Prison
Cat B adult male and YOI
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Nottingham
IMB Annual Report 2021 · Published 25 August 2021
This IMB report for HMP Nottingham covers a period entirely dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to severely restricted regimes with prisoners spending extended periods in cell and limited access to activities. While staff are commended for their commitment and efforts to mitigate the impact, significant concerns remain regarding the humane treatment of prisoners, particularly the extended cell confinement. Key issues include inadequate mental health provision leading to long segregation stays, the situation of IPP prisoners, and the lack of arrangements for second vaccine doses upon release.
Positive Findings
The Board commends staff for their commitment to welfare during the pandemic, noting improved interpersonal interactions and effective problem-solving. A significant positive outcome was the reduction in drug availability due to lockdown and scanners, making prisoners feel safer. The prison maintained responsive offender management and healthcare, with staff offering supportive interventions and impactful family contact schemes, leading to fewer complaints in these areas. The Board also noted a sharp drop in use of force incidents following a whole-prison initiative.
Key Concerns
Regime/Time Out of Cell
prisoners have sometimes been deprived of basic rights and confined to cell for much longer periods of time each day than would usually be regarded as acceptable.
Mental Health
Repeated
allocation of in-patient mental health facilities to prisoners does not meet their needs. We understand that this is the result of pressure on mental health services overall. In practice, this often results in individual prisoners spending very extended periods in segregation, as it is the only place they and others can be kept safe.
Mental Health
Repeated
A return to the practice of allocating all prisoners rejected for the secure mental health facility at Rampton to HMP Nottingham is both unwelcome and unreasonable.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
address the ongoing situation in relation to IPP prisoners who are many years beyond their minimum term
Segregation
it can take many months for a solution to be found for those whose behaviour makes them an unattractive prospect to other establishments. This means they can be held at Nottingham for many months, often in segregation, without the programmes they need
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
The required separation of remand and convicted prisoners is so widely ignored throughout the prison estate that we suggest this is a matter requiring structural attention beyond the individual prison
Healthcare
The inability of the system to ensure that prisoners have a second vaccine appointment on release needs to be addressed
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staff commitment to prisoner welfare was commendable amidst pandemic-related shortages. While the key worker scheme was disrupted, staff maintained a supportive and responsive approach to prisoners, leading to generally good relationships. Despite high staff absences due to shielding and self-isolation, the Board noted no instances where services were solely deprived due to staff shortages. Prisoners often commended staff for their efforts.
Healthcare
Healthcare provision mirrored community restrictions, with initial cancellations, particularly for dental services, but improved over time. Consultations largely shifted to in-cell telephones. A major concern remains the long delays for mental health transfers and the practice of allocating Rampton-rejected patients to Nottingham, often leading to extended segregation. COVID-19 vaccination rollout proceeded well, with no related deaths, but the lack of provision for a second vaccine on release is a concern.
Regime & Daily Life
The regime was severely restricted for the entire year due to the pandemic, with most activities like education, workshops, and the gym closed. Prisoners spent extended periods in their cells, often only leaving for short exercise, showering, or domestic tasks, sometimes exceeding 22 hours in cell. Efforts were made to mitigate this with in-cell phones, TVs, outdoor gym equipment, and relaxed privileges, but the impact on humane treatment was significant.
Recommendations (6)
Ministry of Justice: 1
HMPPS: 4
Governor / Director: 1
3 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
We would ask the Minister to address the ongoing situation in relation to IPP prisoners who are many years beyond their minimum term (see paragraph 7.3).
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 2
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
A return to the practice of allocating all prisoners rejected for the secure mental health facility at Rampton to HMP Nottingham is both unwelcome and unreasonable and we would request the prison service to give this matter attention (see paragraph 5.4).
HMPPS
Mental Health
Recommendation 3
Similarly, it can take many months for a solution to be found for those whose behaviour makes them an unattractive prospect to other establishments. This means they can be held at Nottingham for many months, often in segregation, without the programmes they need, and we would ask the prison service to find a solution which focuses on prisoner needs (see paragraph 5.4).
HMPPS
Segregation
Recommendation 4
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The required separation of remand and convicted prisoners is so widely ignored throughout the prison estate that we suggest this is a matter requiring structural attention beyond the individual prison (see section 2).
HMPPS
Regime
Recommendation 5
The inability of the system to ensure that prisoners have a second vaccine appointment on release needs to be addressed (6.1).
HMPPS
Healthcare
Recommendation 6
We hope that lessons learned during the lockdown period, such as in relation to the reduced circulation of drugs, will be used to inform the organisation of the prison when the restrictions are lifted, so that the overall experience of prisoners is improved.
Governor / Director
Substance Misuse
Other IMB Reports for Nottingham
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
13 May 2024
Unannounced
Safety: 2
Respect: 3
Activity: 1
Release: 2
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.