Prison
Cat C
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Bure
IMB Annual Report 2020 · Published 25 November 2020
HMP Bure, a Category C prison, maintained high prisoner and staff morale during the COVID-19 pandemic despite extensive lockdowns. While progress was noted in property management, healthcare staffing, and inmate relationships, significant concerns persist regarding the estate, particularly ventilation and cramped cell conditions in Unit 7. Delays in psychology reports and a lack of palliative care facilities were identified as critical issues, alongside ongoing staffing shortages in the Offender Management Unit.
Positive Findings
The Board commended high prisoner and staff morale despite COVID-19 lockdown, the invaluable residents' council, and the outstanding Safer Custody Team. Healthcare staffing levels were good, providing a service equivalent to the community. Efforts in redecorating units and resolving heating and window ventilation issues were noted. Property complaints significantly dropped, and transfer delays improved. Good staff-prisoner relationships, a working DIRF system, and a respected chaplaincy team fostered a rehabilitative culture and support during the pandemic.
Key Concerns
Estate/Conditions
Concerns have been raised with regard to the ventilation in residences 1 to 6. Despite the work done on improving the ventilation of the windows in each cell, the prisoners find themselves in very hot conditions during the summer months. The ducting which circulates the air throughout each wing has not had any deep cleaning since opening of the prison. Many of the filters need replacing as the existing filters are difficult to access for any maintenance. This needs to be done as a matter of urgency. Prisoners can be confined to cells for up to 23 hours a day because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it has been agreed that the air quality is poor. Ventilation would be improved if the windows at the end of each spur could be opened to allow air through.
Mental Health
Repeated
Serious concerns were raised about the significant delays in psychology reports prior to March, and these have now been delayed further owing to COVID-19 restrictions.
Overcrowding
Although the inhumane doubling-up in 32 cells on residential unit 7 ended in December 2019, the double bunk-beds remain in the cells, resulting in cramped conditions which are unacceptable with the long hours of lockdown.
Resettlement/Release
Will the minister continue to review the provision of pre-release resettlement facilities for men convicted of sex offences?
Healthcare
The establishment is not able to offer palliative and end-of-life care. Prisoners requiring this are sent to HMP Norwich, local hospices or the local Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. With an ageing population, Bure would benefit from such a facility. The Board has found that prisoners who have served long sentences would rather stay within the establishment during their last days.
Staffing
During the reporting year, there has been a significant shortage of staff within the offender management unit (OMU). Figures have shown that it has been as low as 67%. Despite the offender management in custody model being nearly four years old, the National Probation Service has failed to entice and recruit the number of probation officers required for it to function. The training of recruits is under way but 18 months behind schedule.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Healthcare maintained good staffing levels with low absence, while the key worker scheme struggled during lockdown, leading to officers taking individual responsibility for groups. The Offender Management Unit faced a significant staff shortage, operating as low as 67% due to absences and redeployments. The National Probation Service continued to struggle with recruiting enough probation officers, with training 18 months behind schedule.
Healthcare
The healthcare department, staffed by Care UK, maintained full staffing and low absence, delivering a service comparable to the local community despite COVID-19 restrictions cancelling clinics. The mental health team's workload did not significantly increase. However, the establishment lacks palliative and end-of-life care facilities, requiring prisoners to be transferred. The Board also raised concerns regarding the quality of replies to prisoner healthcare complaints.
Regime & Daily Life
The COVID-19 pandemic imposed severe lockdown, with prisoners confined for up to 23 hours a day, though morale remained high. Workshops operated at reduced capacity due to social distancing, cutting work opportunities by 66%. The gym was closed, but staff organised appreciated outdoor activities. Education transitioned to in-cell learning packs, highlighting the prison's limited IT infrastructure for prisoners.
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 | 14 | 32 | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 4 | 4 | — |
| Discipline, including adjudications, IEP, sanctions | 1 | 2 | |
| Equality | 2 | 4 | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 8 | 11 | |
| Food and kitchens | 4 | 5 | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 33 | 42 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 11 | 15 | |
| Miscellaneous, including complaints system | 0 | 0 | |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 9 | 9 | — |
| Property within this establishment | 21 | 32 | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 12 | 4 | |
| Sentence management, including home detention curfew, release on temporary licence, parole, release dates, recategorisation | 4 | 9 | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 24 | 18 | |
| Transfers | 2 | 18 |
Recommendations (6)
Ministry of Justice: 4
HMPPS: 1
Governor / Director: 1
1 repeated
Recommendation 1
Will the minister ensure that establishments such as HMP Bure operate at their normal accommodation level? The 32 cells on residential unit 7 were taken out in December 2019 but are currently single occupancy. However, the double bunks remain in those cells, continuing to make conditions cramped.
Ministry of Justice
Overcrowding
Recommendation 2
Will the minister continue to review the provision of pre-release resettlement facilities for men convicted of sex offences?
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 3
Will the minister ensure that resources are made available for urgent work to the ventilation system in residences 1 to 6, to improve the air quality and increase the level of ventilation, especially taking into account that prisoners are presently locked up for up to 23 hours a day owing to COVID-19 and the expectation that this situation will continue into next summer?
Ministry of Justice
Estate
Recommendation 4
Repeated
Will the minister investigate the delays, both pre and post COVID-19, in the provision of psychology reports, which are having an impact on offending behaviour programmes and delaying such necessary progression of prisoners?
Ministry of Justice
Mental Health
Recommendation 5
Will consideration be given to providing special accommodation and resources for palliative care at HMP Bure, and developing further cells to provide better conditions for the disabled?
HMPPS
Healthcare
Recommendation 6
Will the Governor ensure that work is done on the ventilation system on residences 1 to 6 as a matter of priority?
Governor / Director
Estate
Other IMB Reports for Bure
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
2 Oct 2023
Unannounced
Safety: 4
Respect: 4
Activity: 1
Release: 3
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.