Prison
Cat High Security (LTHSE)
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Wakefield
IMB Annual Report 2021 · Published 13 October 2021
HMP Wakefield, a high-security prison, faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, operating under severe lockdown regimes with prisoners spending only 1.5 hours out of cell daily. While violence reduced, self-harm incidents and deaths in custody increased. The Board raised serious concerns about persistent issues with mental health transfers, a lack of consultant forensic psychiatrist provision, and the absence of in-cell telephony, which impacted prisoner wellbeing and family contact. Staffing shortages and recruitment delays were also significant concerns.
Positive Findings
The Board found that HMPPS operational guidance for remote monitoring was effectively implemented. Staff were commended for their efforts to mitigate the impact of prolonged cellular confinement and for their detailed entries on the P-NOMIS system. The kitchen handled pandemic challenges well, catering to diverse dietary needs and implementing improvements. Chaplaincy and the recovery and inclusion team provided exceptional support, while the assessment and interventions centre (AIC) was commended for its interventions and insights. The Board noted generally good staff-prisoner relationships, a calm environment despite population challenges, and commitment to maintaining a safe establishment.
Key Concerns
Mental Health
Repeated
Long-standing and yet unresolved problems with the assessment and transfer of prisoners who present with serious mental health and personality disorders from HMP Wakefield to hospital (section 47, Mental Health Act 1983).
Resettlement/Release
Prisoners at HMP Wakefield who are substantially over tariff and subject to the consequences of the now discredited ‘sentences of imprisonment for public protection’ (IPP).
Complaints/Property
Lack of clarity if the complaints procedure for healthcare provision at HMP Wakefield is audited in line with standard complaints made under the COMP1/2 procedures, and that PPG's internal complaints system is different from the prison's, potentially undercounting concerns.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
Lack of a nationally available set of legal resources for prisoners, including easy access to Prison Service Orders and Instructions, hindering procedural justice.
Other
Lack of clarity on progress for the integration of the SystmOne project led by the Ministry of Justice’s digital team.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Lack of in-cell telephony for prisoners, impacting family contact and access to support.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Low minimum time out of cell (1.5 hours per day) due to COVID-19 restrictions and lack of a clear target for improvement.
Safety
High number of staff assaults in the segregation unit, linked to unaddressed mental health issues and prolonged assessment times for segregated prisoners.
Mental Health
Poor mental health leading to serious self-harm incidents and inadequate aftercare arrangements post-hospital treatment, hindering appropriate transfers under the Mental Health Act.
Healthcare
Challenges related to the care and welfare of an increasingly elderly population, including health and mobility issues and lack of suitable accessible cells.
Mental Health
Lack of consistent consultant forensic psychiatrist input, with only one day per week provision, not meeting the clear requirements of the prison population.
Staffing
Significant staffing challenges, including slow recruitment due to CTC clearance and seven existing vacancies for registered psychologists.
Other
Recurring problems with prisoners' property going missing, including clothing, footwear, and sentimental items, causing frustration.
Other
Lack of clarity and consistency across the prison estate regarding rules about prisoners' property.
Mental Health
Urgent concerns regarding the time taken to address mental health issues for individuals in segregation, especially those with prolonged stays.
Resettlement/Release
Low confidence in successful reintegration for a prisoner on Rule 45 who may be released directly from segregation after over 1500 consecutive days in segregated conditions.
Equality/Diversity
Disproportional outcomes for prisoners of Pakistani heritage concerning adjudications and use of force, despite investigations finding no notable trends.
Equality/Diversity
Difficulty in obtaining and sourcing appropriate gender-affirming products (e.g., make-up, clothing) for transgender prisoners.
Equality/Diversity
Challenges in effectively making reasonable adjustments and providing sufficient resources for prisoners identified as being on the autism spectrum.
Healthcare
Long delays (three to four weeks) in returning the end-of-life care suite to use after deaths in custody, leading to extremely ill men dying in inappropriate surroundings.
