Prison
Cat B
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Isle of Wight
IMB Annual Report 2020 · Published 8 June 2021
HMP Isle of Wight successfully navigated a challenging year dominated by COVID-19, with strong praise for staff and an overall calm environment despite significant regime restrictions. The report highlights reductions in violence and self-harm, alongside excellent healthcare provision and positive developments in SARU management and equality. However, it also raises key concerns regarding the persistent issues with mental health transfers, a lack of national support from HMPPS, and ongoing estate and food hygiene problems, some of which are recurring.
Positive Findings
HMP Isle of Wight successfully managed to control the spread of COVID-19 throughout the year, with a notably positive approach from both prisoners and staff. The Board commends the continued developments in the SARU, using integrated plans to manage challenging prisoners, which has contributed to reduced violence and self-harm. Healthcare provision was excellent, receiving high satisfaction rates from prisoners, and the team is praised for their sterling service. Significant improvements were made, including fitting in-cell telephones, resolving TV reception issues, and introducing privacy curtains for in-cell toilets. The management of complaints also saw year-on-year improvement, and the board noted progress in equality management and prisoner-led forums.
Key Concerns
Mental Health
Repeated
Again the issue of prisoners experiencing significant mental health issues has been overlooked. The HMIP recommendation to Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) to ensure that mentally ill prisoners are transferred to appropriate facilities, in line with national guidance, was rejected.
Mental Health
In 2020 there have been a number of remand prisoners requiring immediate admission to inpatient healthcare facilities in the prison and urgent referral to secure units. Are there any actions planned with HM Courts and Tribunals Service to provide appropriate psychiatric assessment in the court setting, to ensure prisoners who are significantly mentally unwell are diverted to psychiatric hospital rather than to an inappropriate remand wing.
Overcrowding
Repeated
the subsequent Independent Review of Progress (IRP) report noted that: ‘these were rejected and so no progress had been made’. The IRP visit in January 2020 noted improvement by local management but there was a lack of support from the Prison Service nationally – including in ensuring basic standards of decency by reducing overcrowding and ensuring all prisoners had access to a toilet overnight. It will be impossible for HMP IOW to improve the situation of prisoners in Albany without the support and financial backing of HMPPS.
Estate/Conditions
There is considerable concern that a newly refurbished wing in the prison has had a number of outstanding problems since August 2020, and four months later they were still outstanding (para 5.1.1.) ... The roof leaks, there is no glass in some windows, making these areas open to the elements, and there is smoke damage. In December, two cells were still out of action due to unresolved leaks affecting the electrics. A significant proportion of locks on cell doors on the landing are either missing or wrong for the keys...There is only one telephone line on the wing. There is no alarm board to inform officers of an In-cell alert...
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
Several wings and workshops on the Albany site report leaking roofs that are left unrepaired. This situation was reported in the 2019 annual report.
Equality/Diversity
The IMB identified concerns in 2020 that there were significantly more unsuccessful searches regarding those from the black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) community. The IMB was concerned that this area of invasive contact with prisoners was not monitored in terms of ethnicity,
Other
The IMB would significantly benefit from a telephone system in their office in Albany to enable them to contact prisoners in their cells; this would ensure efficient and effective use of IMB members’ time. While accepting that finance is always an issue, the IMB makes limited demands on prison resources.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
There continues to be insufficient differentiation between those on the standard regime and those who are enhanced, thus there is little incentive to work towards achieving enhanced status. There have been updates in the incentives and rewards policy but these have had little effect, and it was reported that staff are not applying the policy consistently.
Food/Catering
Repeated
There are regular reports of hot food temperatures not being taken and servery workers not having certificates or training in food hygiene. This has led to regular complaints to the catering managers and wing staff from the wing catering representatives. This is an unresolved issue from previous years that the prison has failed to resolve.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Prison staff showed significant commitment and a positive approach, working tirelessly with prisoners during a stressful time, which contributed to a calm and orderly environment. SARU staff were particularly commended for their professionalism in managing challenging prisoners. Relationships between staff and prisoners developed positively during the pandemic lockdown, fostering a cooperative and appreciative atmosphere. While there may not always be permanent staff in post, vacancies are generally filled using bank, agency, or locums to ensure coverage.
