Prison
Cat B local, C, D, YOI
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Lewes
IMB Annual Report 2021 · Published 24 June 2021
The IMB report for HMP Lewes (Feb 2020-Jan 2021) highlighted the severe impact of Covid-19 restrictions, which led to prisoners being locked in cells for up to 23.5 hours daily, deemed inhumane. While a new healthcare provider brought improvements, significant concerns remain regarding mental health bed availability, disproportionate use of force against BAME prisoners, and the plight of IPP prisoners. The Board commended staff resilience but expressed ongoing concerns about regime restrictions and the lack of purposeful activity.
Positive Findings
The IMB commended the Governor and staff for their resilience in managing the pandemic and preventing widespread Covid-19 transmission. The new healthcare provider, Practice Plus Group, has significantly improved healthcare provision, including better out-of-hours prescribing and comparable waiting times. The Board also praised the chaplaincy department for their dedication and positive impact on prisoner well-being. Positive developments included a reduction in special accommodation use, the establishment of a BAME residents’ forum, and the introduction of new in-cell education project packs.
Key Concerns
Mental Health
increase the number of mental health beds available in residential institutions for men suffering from severe mental health problems, whose needs cannot be catered for in prison, and thereby reducing the length of time these men have to wait for treatment?
Resettlement/Release
improve the coordination between the prison service and local authorities so that pre-release assessments are completed by both parties in advance of prisoner release in all cases?
Other
recognise the inhumanity of long term IPP prisoners who have no prospect of release and are exacerbating the overcrowding of prisons, and redouble efforts to ensure these men are given a date for release?
Staffing
recognise the commitment of prison staff during the Covid-19 pandemic and ensure that a Covid recovery fund is available to restore facilities and services for prisoners and recognise the hard work of staff?
Staffing
facilitate and fund staff training that has been missed or reduced due to the Covid-19 pandemic?
Estate/Conditions
find a way to reduce the delays between contracts awarded for significant repairs and improvements and their start dates.
Other
Repeated
improve the transfer of prisoners’ property between establishments and set up a better system for investigating, cataloguing and storing lost property.
Equality/Diversity
redouble her efforts to eliminate the disproportionate use of force against BAME prisoners, whether this be by ensuring all staff undertake inclusivity, diversity and awareness training with the aim of improving their understanding of BAME prisoners, or any other means?
Regime/Time Out of Cell
ensure that key working sessions and work and education opportunities are reinstated as soon as practically possible to give the prisoners the support and activity that they need for resettlement?
Safety
take steps to reduce the number of men on an assessment, care in custody and teamwork (ACCT) plan and on constant watch in the care and separation (CSU) unit.
Safety
take further steps to ensure that all staff use body worn video cameras (BWVCs) when appropriate, especially in the area of the prison where there is no CCTV?
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
continue and redouble her efforts under the clean and decent programme, in particular to ensure that at long last in-cell toilets have covers.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staff, particularly wing staff and the chaplaincy, showed resilience during the pandemic despite reduced numbers and increased pressures. However, staff shortages due to Covid-19 illness and isolation significantly impacted the regime, key working sessions, and the ability to run gym activities. Training restrictions also led to a shortage of staff trained in advanced use of force and limited non-mandatory training opportunities.
Healthcare
The new healthcare provider, Practice Plus Group, has significantly improved overall healthcare delivery, including better out-of-hours prescribing and waiting times comparable to the general community. However, significant concerns remain regarding the lack of mental health beds, leading to long waits for transfers and impacting inpatient unit capacity. The IMB was also frustrated by the continued lack of suitable clinic facilities on wings.
Regime & Daily Life
The regime was severely restricted due to Covid-19, with prisoners locked in cells for up to 23.5 hours daily for much of the year, which the IMB deemed inhumane. Unlock times varied throughout the year, from 30 minutes to 1.5 hours, and by January 2021, were reduced to 30 minutes for either exercise or domestics, but not both. Purposeful activity, education, and gym access were severely curtailed or halted throughout the reporting period.
Recommendations (12)
Other: 4
HMPPS: 3
Governor / Director: 5
2 repeated
Recommendation 1
Will the Minister endeavour to increase the number of mental health beds available in residential institutions for men suffering from severe mental health problems, whose needs cannot be catered for in prison, and thereby reducing the length of time these men have to wait for treatment?
Other
(minister)
Mental Health
Recommendation 2
Will the Minister engage with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to improve the coordination between the prison service and local authorities so that pre-release assessments are completed by both parties in advance of prisoner release in all cases?
Other
(minister)
Resettlement
Recommendation 3
Will the Minister recognise the inhumanity of long term IPP prisoners who have no prospect of release and are exacerbating the overcrowding of prisons, and redouble efforts to ensure these men are given a date for release?
Other
(minister)
Humane Treatment
Recommendation 4
Will the Minister recognise the commitment of prison staff during the Covid-19 pandemic and ensure that a Covid recovery fund is available to restore facilities and services for prisoners and recognise the hard work of staff?
Other
(minister)
Staffing
Recommendation 5
Will the Prison Service facilitate and fund staff training that has been missed or reduced due to the Covid-19 pandemic?
HMPPS
Staffing
Recommendation 6
The IMB urges the Prison Service to find a way to reduce the delays between contracts awarded for significant repairs and improvements and their start dates.
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 7
Repeated
The IMB again asks the Prison Service to improve the transfer of prisoners’ property between establishments and set up a better system for investigating, cataloguing and storing lost property.
HMPPS
Property
Recommendation 8
Will the Governor redouble her efforts to eliminate the disproportionate use of force against BAME prisoners, whether this be by ensuring all staff undertake inclusivity, diversity and awareness training with the aim of improving their understanding of BAME prisoners, or any other means?
Governor / Director
Equality
Recommendation 9
Will the Governor ensure that key working sessions and work and education opportunities are reinstated as soon as practically possible to give the prisoners the support and activity that they need for resettlement?
Governor / Director
Regime
Recommendation 10
The IMB urges the Governor to take steps to reduce the number of men on an assessment, care in custody and teamwork (ACCT) plan and on constant watch in the care and separation (CSU) unit.
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 11
Will the Governor take further steps to ensure that all staff use body worn video cameras (BWVCs) when appropriate, especially in the area of the prison where there is no CCTV?
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 12
Repeated
The IMB encourages the Governor to continue and redouble her efforts under the clean and decent programme, in particular to ensure that at long last in-cell toilets have covers.
Governor / Director
Estate
Other IMB Reports for Lewes
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
9 Jun 2025
Unannounced
5 Feb 2024
Unannounced
Safety: 2
Respect: 2
Activity: 1
Release: 2
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.