19 pandemic severely restricted the regime, leading to significantly reduced out-of-cell time, with a substantial minority of prisoners spending only 45 minutes a day out of their cells for three days a week. Purposeful activities, workshops, and early release schemes were curtailed. While prisoners initially accepted the austere regime due to external circumstances, the restoration of a more open regime with increased purposeful activity remains a significant challenge, exacerbated by the short average stay and high prisoner turnover in this local prison.
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 | |
| Allegations of bullying / intimidation | 1 | 1 | — |
| All other | 23 | 23 | — |
| Complaints procedure | 76 | 65 | |
| Dietary | 14 | 32 | |
| General information | 3 | 10 | |
| Legal | 4 | 3 | |
| Medical | 280 | 218 | |
| Property | 104 | 118 | |
| Regime | 64 | 68 | |
| Relationships with others | 1 | 0 | |
| Safeguarding and vulnerability | 3 | 0 | |
| Staff conduct | 5 | 10 | |
| Total | 623 | 586 |
Recommendations (15)
Ministry of Justice: 2
HMPPS: 9
Governor / Director: 4
6 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
What is the Minister’s plan to resolve the issue of permanent cell overcrowding and the fact that prison service instruction (PSI) 17/2012 states prisoners must be ‘able to use the wc with some privacy’ (see sections 3.2, 4.4, 5.1), which is impossible to achieve in HMP Winchester?
Ministry of Justice
overcrowding
Recommendation 2
Should there be a specified limit on the upper temperature in a prison cell? (See section 5.1).
Ministry of Justice
estate
Recommendation 3
Repeated
What is the prison service’s plan to ensure that prisoners with mobility challenges have access to all parts of the prison, including the entrance and cells? (See sections 3.2, 4.1, 5.1).
HMPPS
Equality
Recommendation 4
Repeated
Any necessary improvements that require central budgeting approval take far too long to get through the process. What is the prison service’s plan to deal with the long-standing surveillance issues which the IMB will identify in a separate letter, and the continuing problem of the defective vehicle entrance barrier? (See section 4.7).
HMPPS
Safety
Recommendation 5
HMP Winchester is right in its view, particularly given the state of its infrastructure, that the clean and decent project remains a vital initiative. Although the additional funding that accompanied its roll-out has been stopped, the prison is continuing to fund it. Can the extra funding be reinstated as a matter of urgent priority? (See section 5.1).
HMPPS
estate
Recommendation 6
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
What is the prison service doing to hasten the upgrade to the healthcare bathroom and shower area which should be condemned? This work is very long overdue and the need for it was raised in our last two annual reports. (See section 6.3).
HMPPS
Healthcare
Recommendation 7
Can the prison service prioritise and reduce the extra policy initiatives and tasks, such as those examples given in Section 3.1, that it expects senior prison staff to action, to give them more time to concentrate on progress at HMP Winchester? (See Section 3.1).
HMPPS
Staffing
Recommendation 8
In view of the apparent inconsistencies between prisons concerning which game consoles are approved for use, will the prison service review the policy on the types and availability of consoles that can be purchased and used by prisoners when transferred between establishments? (See section 5.3).
HMPPS
Regime
Recommendation 9
Will the prison service introduce a barcode/tracking system to identify prisoners’ personal property? (See section 5.9).
HMPPS
Property
Recommendation 10
Can the canteen list include more items of fresh fruit and vegetable for prisoners who wish to purchase them? (See section 5.1).
HMPPS
Food
Recommendation 11
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The provision of clerking to the board as agreed in the memorandum of understanding between the IMB and the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), continues to be an issue. Despite best efforts, it has not been honoured fully due to the shortage of administrative staff in the business hub. Will the prison service provide the additional resources necessary to enable this requirement to be fully accommodated? (See section 8).
HMPPS
Staffing
Recommendation 12
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Can the installation of a more secure gate to the dispensary on A wing, mentioned last year, be made a priority? (See section 6.3).
Governor / Director
Healthcare
Recommendation 13
When will a photocopier, able to copy all mail, be available in the prison? (See section 4.6).
Governor / Director
substance_misuse
Recommendation 14
More clinical space is needed on the wings, especially for confidential mental health consultations. When will this be facilitated? (See section 6.3).
Governor / Director
Healthcare
Recommendation 15
Can ACCT review be planned so that daily demands on prison and healthcare staff are manageable, thereby improving the quality of reviews? (See section 6.4).
Governor / Director
mental_health
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.