Healthcare
Healthcare provision in 2020 was excellent, with staff working closely with management to ensure a safe environment for both prisoners and staff. Feedback indicated an 80-85% satisfaction rate, with efficient medication distribution particularly praised. Care UK provided services for most of the year before rebranding as Practice Plus Group, with the team described as well-led, motivated, and enthusiastic. The mental health service expanded to operate seven days a week, with a duty worker allocated daily for urgent needs and ACCT reviews, and new posts introduced to support this increased access.
Regime & Daily Life
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the regime, leading to restricted time out of cells and the suspension of classroom education. However, the prison implemented measures like goody bags, distraction packs, and weekly telephone credit to mitigate the effects of lengthy confinement and maintain family contact. Communication with prisoners regarding regime changes and pandemic updates was excellent, with opportunities for prisoner input. Education adapted by offering bespoke distance learning packages, with 60 prisoners per site enrolled, although this was a slight reduction from pre-lockdown numbers.
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 | 16 | 6 | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 14 | 8 | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, IEP, sanctions | 27 | 5 | |
| Equality | 8 | 4 | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 20 | 30 | |
| Food and kitchens | 4 | 4 | — |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 38 | 29 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 28 | 15 | |
| Miscellaneous, including complaints system | 57 | 82 | |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 17 | 22 | |
| Property within this establishment | 13 | 46 | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 11 | 21 | |
| Sentence management, including home detention curfew, release on temporary licence, parole, release dates, recategorisation | 20 | 9 | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 53 | 32 | |
| Transfers | 10 | 20 |
Recommendations (6)
Ministry of Justice: 2
HMPPS: 2
Governor / Director: 2
2 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Again the issue of prisoners experiencing significant mental health issues has been overlooked. The HMIP recommendation to Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) to ensure that mentally ill prisoners are transferred to appropriate facilities, in line with national guidance, was rejected. What plans are in place to ensure that mentally ill prisoners are managed in line with HMIP recommendations and mental health national guidance
Ministry of Justice
Mental Health
Recommendation 2
In 2020 there have been a number of remand prisoners requiring immediate admission to inpatient healthcare facilities in the prison and urgent referral to secure units. Are there any actions planned with HM Courts and Tribunals Service to provide appropriate psychiatric assessment in the court setting, to ensure prisoners who are significantly mentally unwell are diverted to psychiatric hospital rather than to an inappropriate remand wing.
Ministry of Justice
Mental Health
Recommendation 3
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The HMIP inspection identified four areas that required external support from HMPPS; the subsequent Independent Review of Progress (IRP) report noted that: ‘these were rejected and so no progress had been made’. The IRP visit in January 2020 noted improvement by local management but there was a lack of support from the Prison Service nationally – including in ensuring basic standards of decency by reducing overcrowding and ensuring all prisoners had access to a toilet overnight. Is the Prison Service reviewing the decision to reject the recommendations of HMIP? It will be impossible for HMP IOW to improve the situation of prisoners in Albany without the support and financial backing of HMPPS.
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 4
There is considerable concern that a newly refurbished wing in the prison has had a number of outstanding problems since August 2020, and four months later they were still outstanding (para 5.1.1.) What mechanisms are in place to ensure refurbishment projects are completed in full and on time?
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 5
The IMB identified concerns in 2020 that there were significantly more unsuccessful searches regarding those from the black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) community. The IMB was concerned that this area of invasive contact with prisoners was not monitored in terms of ethnicity, (5.6)
Governor / Director
Equality
Recommendation 6
The IMB would significantly benefit from a telephone system in their office in Albany to enable them to contact prisoners in their cells; this would ensure efficient and effective use of IMB members’ time. While accepting that finance is always an issue, the IMB makes limited demands on prison resources.
Governor / Director
Other
Other IMB Reports for Isle of Wight
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.