Prison
Cat D open
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Kirkham
IMB Annual Report 2020 · Published 23 April 2021
HMP Kirkham, an open Category D prison, navigated 2020 with significant regime changes due to COVID-19, managed by strong leadership. Despite these challenges, the prison maintained a safe environment with low self-harm and violence incidents, and positive staff-prisoner relationships. Key concerns include unsuitable prisoner transfers, estate issues like poor lighting and heating, and challenges with drug misuse services due to staffing and accommodation problems.
Positive Findings
The Board commends the Governor's excellent leadership during the pandemic, ensuring safety and clear communication. Staff and prisoner relationships improved, and a strong rehabilitative culture is maintained. Healthcare provision is motivated and effective, working well with prison staff. Significant progress has been made on infrastructure projects like the fire alarm system, new residential units, and gym. External organisations like POPS and Shelter provide valuable support, particularly in resettlement and family contact.
Key Concerns
Safety
Repeated
Individuals who are unsuitable for transfer to a category D establishment are still being sent to Kirkham, leading to 85 prisoners being returned to closed conditions for security reasons prior to lockdown.
Safety
The poor quality of the closed-circuit television (CCTV) system and inadequate lighting around certain areas makes it difficult to identify intruders and prisoners dropping off or collecting contraband.
Estate/Conditions
There are recurring problems with the heating and hot water supplies to some billets, with a programme of boiler replacements not expected until 2022 at the earliest, despite constant issues.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The charges for the use of telephones are considered too high, especially as prisoners in the open estate have access to telephones throughout the day when charges are higher.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The introduction of ‘Purple Visits’ has not been received well due to restrictions on timings, with prisoners unable to use it during family working hours or school times.
Estate/Conditions
There is an urgent need to find new office accommodation for the drug service and Custody to Work teams, as their current offices in the former oil rig buildings are due for demolition.
Substance Misuse
Repeated
Access to and use of drugs continues to be an issue at Kirkham, with high levels of drug use and drops, and associated bullying around drug debt.
Staffing
The substance misuse team has suffered from staff shortages (three vacancies) and its current building has been condemned, with no new premises identified, impacting the full delivery of services.
Board Commentary
Staffing
The senior management team is settled and provided strong leadership during the pandemic. However, the substance misuse team suffered from staff shortages with three vacancies. There were also staffing issues with on-site Amey staff due to sickness. Staffing for offender managers is adequate and will improve with six new appointments.
Healthcare
Spectrum provides well-motivated and cohesive physical healthcare and substance misuse services, playing a crucial role during the pandemic and prioritizing prisoner wellbeing. Dental services have a waiting list, though emergency care and extra sessions are provided. Mental health services by Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Trust offer a stepped care approach and support continuity of care on release. However, the substance misuse team is understaffed with three vacancies and requires relocation to new premises, currently impacting the full delivery of services due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Regime & Daily Life
The daily regime at HMP Kirkham was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to constant changes and restrictions. Time out of cell and access to exercise facilities like the gym and sports hall were curtailed, forcing prisoners to spend extended periods in their billets, which caused frustration. Education and vocational training largely moved to in-cell learning or were suspended, and off-site working was halted. Despite these challenges, the Governor ensured clear communication with prisoners and staff regarding regime changes.
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 | 0 | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 0 | 0 | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, IEP, sanctions | 0 | 0 | |
| Equality | 0 | 0 | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 1 | 0 | |
| Food and kitchens | 0 | 0 | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 4 | 3 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 1 | 0 | |
| Miscellaneous, including complaints system | 1 | 1 | — |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 2 | 6 | |
| Property within this establishment | 2 | 1 | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 1 | 2 | |
| Sentence management, including HDC, ROTL, parole, release dates, recategorisation | 3 | 6 | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 0 | 1 | |
| Transfers | 1 | 1 | — |
Recommendations (6)
Ministry of Justice: 1
HMPPS: 4
Governor / Director: 1
1 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The Board urges the Minister to address the continued transfer of individuals unsuitable for a category D establishment to Kirkham, despite previous assurances.
Ministry of Justice
Safety
Recommendation 2
Address the poor lighting around the site and resolve delays in fixing reported maintenance issues, particularly those impacted by Amey staffing issues.
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 3
Review and reduce the charges for prisoner telephone calls, particularly given that open estate prisoners have access during higher-charge daytime hours.
HMPPS
Regime
Recommendation 4
Review and expand the available timings for 'Purple Visits' to better accommodate families with work or school commitments, including early evening slots.
HMPPS
Family Contact
Recommendation 5
Urgently identify and provide new office accommodation for the drug service and Custody to Work teams, whose current premises are slated for demolition.
Governor / Director
Estate
Recommendation 6
It is recommended that the issues identified in the action plan drawn up following the publication of the ‘disability audit’ in 2019 are progressed when funding allows.
HMPPS
Equality
Other IMB Reports for Kirkham
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
9 Sep 2024
Unannounced
Safety: 3
Respect: 2
Activity: 2
Release: 2
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.