Prison
Cat C
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Wymott
IMB Annual Report 2021 · Published 8 October 2021
HMP Wymott largely maintained safety during a challenging Covid-19 reporting year (June 2020-May 2021), seeing reductions in self-harm and violence. While staff efforts and some initiatives were commendable, the pandemic exacerbated long-standing issues, particularly with healthcare provision, the prison estate's infrastructure, property loss, and complaints handling. The restricted regime severely limited opportunities for purposeful activity, education, and resettlement, causing significant frustration among prisoners.
Positive Findings
The Board found that prisoners were relatively safe, noting that no prisoners died from Covid-19 thanks to staff efforts. Self-harm, violence, and reported drug use decreased during the restricted regime, and prisoners reported feeling safer in smaller groups. The chaplaincy team was commended for sustained individual support and faith packs, and healthcare staff for the efficient Covid-19 vaccination rollout. Improvements were noted in use of force report completion, kitchen service quality, and reduction in food waste. The 'buddy' system for older prisoners, upgraded IT in education, and successful video calling and Storybook Dads programs were also highlighted.
Key Concerns
Substance Misuse
Repeated
There remain some serious concerns around drug-related deaths. The apparent ease by which prisoners can get hold of drugs in Wymott, and the importance of staff carrying out welfare checks when unlocking prisoners, are issues that have been raised in previous PPO reports.
Complaints/Property
Repeated
Significant issues relating to poor handling of prisoners’ complaints, with many not being responded to within designated timeframes or logged at all.
Other
Repeated
Serious concerns about the amount of property that goes missing when prisoners are transferred from one prison to another, with no improvement observed.
Healthcare
Repeated
Certain long-standing problems remain in healthcare, notably the distribution of medication, inadequacy of premises (too small, badly ventilated), and extensive waiting times for dental services (up to 79 weeks for treatments).
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Limited opportunities for progression and purposeful activity during 2020/21, causing frustration and anxiety for many prisoners due to suspended programs and remote offender management.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
Wymott still holds a significant number of prisoners serving indeterminate sentences for public protection (IPP), with little incentive or opportunity for these prisoners to progress.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The infrastructure of A and B wings continues to be a concern, lacking in-cell sanitation, having inefficient windows, and communal shower blocks that do not provide privacy. One prefabricated wing failed a fire safety inspection and closed.
Food/Catering
Repeated
The kitchen, built in 1979, continues to struggle to cater for the population, with much of the cooking equipment old and frequently out of use, and an unreliable air filtration system.
Staffing
Repeated
Staffing shortages in mental health services, an over-reliance on agency pharmacy staff leading to medication distribution issues, and frequently only one care assistant on I wing severely impacted service provision.
Resettlement/Release
Prisoners due for release are often not informed in a timely manner about the arrangements in place for them, causing anxiety, particularly regarding accommodation.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Concerns about the impact of the limited daily time out of cell (45 minutes, twice daily) on prisoners’ physical and mental health.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staff worked extremely hard through challenging times, commendably ensuring no Covid-19 deaths among prisoners, though four staff members were lost. Increased staff presence on wings led to more positive interactions and quicker de-escalation of minor disturbances. However, staffing shortages persisted in mental health services, and an over-reliance on agency pharmacy staff caused medication distribution issues. The Board acknowledged the impact of pandemic-related staff shortages on complaint handling and praised staff on I wing for managing complex needs with limited care assistants.
Healthcare
Prisoners' health and wellbeing needs were generally met, with healthcare staff commended for the efficient Covid-19 vaccination program. However, long-standing issues persist, including medication distribution problems (due to agency staff reliance and inadequate supervision), inadequate healthcare premises (too small, poorly ventilated), and extensive waiting times for dental treatments (up to 79 weeks). Mental health services were significantly impacted by the pandemic and staffing shortages, leading to a 12-14 month therapy waiting list, no group therapy, and long waits for secure mental health transfers.
Regime & Daily Life
The pandemic severely impacted the regime, limiting time out of cell (45 minutes, twice daily), purposeful activity, and family contact, leading to frustration and anxiety among prisoners. Most workshops, face-to-face education, and offending behaviour programmes were closed or curtailed for much of the year. While some prisoners felt safer due to reduced mixing, the Board expressed concerns about the impact of limited time out of cell on physical and mental health.
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 | 4 | 12 | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 4 | 3 | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, IEP, sanctions | 8 | 23 | |
| Equality | 2 | 3 | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 7 | 13 | |
| Food and kitchens | 1 | 7 | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 29 | 42 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 32 | 45 | |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 13 | 31 | |
| Property within this establishment | 11 | 29 | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 17 | 37 | |
| Sentence management, including home detention curfew, release on temporary licence, parole, release dat | 21 | 48 |
Recommendations (8)
Ministry of Justice: 1
HMPPS: 4
Governor / Director: 3
6 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Wymott still holds a significant number of prisoners serving indeterminate sentences for public protection (see paragraph 7.3.3). Are there any plans to give these prisoners some cause for optimism?
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 2
Repeated
One wing in Wymott has already been lost because of failing to meet health and safety legislation. Other wings have been in a dire state for many years. Is funding to be made available to replace the lost accommodation? What plans are in place for the other two wings that the Board has highlighted for a number of years (see paragraph 5.1.3)?
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 3
Repeated
Can Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) give any indication of a timescale for kitchen improvements at HMP Wymott (see paragraphs 5.1.9 and 5.1.10)?
HMPPS
Food
Recommendation 4
Repeated
Can HMPPS provide assurance that the prisoners’ property framework is having any impact on the amount of property still going missing across the estate (see paragraph 5.8.1)?
HMPPS
Other
Recommendation 5
Is it anticipated that there will be an increase in the budget for prisoners’ pay very soon (see paragraph 7.2.5)?
HMPPS
Regime
Recommendation 6
Repeated
The Board seeks reassurance that prisoners’ complaints will be dealt with in a timely and effective manner (see section 5.7)
Governor / Director
Complaints
Recommendation 7
Repeated
How does the prison intend to ensure that the actions identified in the action plan following Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) reports into deaths in the prison are implemented effectively (see paragraph 4.2.3)?
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 8
The Board would like to see the prison ensure that prisoners due for release are informed in a more timely manner about the arrangements in place for them (see paragraph 7.5.1).
Governor / Director
Resettlement
Other IMB Reports for Wymott
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
11 Dec 2023
Unannounced
Safety: 3
Respect: 2
Activity: 2
Release: 4
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.