Other
A prisoner was in the same cell as a deceased man for several hours due to delays in certifying death and body release.
Safety
Concerns among the elderly population regarding bullying and harassment due to the influx of younger prisoners.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Exacerbated communication difficulties due to the lack of prison radio, in-cell telephony, or Wayout TV, unlike other prisons.
Safety
An incident where a CSC prisoner attacked officers with scissors, highlighting the need to re-examine and strengthen protocols for items in possession of CSC prisoners.
Healthcare
The Governor's ability to influence healthcare service delivery is significantly constrained by outsourcing to an external contractor, leading to contract determining service delivery over individual needs.
Healthcare
Healthcare contract does not specify provision for a consultant forensic psychiatrist, impacting mental health service delivery.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Isolation, extreme boredom, and the monotonous nature of the restrictive regime have had a lasting negative impact on many prisoners' mental health and wellbeing.
Healthcare
Disjointed social care provision leading to long waits for necessary equipment for prisoners, such as wheelchairs.
Resettlement/Release
Lack of clarity regarding HMP Wakefield's role in the ‘Pathways to Progression’ programme.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staffing levels were severely impacted by COVID-19, leading to exhaustion and worry among staff, particularly in the segregation unit. The key worker scheme was reduced to a basic level, although a priority group of 120 vulnerable men continued to receive weekly sessions. Recruitment has been a significant challenge due to slow CTC clearance processes, with vacancies remaining open for months. The prison's psychology team had seven vacancies, and Registered Nurses reported frustration and stress due to low staffing. A lack of consultant forensic psychiatrist input was also noted.
Healthcare
The Board expressed concern that the Governor's influence over healthcare delivery is limited by the external contractor, Practice Plus Group (PPG), often prioritizing contract terms over individual prisoner needs. There is a worrying lack of consistent consultant forensic psychiatrist input, with only one day per week provision, which the Board questions as sufficient. Mental health issues are linked to serious self-harm incidents, with delays in transfers to secure hospitals. Social care provision was disjointed, resulting in long waits for necessary equipment. The end-of-life care suite also experiences long delays in becoming available after use.
Regime & Daily Life
HMP Wakefield operated under severe Level 3 or 4 COVID-19 lockdown measures for most of the reporting period, reducing time out of cell from 11 hours to just 1.5 hours per day. This led to isolation, extreme boredom, and a monotonous routine, impacting prisoner mental health. The gymnasium remained closed, and education provision in dedicated spaces was suspended, though in-cell materials were provided. Communication was hindered by the lack of prison radio, in-cell telephony, or Wayout TV.
Recommendations (8)
Ministry of Justice: 2
HMPPS: 4
Governor / Director: 2
2 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Explain how the Government intends to address long-standing and yet unresolved problems with the assessment and transfer of prisoners who present with serious mental health and personality disorders from HMP Wakefield to hospital (section 47, Mental Health Act 1983).
Ministry of Justice
Mental Health
Recommendation 2
Act in respect of prisoners at HMP Wakefield who are substantially over tariff and subject to the consequences of the now discredited ‘sentences of imprisonment for public protection’ (IPP) (see Criminal Justice Act 2003).
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 3
Clarify the role of HMP Wakefield in the ‘Pathways to Progression’ programme.
HMPPS
Progression
Recommendation 4
Clarify if the complaints procedure for healthcare provision at HMP Wakefield is audited in line with standard complaints made under the COMP1/2 procedures.
HMPPS
Healthcare
Recommendation 5
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Explore the possibility of implementing a nationally available set of legal resources for prisoners, including easy access to Prison Service Orders and Instructions.
HMPPS
Regime
Recommendation 6
Clarify progress on the integration of the SystmOne project led by the Ministry of Justice’s digital team.
HMPPS
Healthcare
Recommendation 7
Clarify if (or when) in-cell telephony will become available to prisoners.
Governor / Director
Regime
Recommendation 8
Clarify the target minimum time out of cell for the next reporting period.
Governor / Director
Regime
Other IMB Reports for Wakefield
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.