Prison
Cat C, YOI
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Rochester
IMB Annual Report 2021 · Published 1 September 2021
HMP/YOI Rochester maintained a stable, safe, and decent environment despite severe COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, with violence and self-harm incidents lower than anticipated. However, the restrictive regime, which involved locking prisoners up for 22 hours a day, significantly curtailed purposeful activity and resettlement efforts. Key concerns include persistent drug issues, inadequate accommodation for released prisoners, property losses during transfers, and a shortage of Category D places.
Positive Findings
HMP & YOI Rochester has continued to provide a stable, safe and decent environment for prisoners throughout the exceptional conditions of the Covid-19 pandemic. The positive relationship between officers and prisoners, coupled with the continued Key Worker system, meant that anticipated increases in violence, self-harm, and mental health issues did not materialise to the extent expected. The Board commends the swift conversion and operation of the Annex for Category D prisoners and the successful implementation of video visits, both handled with skill and commitment by the Senior Management Team and officers. Healthcare delivery has seen positive changes, improving complaint levels and prisoner experience.
Key Concerns
Substance Misuse
Repeated
The Board still retains the view that in order to enable a better outcome for prisoners and reduce re-offending, increased funding for resources should be allocated across the entire prison estate for tackling drug-use by prisoners. This includes improvements in security technology and intervention programmes.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
Re-offending rates cannot be reduced unless there is suitable accommodation for all prisoners who have completed their sentence; too many prisoners are released from Rochester to become homeless rough sleepers. The Board retains the view that the recent initiative for prisons to refer those at risk of homelessness to local authorities, as referred to by the Minister in replying to previous reports, is not working and does not seem to be producing any improvement.
Other
Repeated
Property losses on transfer: Yet again, there appears to have been no progress in resolving the problems which occur when a prisoner and their property are transferred from other establishments. Frustratingly items are still going missing and unnecessary delays occurring. This is a transport issue, not one of volumetric control. Lack of ownership over this re-occurring problem is frustrating. When will a revised framework for ensuring the effective transfer of prisoners’ property come into being?
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
There are too many Category D prisoners in Rochester awaiting transfer to open conditions. The creation of the Annex mitigated this during the May to October, but this was just a temporary fix. More Category D accommodation needs to be resourced. It is unfair for prisoners to be encouraged to gain Category D status, when the opportunities for transfer to open conditions are so limited.
Safety
Repeated
The Board is still noting that cell clearance checks remain haphazard and many are not conducted properly, particularly when an individual is moved to the CSU from a double cell. Can this be addressed please?
Board Commentary
Staffing
Officer shortages due to vacancies, shielding, and sick leave impacted key working duties during the second lockdown, although the system remained in place. There is an observation that relatively few prison officers are from BAME communities. Probation staffing improved during the year, reaching its target, though a full-time Senior Probation Officer position became vacant with a replacement not due until later in the year, which could impact offender management.
Healthcare
Primary healthcare, provided by Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, faced persistent staffing shortages. Waiting times for GPs were commensurate with community NHS, but prisoner anxieties over appointments, missed appointments, and medication delays were key issues. However, a new appointment triage system and dedicated nurse, along with a dedicated Governor for healthcare, an experienced Assistant Manager, and a new Pharmacy manager, have led to a "step change" in delivery and a significant decrease in complaints. Mental healthcare by NHS/Oxleas Inreach had a heavy workload with two unfilled posts but continued to provide a high standard of service, despite lockdown challenges.
Regime & Daily Life
HMP Rochester operated under a restrictive lockdown regime for the entire reporting period, with prisoners locked up for 22 hours per day. While this contributed to a safe and stable environment by limiting bullying, intimidation, and drug activity, the Board considered it an "excessively restrictive" and "not humane" arrangement. All meaningful purposeful activity, including work, education, and behavioural programmes, had to stop, severely impacting resettlement preparation. The Board strongly advocates for a return to a more normal regime as soon as safely possible.
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 | 7 | 14 | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, IEP, sanctions | 4 | 16 | |
| Equality | 1 | 3 | |
| Food and kitchens | 0 | 7 | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 56 | 58 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 6 | 25 | |
| Property within this establishment | 48 | 60 | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 5 | 32 | |
| Sentence management, including HDC, release on temporary licence, parole, release dates, recategorisation | 11 | 36 | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 6 | 26 |
Recommendations (5)
Ministry of Justice: 2
HMPPS: 2
Governor / Director: 1
5 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
The Board still retains the view that in order to enable a better outcome for prisoners and reduce re-offending, increased funding for resources should be allocated across the entire prison estate for tackling drug-use by prisoners. This includes improvements in security technology and intervention programmes.
Ministry of Justice
Substance Misuse
Recommendation 2
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Re-offending rates cannot be reduced unless there is suitable accommodation for all prisoners who have completed their sentence; too many prisoners are released from Rochester to become homeless rough sleepers. The Board retains the view that the recent initiative for prisons to refer those at risk of homelessness to local authorities, as referred to by the Minister in replying to previous reports, is not working and does not seem to be producing any improvement.
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 3
Repeated
Property losses on transfer: Yet again, there appears to have been no progress in resolving the problems which occur when a prisoner and their property are transferred from other establishments. Frustratingly items are still going missing and unnecessary delays occurring. This is a transport issue, not one of volumetric control. Lack of ownership over this re-occurring problem is frustrating. When will a revised framework for ensuring the effective transfer of prisoners’ property come into being?
HMPPS
Property
Recommendation 4
Repeated
There are too many Category D prisoners in Rochester awaiting transfer to open conditions. The creation of the Annex mitigated this during the May to October, but this was just a temporary fix. More Category D accommodation needs to be resourced. It is unfair for prisoners to be encouraged to gain Category D status, when the opportunities for transfer to open conditions are so limited.
HMPPS
Progression
Recommendation 5
Repeated
The Board is still noting that cell clearance checks remain haphazard and many are not conducted properly, particularly when an individual is moved to the CSU from a double cell. Can this be addressed please?
Governor / Director
Safety
Other IMB Reports for Rochester
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
2 Jun 2025
IRP
30 Aug 2024
Urgent Notification
12 Aug 2024
Unannounced
Safety: 2
Respect: 1
Activity: 1
Release: 1
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.