Prison
Cat C, D open
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Usk and Prescoed
IMB Annual Report 2020 · Published 9 October 2020
HMPs Usk and Prescoed are identified as effective and well-run prisons, providing safe and humane environments with good staff-prisoner relationships, even amidst the initial COVID-19 outbreak. Key concerns include the postponement of the OMiC pilot at Prescoed, a demotivating transfer policy for MCOSO, and slow transfer of prisoner records. The Board also highlights the poor condition of Lester unit, restrictions to the multi-faith room, and the negative impact of the pandemic on education assessments and future employment prospects.
Positive Findings
HMPs Usk and Prescoed are effective, well-run prisons, providing safe environments with low violence and good substance misuse control. Prisoners are treated with respect and fairness, and significant work has been done to support older prisoners and those with disabilities. The prisons coped well with the initial COVID-19 outbreak, and the healthcare department provides a good service. ROTL schemes at Prescoed are highly successful, and the education department effectively helps prisoners gain qualifications and employment skills.
Key Concerns
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The OMiC model appears to be working well and providing benefit in the closed environment at Usk. The Board understands that a pilot for the open estate, which was to have been run from March 2020 in Prescoed, has now been indefinitely postponed; this seems unfortunate, in terms of prisoner development.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
MCOSO granted category D status and allocated to Prescoed have to reside in Usk for three months before moving to Prescoed, whereas prisoners granted category D status and allocated to other prisons – for example, HMP Leyhill – do not have to undergo the same regime. This policy remains perplexing to the Board and demotivational for prisoners.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The Board notes that sometimes prisoner records are very slow in reaching the open estate. Assessment records which are locked or unavailable to the receiving establishment cause delay in the smooth transition of prisoners, on a fourfold basis: 1. in terms of liaison with statutory agencies 2. the assessment of risk 3. planning for ROTL and eventual release into the community 4. the related discontentment of newly arrived prisoners, and the impact this has on the smooth running of the establishment.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
As mentioned in last year’s report, Lester, a two-storey prefabricated unit at Prescoed, has been the subject of several renovations. Despite this, it remains somewhat dreary, with unreliable plumbing and drainage systems. In comparison with the rest of the upgraded site, it appears to need complete replacement.
Equality/Diversity
The chaplaincy team discovered that property damage was occurring in the multi-faith room, which it considered unacceptable. In consultation with the security department, the multi-faith room is now locked. Currently, it is only accessible when chaplains are conducting services or groups.
Healthcare
Current social care provision at Usk is good, but further development of social care provision is currently on hold because of funding challenges faced by Monmouthshire County Council following a change to budget allocation arrangements.
Education/Purposeful Activity
The C-19 pandemic has affected the success rates of provision at both prisons, with some learners completing their course but not being able to undertake final assessments because of the management steps taken to isolate the spread of the virus within the prison environment.
Resettlement/Release
The current and post-C-19 economic situation is a cause of concern. While there is confidence that existing large employers will continue to offer placements for the prisoners at Prescoed, there is some anxiety about what will happen if there is large-scale unemployment in the community, and how this will impact on prisoners achieving placements prior to release, and employment post-release.
Education/Purposeful Activity
The prison does not currently use an observation process in the evaluation of its provision. Therefore, it is difficult to form reliable judgments relating to the progress that prisoners make in their formative learning.
Board Commentary
Staffing
The OMiC pilot for Prescoed has been indefinitely postponed, which is seen as unfortunate for prisoner development. Staff-prisoner relationships are generally good, and the key worker scheme implemented in Usk is working well and positively received by both staff and prisoners. However, the COVID-19 pandemic led to staff absenteeism, affecting provision, and tragically a young female prison officer lost her life to COVID-19. There is anxiety about future employment prospects for prisoners post-pandemic if large-scale unemployment affects the community.
Healthcare
Healthcare provision, overseen by Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and outsourced for specialist services like GP, dental, and optical, is generally good and well-coordinated. Positive developments include an uplift in a team member's role and training for sexual health clinics. Mental health services are being developed to identify and care for prisoners with learning disabilities and older adults with mental health problems, though social care development faces current funding challenges. The healthcare team provided excellent support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Regime & Daily Life
The regime was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 lockdown, leading to cancellation of visits and most ROTLs, and reduced time out of cell to one to two hours daily during lockdown. Before the pandemic, both prisons offered a good range of activities, with Prescoed having over 100 prisoners on ROTL daily. Usk has made significant infrastructure improvements for older and disabled prisoners, including a dedicated unit and palliative care. Cilwrgi Prison Farm provided valuable purposeful activity, especially for MCOSO prisoners during the pandemic.
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 | |
| Discipline (including adjudications) | 2 | 2 | — |
| Drugs and alcohol | 1 | 1 | — |
| Equality and diversity | 1 | 2 | |
| Finance (including pay) | 3 | 4 | |
| Food | 5 | 4 | |
| Healthcare | 18 | 28 | |
| Other | 22 | 34 | |
| Property | 5 | 12 | |
| Safety (including bullying and violence) | 8 | 12 | |
| Segregation | 0 | 0 | |
| Staff behaviour | 2 | 5 | |
| Visits | 0 | 2 | |
| Work, education and training | 1 | 12 |
Recommendations (4)
Ministry of Justice: 2
HMPPS: 2
1 repeated
Recommendation 1
The OMiC model appears to be working well and providing benefit in the closed environment at Usk. The Board understands that a pilot for the open estate, which was to have been run from March 2020 in Prescoed, has now been indefinitely postponed; this seems unfortunate, in terms of prisoner development.
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 2
MCOSO granted category D status and allocated to Prescoed have to reside in Usk for three months before moving to Prescoed, whereas prisoners granted category D status and allocated to other prisons – for example, HMP Leyhill – do not have to undergo the same regime. This policy remains perplexing to the Board and demotivational for prisoners.
Ministry of Justice
Regime
Recommendation 3
The Board notes that sometimes prisoner records are very slow in reaching the open estate. Assessment records which are locked or unavailable to the receiving establishment cause delay in the smooth transition of prisoners, on a fourfold basis: 1. in terms of liaison with statutory agencies 2. the assessment of risk 3. planning for ROTL and eventual release into the community 4. the related discontentment of newly arrived prisoners, and the impact this has on the smooth running of the establishment.
HMPPS
Regime
Recommendation 4
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
As mentioned in last year’s report, Lester, a two-storey prefabricated unit at Prescoed, has been the subject of several renovations. Despite this, it remains somewhat dreary, with unreliable plumbing and drainage systems. In comparison with the rest of the upgraded site, it appears to need complete replacement.
HMPPS
Estate
Other IMB Reports for Usk and Prescoed
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.