Prison
Cat C
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Coldingley
IMB Annual Report 2021 · Published 13 October 2021
HMP Coldingley, a Category C training prison, faced significant challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic, impacting regime, education, and work. The Board commends staff for maintaining a humane regime, containing Covid-19 outbreaks, and facilitating out-of-cell time. Key concerns include illicit items leading to violence, the lack of in-cell sanitation in older wings, and the poor state of the estate. The report highlights progress in areas like new accommodation pods and education initiatives but calls for addressing long-standing issues such as IPP prisoners and resettlement challenges.
Positive Findings
The Board commends the significant efforts by staff, Listeners, and voluntary organisations to support prisoners and contain Covid-19 outbreaks. Staff-prisoner relations are positive, with effective ACCT reviews maintained. Healthcare provision is well-regarded, and the vaccination programme effectively handled. Positive initiatives include the new accommodation pods and the planned Incentivised Substance Free Living (ISFL) community. Education efforts through in-cell packs and the GOALS course are appreciated, along with a new apprenticeship opportunity. Showers have been refurbished, creating brighter and more hygienic facilities.
Key Concerns
Safety
The volume of drugs and mobile phones that continue to be found in the prison are of great concern to the Board. Large quantities of alcoholic liquid (‘hooch’) are also frequently found. Inevitably, the availability of these illicit items gives rise to increased levels of violence and bullying.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The fabric of the four older wings and the flooring on the newer (E) wing are in an extremely unsatisfactory state and repairs are still taking far too long to be implemented.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The absence of in-cell sanitation impacts significantly on any assessment of how fairly and humanely prisoners are treated. No amount of humane treatment by staff can overcome the basic indignity for grown men, many of whom are elderly, having to ring a bell and wait in a queue to use the lavatory.
Other
Repeated
The Board continues to be concerned about the number of IPP prisoners serving many years beyond their tariff. As at 24 June 2021 there were five IPP prisoners, of whom two have served 11 years beyond their tariff date.
Safety
Repeated
There is continuing evidence in the daily reports of bullying and unexplained injuries which do not seem appropriate in a category C training prison.
Estate/Conditions
It remains a matter of concern to the Board that there are no plans for a new kitchen to be installed as part of this major refurbishment, although it is understood that new equipment will be provided. The Board considers that the kitchen accommodation is poor, with wet floors a frequent safety risk.
Safety
The absence of regular health and safety meetings is a matter for concern.
Healthcare
At the beginning of March 2021 the waiting lists were as follows: Optician 54 39 weeks, Physiotherapy 24 20 weeks, Podiatry 10 17 weeks.
Resettlement/Release
It is a matter of concern that almost half the total number of prisoners released go to unknown accommodation.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staff-prisoner relations are generally positive, with key worker interventions maintained and specific praise for non-uniformed staff and the chaplaincy. However, staffing levels are impacted by Covid-19 restrictions, with the workforce reduced by half in some areas. There are recruitment difficulties for instructors due to low pay, leading to the permanent closure of the engineering workshop. A new team in the CSU has improved communication and response to segregated prisoners.
Healthcare
Healthcare, provided by CNWL NHS Trust, is generally well-regarded despite a reduced primary health service and occasional staff shortages. The Covid-19 vaccination programme was effectively managed. Mental health support has been maintained during lockdown. Waiting times for opticians (39 weeks), physiotherapy (20 weeks), and podiatry (17 weeks) are concerns. Substance misuse initiatives continue, though drug testing was difficult to maintain.
Regime & Daily Life
The prison operated a restricted regime due to Covid-19, with prisoners organised into 'household bubbles' allowing five or more hours out of cell daily. Social visits were suspended, but video calls became popular. Face-to-face education and work opportunities were significantly curtailed, but phone access was maintained daily. Face-to-face visits recommenced in April, though with social distancing and restricted frequency.
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 | 1 | 1 | — |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 0 | 4 | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, IEP, sanctions | 3 | 3 | — |
| Equality | 3 | 3 | — |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 0 | 1 | |
| Food and kitchens | 4 | 2 | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 0 | 9 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 8 | 2 | |
| Miscellaneous, including complaints system | 10 | 6 | |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 4 | 6 | |
| Property within this establishment | 6 | 6 | — |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 3 | 4 | |
| Sentence management, including HDC, release on temporary licence, parole, release dates, recategorisation | 3 | 3 | — |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 3 | 8 | |
| Transfers | 1 | 4 |
Recommendations (5)
Ministry of Justice: 1
HMPPS: 2
Governor / Director: 2
3 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Would the Minister please advise the Board what the current plans are for addressing this issue?
Ministry of Justice
IPP Prisoners
Recommendation 2
Repeated
Would the Prison Service please confirm that priority will be given in terms of resource allocation (such as effective CCTV) to keeping prisoners safe and free from bullying?
HMPPS
Safety
Recommendation 3
Would HMPPS consider allowing individual prison Governors increased delegated powers to progress more rapidly if local infection levels allow?
HMPPS
Regime
Recommendation 4
Repeated
The Board trusts that the Governor will continue to press for commencement of the major refurbishment promised for the prison.
Governor / Director
Estate
Recommendation 5
The Board also hopes that the option of video calls will be maintained once social visits return to full capacity as many relatives, particularly those with young children, find it difficult to access the prison.
Governor / Director
Family Contact
Other IMB Reports for Coldingley
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.