Prison
Cat Category C training prison
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Buckley Hall
IMB Annual Report 2020 · Published 4 November 2020
HMP Buckley Hall, a Category C training prison with an operational capacity of 459, received positive HMIP inspection results and was ranked highly among UK prisons. Staff efforts to keep prisoners safe during the COVID-19 lockdown were commended, with minimal positive cases. Key concerns included high rates of cancelled external medical appointments, under-completion of key worker sessions due to staffing pressures, and the lack of in-cell telephones. The regime was significantly restricted during lockdown, causing boredom, though out-of-cell time increased by the reporting year's end.
Positive Findings
The Board commended staff and managers for their efforts to keep prisoners safe during lockdown, with only two positive COVID-19 cases and no fatalities. The prison received excellent HMIP ratings, including 'good' for safety, respect, and rehabilitation, and was ranked highly among UK prisons. Staff-prisoner relationships are strong and positive, with over 80% of prisoners praising staff in a survey. Improvements were noted in education provision, food quality, mental health staffing, and the introduction of IMB freephone applications and video-link visits.
Key Concerns
Resettlement/Release
Ensure the long-term provision of Purple (video-link) Visits.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The provision of in-cell telephones, to bring Buckley Hall into line with the growing number of prisons with this facility.
Estate/Conditions
Agree a redistribution in the location of double and single cells within the prison.
Healthcare
Bring the wing healthcare rooms into use.
Other
Improve the system for the transfer of prisoner property.
Staffing
Reassess the staffing levels for the security department.
Safety
Improve the playback facilities for body-worn video camera (BWVC) evidence.
Estate/Conditions
Provide more suitable dining tables and chairs on the wings.
Healthcare
Reduce the number of cancelled outside medical appointments.
Staffing
Protect the provision of key work sessions within the prison.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Reduce the number of inaccurate roll checks and their disruption to the regime.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Review the criteria for, and purpose of, D wing.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staffing at Buckley Hall shows a higher proportion of new officers (48% with less than three years' experience) compared to the national average, balanced by experienced staff. While commended for commitment during lockdown, staff deployment has impacted safer custody hours and key worker session completion, which averaged only 40.5% in late 2019 due to redeployments, sickness, and vacancies. Security department staffing levels also require reassessment. Positively, the mental health team saw an increase in staffing, enabling a seven-day service.
Healthcare
The provision of healthcare is considered satisfactory, with new prisoners assessed within 72 hours. While mental health staffing increased, enabling a seven-day service, and Survivors Manchester continued invaluable trauma counselling, significant issues remain. Waiting times average 12 days for a GP and 37.6 days (5.4 weeks) for a dentist. A major concern is the high rate of cancelled outside hospital appointments, reaching 31% in late 2019/early 2020, often due to insufficient escort staff. Additionally, wing healthcare rooms remain largely unused due to lack of electricity and separate locks.
Regime & Daily Life
The reporting year was split between a predictable regime and significant lockdown restrictions, which initially limited prisoners to just 30 minutes out of cell daily, leading to widespread boredom. The regime expanded towards the end of the year to two 40-minute out-of-cell sessions, which was welcomed. Purposeful activity declined, receiving a 'not sufficiently good' HMIP rating. Inconsistent daily roll counts continued to disrupt the timing of activities and services.
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 | |
| Bullying and violence | 0 | 0 | |
| Canteen, cash and wages | 17 | 10 | |
| Complaints, applications, requests | 12 | 16 | |
| Discipline (adjudications) | 1 | 3 | |
| Drugs and alcohol | 0 | 1 | |
| Education and library | 0 | 0 | |
| Equality and diversity | 2 | 2 | — |
| Food | 1 | 0 | |
| Healthcare | 19 | 24 | |
| Immigration (including deportation) | 0 | 0 | |
| Legal, courts, appeals | 1 | 0 | |
| Property | 27 | 25 | |
| Regime | 2 | 1 | |
| Religion | 0 | 0 | |
| Resettlement | 0 | 0 | |
| Rule 45 (good order or own protection) | 0 | 0 | |
| Sentence management | 0 | 0 | |
| Staff (including allegations) | 1 | 3 | |
| Visits and communications | 1 | 5 |
Recommendations (12)
Ministry of Justice: 2
HMPPS: 4
Governor / Director: 6
Recommendation 1
Ensure the long-term provision of Purple (video-link) Visits (see paragraph 7.4.9)
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 2
The provision of in-cell telephones, to bring Buckley Hall into line with the growing number of prisons with this facility (see paragraphs 5.1.21 and 7.4.10)
Ministry of Justice
Regime
Recommendation 3
Agree a redistribution in the location of double and single cells within the prison (see paragraph 5.1.6)
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 4
Bring the wing healthcare rooms into use (see paragraph 6.1.8)
HMPPS
Healthcare
Recommendation 5
Improve the system for the transfer of prisoner property (see paragraph 4.1.4)
HMPPS
Other
Recommendation 6
Reassess the staffing levels for the security department (see paragraph 4.6.3)
HMPPS
Staffing
Recommendation 7
Improve the playback facilities for body-worn video camera (BWVC) evidence (see paragraph 4.5.1)
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 8
Provide more suitable dining tables and chairs on the wings (see paragraph 5.1.2)
Governor / Director
Regime
Recommendation 9
Reduce the number of cancelled outside medical appointments (see paragraph 6.1.4)
Governor / Director
Healthcare
Recommendation 10
Protect the provision of key work sessions within the prison (see paragraphs 5.3.3 and 5.3.4)
Governor / Director
Staffing
Recommendation 11
Reduce the number of inaccurate roll checks and their disruption to the regime (see paragraph 5.1.14)
Governor / Director
Regime
Recommendation 12
Review the criteria for, and purpose of, D wing (see paragraph 5.1.7)
Governor / Director
Regime
Other IMB Reports for Buckley Hall
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
12 Feb 2024
Unannounced
Safety: 3
Respect: 3
Activity: 2
Release: 4
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.