Prison
Cat C
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Ashfield
IMB Annual Report 2020 · Published 28 October 2020
HMP Ashfield continues to be a well-run Category C prison for men serving sentences for sexual offences, known for its safe environment and humane treatment. Despite the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on daily regime and programme delivery, staff were highly commended for their support and resilience. Key concerns include the persistent lack of suitable accommodation for release, issues with property management from other establishments, and the growing backlog for intervention programmes due to COVID-19 restrictions, which could hinder prisoner progression and parole.
Positive Findings
HMP Ashfield continues to be a particularly well-run prison, delivering a safe environment with humane treatment. The Director, managers, residential officers, and chaplaincy staff are highly commended for maintaining high standards and supporting prisoners, especially during lockdown. The prison has low levels of violence, effective ACCT processes, and high standards of accommodation and catering. Property management is good, and the gym and library have seen major upgrades. The increase in category D places and the successful Ashfest arts festival are also positive developments.
Key Concerns
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
Lack of suitable accommodation for men convicted of sexual offences, particularly approved premises.
Mental Health
Adverse impact on prisoners' wellbeing if HMPPS COVID-19 restrictions continue for a prolonged period.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Significant impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the delivery of intervention programmes, potentially affecting parole and release due to increased backlogs.
Complaints/Property
Missing property in former establishments continues to be one of the top causes for complaint by prisoners.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
The issue of prisoners arriving at Ashfield with incomplete or inappropriate contact arrangements from their previous establishments has continued – and, in fact, worsened.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Plans for the progression wing have not been advanced enough, to encourage greater independence and prepare prisoners for the next stage of their sentence.
Food/Catering
Repeated
Lack of diabetic items available from the prison shop.
Equality/Diversity
Repeated
Irregular attendance of nominated senior managers at the meetings held by the different forums (for protected characteristics).
Equality/Diversity
Repeated
Frequency of diversity and equality action team meetings had been reduced to quarterly and there was little evidence of any in-depth analysis of the numerous statistics presented to meetings.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
Absence of workshops (providing advice on approved premises, open prisons, and so on).
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staff at Ashfield, particularly residential officers and chaplaincy, are highly commended for their support to prisoners, especially during the challenging COVID-19 lockdown, which prisoners widely endorsed. Staff-prisoner relationships are generally good, with many prisoners appreciative of staff efforts. Key working is well-established, with pre-lockdown attendance over 80%. While formal sessions were suspended during lockdown, wing officers ensured weekly welfare chats for nearly all prisoners (98-99%). Healthcare staffing fluctuated but was managed effectively.
Healthcare
Healthcare provision at Ashfield is generally good, often exceeding community standards, with a new contract under AWP from April 2020. New arrivals are promptly assessed, and healthcare staff are actively involved in safer custody. While staffing fluctuated, it was manageable even with reduced presence during lockdown, as appointments primarily shifted to telephone. Most prisoners are seen by a GP within a week, with urgent cases on the same day, and no backlogs were identified. Mental health provision meets normal demand, but COVID-19 restrictions led to increased waiting lists for group sessions, though telephone triage and distraction packs were used to mitigate this.
Regime & Daily Life
Prior to COVID-19 lockdown, Ashfield offered a wide range of educational, vocational, and sporting activities, with prisoners enjoying over 10 hours out of cell daily. The lockdown drastically altered this, reducing time out of cell to typically 90 minutes daily, seven days a week, primarily for exercise and essential activities. Ashfield made efforts to provide additional Astroturf access for exercise in cohorts, but the Board expressed concern that prolonged restrictions could negatively affect prisoners' wellbeing. The prison commendably maintains a low unemployment rate for prisoners, with a focus on work activities aiding resettlement skills.
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 | |
| Chaplaincy and faith | 0 | 0 | |
| Discipline (including adjudications) | 1 | 1 | — |
| Equality and diversity | 0 | 0 | |
| Finance/pay | 0 | 0 | |
| Food | 0 | 0 | |
| Grand total | 68 | 78 | |
| Healthcare | 2 | 0 | |
| Legal | 0 | 0 | |
| Other | 7 | 10 | |
| Privileges/IEP | 0 | 0 | |
| Property | 8 | 23 | |
| Regime (including time out of cell) | 0 | 1 | |
| Staff conduct | 2 | 3 | |
| Total (excluding ‘other’) | 61 | 68 | |
| Visits | 0 | 0 | |
| Work/education/vocational training | 3 | 2 |
Recommendations (6)
Other: 1
Ministry of Justice: 1
HMPPS: 3
Governor / Director: 1
3 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Can the lack of availability of appropriate accommodation for men convicted of sexual offences be raised with the minister for housing, communities and local government?
Other
(other)
Resettlement
Response
The plans to create additional 200-bed placements in the male and female approved premises estate have yet to materialise. The majority of prisoners released from Ashfield require approved premises places, and it takes much resource and time to find suitable places, sometimes not secured until 24 hours of release.
Recommendation 2
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
When will plans for increased places in approved premises be realised?
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Response
The plans to create additional 200-bed placements in the male and female approved premises estate have yet to materialise. The majority of prisoners released from Ashfield require approved premises places, and it takes much resource and time to find suitable places, sometimes not secured until 24 hours of release.
Recommendation 3
Are there plans for all HMPPS establishments to move to electronic property management systems? This would greatly facilitate transfer between establishments.
HMPPS
Other
Recommendation 4
What more can be done to improve the management of property, to reduce the volume of lost property? The cost in resources in following up complaints often far exceeds the value of the items.
HMPPS
Other
Recommendation 5
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
What more can be done to ensure that other prisons conduct accurate and robust assessments of contact arrangements?
HMPPS
Resettlement
Response
In last year’s report, there had been five examples of incomplete contact arrangements. In this reporting period, disappointingly, this has more than doubled to between 10 and15.
Recommendation 6
Can plans for the progression wing be advanced, to encourage greater independence and prepare prisoners for the next stage of their sentence?
Governor / Director
Regime
Other IMB Reports for Ashfield
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
9 Oct 2023
Unannounced
Safety: 4
Respect: 4
Activity: 1
Release: 4
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.