Prison
Cat reception and resettlement for adult males and you
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Durham
IMB Annual Report 2020 · Published 24 March 2021
HMP Durham transitioned to a reception and resettlement prison for adult males and young offenders in February 2020. The reporting year was significantly impacted by COVID-19, leading to a restricted regime for much of the period. The Board noted positive developments in first night inductions, a reduction in self-harm, and improved healthcare provision by a new contractor. However, persistent concerns include overcrowding, low levels of key workers and Listeners, and the prolonged detention of immigration detainees. The report also highlights challenges with access to purposeful activity for specific prisoner groups and staffing consistency in healthcare.
Positive Findings
The Board noted significant improvements in first night inductions, safeguarding for vulnerable prisoners, and the management of reverse cohorting. There was a pleasing reduction in self-harm incidents and improved governance of use of force. The new healthcare provider brought positive changes, and the chaplaincy team provided excellent support, particularly during lockdown. Improvements were also seen in cell checks, kitchen equipment, and the on-time response rate to complaints.
Key Concerns
Overcrowding
Repeated
Overcrowding continues to be a concern, with nearly 90% of cells designed for single occupancy being used for doubles.
Safety
The Listener scheme is at an all-time low of three, and the delivery of key working remains poor and unsustainable.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
Immigration detainees are held for unacceptably long periods in a prison not equipped for their specific needs, with limited Home Office contact.
Education/Purposeful Activity
There are no plans to introduce education or work experience for prisoners serving less than 16 months, and vulnerable and older prisoners have poor access to engagement opportunities.
Healthcare
Healthcare staff attendance at segregation reviews is inconsistent, and there are concerns about the allocation of prison staff to healthcare and the cessation of reporting on missed medication.
Safety
There is an increasing trend of positive body scans for prisoners on licence recall and poor utilisation of body-worn video cameras for use of force incidents.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staff morale and communication were appreciated by the Governor and staff during the pandemic. However, staffing levels became challenging in the last three months, particularly in healthcare and the SACU, with officer profiles often not met, raising concerns about prisoner welfare. Key worker delivery compliance was low for most of the year, although efforts were made to reintroduce hours.
Healthcare
A new healthcare provider, Spectrum, received positive feedback from prisoners and NHS England for improved service delivery and partnership working. Initial health screening is prompt, and GP waiting times have significantly decreased to 8 days. However, staff allocation to inpatient healthcare remains inconsistent, impacting prisoner exercise. Mental health services faced staffing challenges but maintained essential services, though the ISU's therapeutic regime was significantly reduced during lockdown. Dental, optician, and physiotherapy waiting times are lengthy, and medication delays persist.
Regime & Daily Life
HMP Durham transitioned to a reception and resettlement prison in February 2020. Due to COVID-19, the daily regime for prisoners was significantly restricted for seven months, leading to less opportunity for assaults and a suspension of most adjudications. The Integrated Support Unit (ISU) also ran a reduced regime, limiting its therapeutic environment. Despite these restrictions, efforts were made to provide basic routines, individual support, and socially distanced activities where possible.
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 | |
| Diet | 8 | 13 | |
| Discipline (Adjudications) | 33 | 36 | |
| Discrimination | 5 | 7 | |
| Healthcare | 59 | 73 | |
| Other | 36 | 32 | |
| Property | 71 | 148 | |
| Staff | 47 | 78 | |
| Total | 321 | 445 | |
| Visits | 17 | 20 |
Recommendations (15)
Other: 3
HMPPS: 2
Governor / Director: 10
2 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
How can overcrowding be reduced?
Other
(minister)
Overcrowding
Recommendation 2
Repeated
How can IS91 immigration detainees be quickly moved on to more appropriate removal centres?
Other
(minister)
Resettlement
Recommendation 3
What plans does the minister have to reduce the backlog of court hearings from HMP Durham?
Other
(minister)
Other
Recommendation 4
How can funds be made available for the provision of work and education for prisoners serving the last 16 months of their sentence under the terms of a reception and resettlement prison?
HMPPS
Education
Recommendation 5
Look to review the system of ‘cherry picking’ of prisoners when eligible for transfer
HMPPS
Resettlement
Recommendation 6
How can you increase and sustain an increase in the number of Listeners?
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 7
How can you improve the use of BWVCs to capture use of force incidents?
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 8
How can healthcare staff attendance at GOOD reviews be embedded into the system?
Governor / Director
Healthcare
Recommendation 9
How can the delivery of key working be improved and sustained?
Governor / Director
Regime
Recommendation 10
How can focus groups be introduced and sustained?
Governor / Director
Equality
Recommendation 11
How can the allocation of officers to the inpatient healthcare centre be made sustainable?
Governor / Director
Staffing
Recommendation 12
Will secondary health screening be reintroduced, and when?
Governor / Director
Healthcare
Recommendation 13
Why are incidents of prisoners missing three consecutive days of medication no longer reported?
Governor / Director
Healthcare
Recommendation 14
What can be done to improve prison staff entries into prisoner portfolios?
Governor / Director
Resettlement
Recommendation 15
What plans does the prison have to improve access for vulnerable and older prisoners to suitable engagement opportunities?
Governor / Director
Education
Other IMB Reports for Durham
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
30 Apr 2024
Unannounced
Safety: 2
Respect: 2
Activity: 1
Release: 3
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.