Prison
Cat B, local, resettlement
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Preston
IMB Annual Report 2021 · Published 7 September 2021
HMP/YOI Preston operated under severe Covid-19 restrictions throughout the reporting year, facing two outbreaks that significantly impacted regime, staffing, and services. Despite these challenges, there were no prisoner deaths, and staff maintained good relations with prisoners, with some positive developments in digital communication and body scanner integration. However, key concerns persist around the outdated physical estate, chronic staffing shortages, and lengthy delays for mental health transfers.
Positive Findings
The full integration of the body scanner into reception has improved the detection of concealed items. A number of cells were re-classified as single occupancy for humane reasons. Electronic communications facilitated remote IMB monitoring and allowed prisoner family contact. OMiC is well embedded and offender managers adapted well, with timely parole and MAPPA reports and no OASys backlog. Staff received commendation for their work during a difficult period, and the refurbished therapy room on the mental health landing is a positive addition. Healthcare staff were acknowledged for their dedication during outbreaks. The Board found the fact that there were no prisoner deaths from COVID to be fortunate.
Key Concerns
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The physical environment, particularly the cramped reception area and small cells with unscreened toilets, does not meet modern standards and was exacerbated by Covid-19 restrictions.
Staffing
Staffing levels were a constant problem throughout the year, significantly impacted by Covid-19 related absences and the reliance on officers under training to cover duties.
Mental Health
There is a significant delay in transferring prisoners with acute mental health needs to secure units, with an average wait of three to six months, far exceeding proposed guidelines.
Resettlement/Release
Progression and resettlement suffered, with education providers initially remote, courses lacking qualifications, and vocational training ceased.
Resettlement/Release
The lack of face-to-face contact for resettlement services like Shelter and OMU created practical issues, particularly for prisoners planning release, causing stress and anxiety.
Safety
The Board believes that all personnel and prisoners within the prison should have been vaccinated earlier due to the confined environment, a recommendation not accepted by Gold Command.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staff levels have been a constant problem, significantly impacted by Covid-19 related absences, self-isolation, and shielding, with up to 65 staff absent at one point. The presence of 20 prison officers under training (POELT) also strained resources as they covered for experienced staff instead of receiving training. Key workers were initially withdrawn due to staffing pressures but were later reinstated for monthly prisoner contact.
Healthcare
Healthcare faced significant strain, losing 10 staff to Covid-19 and having 8 vacancies at the start of lockdown, exacerbating difficulties during two outbreaks. Routine GP, dental, and group interventions were suspended due to external practitioners' unwillingness to enter the prison. Healthcare staff were acknowledged for their diligent provision of emergency care and assessments amidst high risks. Mental health services coped well despite staffing issues, but serious mental health issues among new prisoners highlighted the lack of community mental health contact. Transfers to secure mental health units took an average of three to six months.
Regime & Daily Life
The Covid-19 pandemic severely restricted the prison regime, with non-essential workers initially locked in cells for 23 hours a day, later increased to 22 hours, allowing only short periods for showers, calls, and exercise. This restrictive environment, though regretfully necessary to contain two outbreaks, led to increased low-level violence and frustration among prisoners. Internal gym sessions ceased for most of the year, with limited outdoor cardio exercises introduced.
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 | 2 | 20 | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 1 | 10 | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, IEP, sanctions | 0 | 10 | |
| Equality | 1 | 7 | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 1 | 21 | |
| Food and kitchens | 1 | 11 | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 11 | 78 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 3 | 31 | |
| Miscellaneous, including complaints system | 14 | 72 | |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 4 | 16 | |
| Property within this establishment | 8 | 38 | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 2 | 19 | |
| Sentence management, including HDC, release on temporary licence, parole, release dates, recategorisation | 6 | 18 | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 11 | 56 | |
| Transfers | 0 | 19 |
Recommendations (4)
Ministry of Justice: 2
HMPPS: 2
1 repeated
Recommendation 1
Will the Minister do all within his power to support the White Paper on the reform of the Mental Health Act that proposes a statutory time limit of 28 days on the provision of a bed in a secure mental health unit when formally requested by the prison (see section 6.2)?
Ministry of Justice
Mental Health
Recommendation 2
Will the Minister review the current guidelines and ensure that all personnel within the prison are vaccinated irrespective of the guidelines for the general public (see section 3.1)?
Ministry of Justice
Safety
Recommendation 3
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Will the Prison Service secure the resources for and progress the purchase of the site of the adjacent county museum building, to secure the perimeter of the prison and to open up potential for other associated possible improvements in the prison structure such as the provision of a new reception area (see section 4.1)?
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 4
Will the Prison Service secure funds to allow the repair of telephone lines to the offender management unit (OMU) (see section 7.3)?
HMPPS
Resettlement