Prison
Cat C
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Guys Marsh
IMB Annual Report 2020 · Published 31 March 2021
HMP Guys Marsh successfully kept COVID-19 out of the prison during the reporting year, with a commendably managed restricted regime contributing to a reported sense of safety among prisoners and a reduction in violence. However, this success was tempered by persistent issues including the availability of illicit substances, poor education provision, and a lack of purposeful activity, which led to boredom and frustration. Long-standing concerns like property loss during transfer and insufficient offending behaviour programmes remain unaddressed, while staffing and the humane incarceration of prisoners with complex needs require urgent attention.
Positive Findings
HMP Guys Marsh was commended for successfully keeping COVID-19 out of the prison during the reporting year, with careful management of incoming prisoners. The IMB noted improvements in safety, including reductions in violence and use of force, and positive feedback from prisoners who felt safer during the restricted regime. The healthcare team provided good care, with a commendable initiative in custodial officer immediate life support training saving lives. Communications and family contact innovations, such as e-tablet and telephone visits, were also praised.
Key Concerns
Substance Misuse
Repeated
Persistent availability of psychoactive substances (PS) and dangerous in-house alcoholic mixes.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Shortfall in purposeful activity.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
Disappointing lapses of oversight and discipline on some wings undermined aspects of dignity and cleanliness.
Healthcare
Repeated
There is still concern about the timely distribution of appointment slips for healthcare.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Repeated
Education provision has fallen short of the standards required, through no fault of the establishment.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
The offending behaviour programmes on offer provide too few places for the needs of the prison population.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) gives urgent consideration to the provision of more support to offending behaviour programmes in view of the increasing numbers of prisoners presenting with poor behaviour.
Complaints/Property
Repeated
Property loss during transfer is a persistent grievance and is still not resolved. It continues to generate a disproportionate number of applications to the Board and has been an issue for attention for many years.
Safety
Incidents of violence and self-harm are still considered to be too high.
Safety
The Board was concerned about the introduction of rigid bar handcuffs and their initial excessive use.
Staffing
Recruitment and retention of competent and experienced prison officers is a challenge.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
Challenges with the configuration of the estate, age and condition of the buildings and services together with the difficulty in managing repairs, including vandalism, electrical problems, water leaks, and rat infestations.
Equality/Diversity
No cells with wheelchair access and limited facilities for older prisoners or those with sensory impairments or autism spectrum disorders.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
Litter around the wings included discarded food and was a recurring blight.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
The IEP scheme did not incentivise good behaviours.
Food/Catering
The condition of the food trolleys and the hygiene standards of the orderlies employed as servers were recurring themes.
Mental Health
There is a national concern about the increase in the number of prisoners with poor mental health, and those with educational or physical needs.
Staffing
Wing officers on Anglia admitted to being overwhelmed by the management of the wing at times, owing to variable levels of staffing.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Recruitment and retention of competent and experienced prison officers remain a challenge, with new officers requiring support and training. Staffing levels on some wings were variable and at times overwhelming. While the key worker system had lapsed pre-lockdown, a concerted effort was made to allocate key workers to prisoners with complex needs during the restricted regime. Overall, officers were reported to be more relaxed and stable during lockdown due to predictable management.
Healthcare
The healthcare provider transitioned smoothly to Practice Plus in September 2020, with the team providing good care during the restricted regime. Mental healthcare continued via in-cell telephony, and delays in mental health transfers to secure units, a previous concern, were not repeated this year. However, a persistent issue remains the untimely distribution of healthcare appointment slips by wing staff, leading to missed appointments.
Regime & Daily Life
The COVID-19 pandemic imposed a restricted regime, leading to increased time in cells and a significant reduction in purposeful activity, which caused boredom and frustration among some prisoners. While the regime allowed up to two and a half hours out of cell in some cases, opportunities for healthy exercise were limited, and attendance at work was severely affected. Despite these challenges, some prisoners reported feeling safer and calmer.
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 transfers) | 45 | 38 | |
| Adjudications | 2 | 16 | |
| Bullying/intimidation | 15 | 15 | — |
| Communication (internal/external) | 11 | 11 | — |
| Complaints | 1 | 1 | — |
| Conditions and daily living | 15 | 15 | — |
| Drugs and alcohol | 2 | 3 | |
| Employment/training/education | 1 | 3 | |
| Equality & Diversity | 0 | 0 | |
| Health and social care (general) | 16 | 18 | |
| Health and social care (mental health) | 9 | 10 | |
| Incentives and earned privileges (IEP) | 3 | 4 | |
| Legal (including parole) | 11 | 16 | |
| Money/debt | 2 | 3 | |
| Other | 3 | 5 | |
| Property | 35 | 26 | |
| Release/resettlement | 3 | 6 | |
| Staff conduct | 2 | 4 | |
| Visits (including domestic violence) | 1 | 1 | — |
Recommendations (9)
Ministry of Justice: 3
HMPPS: 3
Governor / Director: 3
5 repeated
Recommendation 1
In view of the decision taken to increase the capacity of Guys Marsh significantly, will the minister ensure commitment to all the agreed redevelopment, without compromise?
Ministry of Justice
Estate
Recommendation 2
What steps will the minister take to ensure that properly supported recruitment, training and professional development of a sufficient number of competent prison officers will continue to be a priority?
Ministry of Justice
Staffing
Recommendation 3
There is a national concern about the increase in the number of prisoners with poor mental health, and those with educational or physical needs. How will the minister work with relevant departments in a coordinated way to facilitate a better strategy for the humane incarceration of all prisoners with complex needs?
Ministry of Justice
Mental Health
Recommendation 4
Repeated
Once again, the Board asks that Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) gives urgent consideration to the provision of more support to offending behaviour programmes in view of the increasing numbers of prisoners presenting with poor behaviour.
HMPPS
Resettlement
Recommendation 5
Repeated
The performance of the education provider has been poor and the subject of an improvement notice for six months. What steps is HMPPS taking to ensure an urgent resolution so that the education and training provision at Guys Marsh will not be held back any further?
HMPPS
Education
Recommendation 6
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Property loss during transfer is a persistent grievance and is still not resolved. It continues to generate a disproportionate number of applications to the Board and has been an issue for attention for many years. What progress has HMPPS made in the development of the long delayed framework for prisoners’ property?
HMPPS
Complaints
Recommendation 7
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The year has been difficult, and the Governor is commended for keeping the prison COVID-19 free during 2020. However, the management of discipline and good working practice on some wings has not been rigorous, for example, the timely distribution of appointment slips for healthcare appointments. When circumstances fully allow, how is this going to be addressed?
Governor / Director
Regime
Recommendation 8
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
How advanced are plans to implement the revised incentives and earned privileges (IEP) scheme?
Governor / Director
Regime
Recommendation 9
Recruitment and retention of competent and experienced prison officers is a challenge. How are plans for mentoring and professional development schemes progressing?
Governor / Director
Staffing