Prison
Cat B
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Garth
IMB Annual Report 2020 · Published 12 March 2021
HMP Garth faced significant challenges during the reporting year ending November 2020, dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Board commends the Governor and staff for their proactive measures, which successfully kept the prison safe and largely free of the virus among prisoners until October, while adapting the regime and maintaining essential services. Key concerns persist regarding the slow progress for IPP prisoners, lengthy investigations into deaths in custody, staff stress and recruitment, and long-standing issues with property transport and maintenance services.
Positive Findings
The Board commends the Governor and staff at HMP Garth for their exceptional efforts in maintaining a safe and secure environment during the COVID-19 pandemic, preventing a prisoner outbreak until mid-October 2020. Prisoners were treated with respect, and adjustments like additional telephone funds and the 'Purple Visits' video call system significantly improved family contact. The in-cell telephony project was expedited, and healthcare services adapted seamlessly to a provider change, with staff delivering care on wings. The employment, learning, and skills department demonstrated creativity and adaptability in providing in-cell learning and maintaining services despite significant restrictions. Prisoner representatives also played a positive role in accepting the changed regime.
Key Concerns
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
The Board maintains its stance that retrospective legislation is required to resolve this problem fully, in order to stop the unjust detention of these prisoners.
Safety
Repeated
It is a cause for concern that the process [for deaths in custody investigations] invariably takes so long. It would be a benefit to all if the process could be speeded up.
Staffing
staff who have worked throughout have experienced increasing levels of stress and increased health problems. Their great efforts should be acknowledged and further recruitment should be considered.
Other
Repeated
The transport of property continues to be a serious issue... Pressure should be brought to cause the transport providers urgently to address this issue, perhaps by changing the design of their vehicles or by adding secure trailers.
Estate/Conditions
some of [laundry facilities] are not adequate, particularly if washing machines and/or dryers break down. Amey is responsible for keeping these in good order but months rather than weeks can go by with no repairs done, or replacements provided. This is a major failure
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
Equipment issues continue to be a problem, including the breakdown of fridges and freezers, and especially the long-term non-operation of the halal food freezer... The quality of the service provided by Amey needs to improve quickly and to become effective.
Segregation
The Board has ongoing concerns about the length of time that a small number of prisoners are held in the segregation unit, and the lack of work or education activities for prisoners segregated for long periods.
Resettlement/Release
The preparation of offender assessment system (OASys) assessments and reviews continues to be an issue... This target [initial reviews within 16 weeks] is not being achieved... Given the present staffing levels, this may be a realistic target but the Board would seek to make a case for increased staffing levels to increase the frequency in both categories.
Resettlement/Release
The Board feels that this arrangement [Community Offender Manager not appointed until parole window or 9 months before release] is far from satisfactory. Prisoners need to maintain contact with the outside probation service throughout the sentence, in preparation for what may be a very prolonged period of licence, and there should be an officer in the community who is able to offer support and guidance to the prisoner’s family. Without continual contact... this process must inevitably be negatively affected.
Staffing
Staffing problems during the present COVID-19 crisis have meant that the key worker scheme has effectively been put on hold... the Board... hopes that the scheme will be fully reinstated at the earliest possible time, as key worker support is vitally important in the management and support of prisoners.
Estate/Conditions
there are problems concerning the computer systems at Garth which cannot be ignored. They are very dated, and on occasion there is a loss of internet facilities. There is little stability, which upsets and frustrates all involved.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Despite strenuous efforts to maintain staffing levels and generally good retention, staff experienced increased stress and health problems during the reporting year, particularly due to COVID-19-related absences. The key worker scheme had to be suspended due to high officer absence and safety restrictions, though its reinstatement is hoped for. The Offender Management Unit also faced challenges with staff absences and reductions, although recruitment efforts are ongoing for some roles, such as chaplains. Further recruitment and acknowledgement of staff efforts are considered necessary.
Healthcare
Healthcare services adapted well to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a seamless management change in April. Staff commendably maintained near-normal operations, taking services to prisoners on wings to minimise movement. A speedy COVID-19 testing system was effective, with the first prisoner case not identified until October. Medication distribution continued, and the mental health team functioned effectively, maintaining good standards throughout the period.
Regime & Daily Life
The daily regime at HMP Garth was severely curtailed from March 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions, leading to increased time in cells and reduced purposeful activity. Workshops and education classes were largely closed, with only essential work continuing at reduced capacity. Access to gyms and showers was managed through rotas to ensure social distancing. In-cell telephones and televisions were installed, and in-cell learning packs were developed to mitigate the impact of the restricted regime. Religious services were suspended, though individual pastoral care was maintained.
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 | 2 | 3 | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 4 | 3 | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, IEP, sanctions | 1 | 1 | — |
| Equality | 1 | 4 | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 12 | 6 | |
| Food and kitchens | 2 | 4 | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 13 | 16 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 2 | 3 | |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 17 | 39 | |
| Property within this establishment | 13 | 46 | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 2 | 6 | |
| Sentence management, including home detention curfew, release on temporary licence, parole, release dates, recategorisation | 7 | 18 | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 43 | 75 | |
| Transfers | 3 | 1 |
Recommendations (7)
Ministry of Justice: 2
HMPPS: 4
Other: 1
4 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
The Board maintains its stance that retrospective legislation is required to resolve this problem fully, in order to stop the unjust detention of these prisoners.
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 2
Repeated
It would be a benefit to all if the process [for investigating deaths in custody] could be speeded up.
Ministry of Justice
Safety
Recommendation 3
Their great efforts should be acknowledged and further recruitment should be considered.
HMPPS
Staffing
Recommendation 4
Repeated
Pressure should be brought to cause the transport providers urgently to address this issue, perhaps by changing the design of their vehicles or by adding secure trailers.
HMPPS
Other
Recommendation 5
Repeated
The quality of the service provided by Amey needs to improve quickly and to become effective.
Other
(other)
Estate
Recommendation 6
we strongly recommend that this [Community Offender Manager appointment timing] be urgently reviewed.
HMPPS
Resettlement
Recommendation 7
As a matter of urgency, an investment to improve or replace equipment should be made a priority [for computer systems at Garth].
HMPPS
Estate
Other IMB Reports for Garth
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
29 Jul 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.