Prison
Cat C
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Northumberland
IMB Annual Report 2020 · Published 2 June 2021
HMP Northumberland demonstrated exemplary management of the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in no related deaths among prisoners and commended staff and prisoner responses. The report highlights a sustained decline in violence and self-harm, alongside good staff-prisoner relationships and effective ACCT management. Key concerns include the continued lack of specialist mental health places, significantly restricted regimes impacting education and resettlement, and escalating dental waiting times.
Positive Findings
HMP Northumberland demonstrated exemplary management of the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in no deaths solely due to the virus and commended staff and prisoner responses. There was a significant and sustained decline in violence and self-harm incidents, and ACCT processes were well-managed. Staff-prisoner relationships were generally good, and the chaplaincy team provided exceptional support during lockdown. The healthcare contract transition to Spectrum was positive, and DART maintained high levels of support for prisoners. The prison also innovatively used technology for in-cell learning and communication and was proactive in improving resettlement experiences.
Key Concerns
Mental Health
Repeated
The lack of sufficient places within specialised facilities for men with severe mental health (MH) needs in the North East, the Board feels that this is still a pertinent concern. This concern was illustrated by one prisoner’s period in segregations, extending over 100 days due to no available places within a local specialist MH facility.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Prioritising opportunities for men to re-engage with learning, employment and training to mitigate the disadvantages of lockdown and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on preparation for release.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The Board fully supports the protective measures deployed by the prison to proactively mitigate any potential negative consequences of the pandemic, we welcome the return to enhanced regimes and recommencement of social visits for the men at HMPN at the earliest possible opportunity.
Substance Misuse
Repeated
The availability of drugs inside the prison has been a continuing concern in recent years, despite the introduction of the counter measures documented in our previous reports.
Healthcare
At the start of the reporting year, waiting times were already long for dentistry (177 working days). The report by HMIP in September 2020 reported delays of 231 working days, and as of 31 December this was up to 249 working days, demonstrating an increase across the reporting year.
Healthcare
Repeated
The Board reiterates the concern, which we raised in our 2019 report, about the lack of 24-hour residential care on site. Overall, there were 41 prisoners who were bed-watch patients, in outside hospitals across 2020.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staff-prisoner relationships were generally positive, with prisoners acknowledging staff dedication during the pandemic, including sending thank you cards. Key worker schemes, initially suspended during lockdown, resumed for priority groups in June and across residential blocks in November. The Board noted the dedication and skill of staff in managing vulnerable prisoners, particularly in the segregation unit, despite the significant resources required for challenging individuals. A recurring concern was the lack of 24-hour residential care on site, which impacted staffing by requiring 41 prisoners to be bed-watch patients in outside hospitals.
Healthcare
Spectrum took over the healthcare contract in April 2020, with initial positive impacts including a more cohesive approach and medical provision on wings. The healthcare team was highly commended for its effective COVID-19 management, preventing deaths solely related to the virus. However, the lack of 24-hour residential care on site remained a concern, leading to 41 prisoners requiring bed-watch in outside hospitals. Routine GP and dental appointments were suspended, with dental waiting times increasing significantly to 249 working days by year-end, though GP wait times for telephone appointments improved from 15 days to 5 days by the time of writing. Mental health services introduced peer support training and information booklets for new arrivals.
Regime & Daily Life
The COVID-19 pandemic led to significantly restricted regimes, including a reduction in time out of cell to one hour for essential activities and the suspension of social visits and key work for much of the year. These necessary safety measures greatly reduced opportunities for education, work, and training, despite the prison's efforts to find alternatives. The prison commendably utilized technology for in-cell learning, remote social visits (Purple Visits), and communication to support prisoner wellbeing. The Board acknowledged the positive response of prisoners to these restrictions and welcomed efforts to return to enhanced regimes when feasible.
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 | 3 | 5 | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 4 | 14 | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, IEP, sanctions | 3 | 3 | — |
| Equality | 3 | 2 | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 12 | 10 | |
| Food and kitchens | 2 | 10 | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 26 | 28 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 6 | 21 | |
| Miscellaneous, including complaints system | 24 | 11 | |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 18 | 15 | |
| Property within this establishment | 17 | 30 | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 9 | 14 | |
| Sentence management, including HDC, release on temporary licence, parole, release dates, recategorisation | 32 | 24 | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 21 | 44 | |
| Transfers | 12 | 21 |
Recommendations (3)
Governor / Director: 2
Ministry of Justice: 1
1 repeated
Recommendation 1
Prioritising opportunities for men to re-engage with learning, employment and training to mitigate the disadvantages of lockdown and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on preparation for release.
Governor / Director
Progression and resettlement
Recommendation 2
Repeated
Following on from our previous concern, voiced in our 2019 report, regarding a lack of sufficient places within specialised facilities for men with severe mental health (MH) needs in the North East, the Board feels that this is still a pertinent concern. This concern was illustrated by one prisoner’s period in segregations, extending over 100 days due to no available places within a local specialist MH facility.
Ministry of Justice
Healthcare
Recommendation 3
Whilst the Board fully supports the protective measures deployed by the prison to proactively mitigate any potential negative consequences of the pandemic, we welcome the return to enhanced regimes and recommencement of social visits for the men at HMPN at the earliest possible opportunity.
Governor / Director
Humane treatment
Other IMB Reports for Northumberland
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.