Prison
Cat C, YOI, Resettlement
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Rochester
IMB Annual Report 2020 · Published 13 August 2020
HMP/YOI Rochester remains a Category C resettlement prison providing a safe and decent environment, with commendations for its Key Worker system and effective response to Covid-19. Despite challenges such as drug availability and deteriorating buildings, the prison offers a humane regime with good work activity engagement and mental healthcare. Key concerns include persistent staffing shortages, issues with prisoner property transfers, and a critical lack of suitable accommodation for prisoners upon release.
Positive Findings
HMP/YOI Rochester provides a largely safe and decent environment, with gradually falling violence levels and effective Key Worker and Incentives Policy Framework implementations. The prison is commended for its swift creation of the Annex for Category D prisoners. Healthcare and mental health services are well-regarded, and education attendance in work activities exceeds national targets. The Board notes good staff-prisoner relationships, particularly during lockdown, and an efficiently run complaints system.
Key Concerns
Substance Misuse
Increased funding for resources should be allocated across the entire prison estate for tackling drug-use by prisoners. This includes improvements in security technology and intervention programmes.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
Re-offending rates cannot be reduced unless there is suitable accommodation for all prisoners who have completed their sentence; too many prisoners are released from Rochester to become homeless rough sleepers. The recent initiative for prisons to refer those at risk of homelessness to local authorities, as referred to by the Minister in replying to previous reports, does not seem to be producing any improvement.
Other
Repeated
Property losses on transfer: As raised on previous reports, there appears to have been no progress in resolving the problems which occur when a prisoner and their property are transferred from other establishments. Frustratingly items are still going missing and unnecessary delays occurring. This is a transport issue, not one of volumetric control. Is there any likelihood of a revised framework for ensuring transferring prisoners’ property is handled more effectively?
Segregation
When a prisoner is re-categorised from C to B, they are retained in the CSU awaiting transfer. This year transfers have taken too long to arrange due mainly to lack of co-operation from receiving prisons. It means the individual is kept in confined conditions rather than returning to normal location in a Cat B prison. Can this be addressed so there is more co-operation between prisons managers about these kinds of transfers?
Overcrowding
Similarly there were too many Category D prisoners in Rochester awaiting transfer to Category D conditions. The creation of the Annex has mitigated this during the lockdown period, but it is a temporary fix and more Category D accommodation needs to be resourced.
Other
Repeated
Cell clearance checks are still haphazard and many are not conducted properly, particularly when an individual is moved to the CSU from a double cell.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Roll Count Difficulties: The change in procedure has been difficult to implement at Rochester with its open estate. Obviously the whereabouts of prisoners must be known, but prior to lockdown this was causing unnecessary stress and disruption to many parts of the prison. As lockdown restrictions relax, can this situation be addressed so that the disruption experienced in January and February 2020 does not return?
Board Commentary
Staffing
The Key Worker system was successfully introduced and is proving effective, enhancing staff-prisoner relationships, especially during lockdown. However, the prison faces persistent staffing shortages across several key areas including healthcare, mental health, education, and probation, impacting service delivery. Recruitment of tutors for education and vocational training remains a particular challenge.
Healthcare
Healthcare provision by Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, including mental health services by NHS/Oxleas Inreach, is generally good and comparable to community NHS. However, the primary healthcare team faces persistent staffing shortages, with nurses often working additional hours. While GP waiting times are comparable, there are delays for dental appointments and external outpatient escorts. The Inreach mental health team, though commended, also carries vacancies and a heavy workload, with a significant number of prisoners identified with mental illness. Medication misuse and the need for ambulance call-outs for NPS-related issues remain concerns.
Regime & Daily Life
As a resettlement prison, Rochester aims to provide a structured regime for rehabilitation through training, education, and work. Attendance at work activities is excellent at 85%, exceeding national targets. However, education attendance is poor at 55%, hampered by a lack of tutors and inconsistent tuition quality. Changes to roll count arrangements caused stress and disruption, locking prisoners in various locations. The open site and regular prisoner movement also present significant challenges for controlling contraband. Evening association has been successfully restored, and the Key Worker system is improving engagement.
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 | 8 | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, IEP, sanctions | 16 | 8 | |
| Equality | 3 | 6 | |
| Food and kitchens | 7 | 0 | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 58 | 42 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 25 | 17 | |
| Miscellaneous, including complaints system | 41 | 27 | |
| Property within this establishment | 60 | 67 | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 32 | 21 | |
| Sentence management, including HDC, release on temporary licence, parole, release dates, recategorisation | 36 | 48 | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 26 | 12 | |
| Transfers | 21 | 17 |
Recommendations (7)
Ministry of Justice: 2
HMPPS: 3
Governor / Director: 2
3 repeated
Recommendation 1
The Board retains the view that to enable a better outcome for prisoners and reduce re-offending, increased funding for resources should be allocated across the entire prison estate for tackling drug-use by prisoners. This includes improvements in security technology and intervention programmes.
Ministry of Justice
Substance Misuse
Recommendation 2
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Re-offending rates cannot be reduced unless there is suitable accommodation for all prisoners who have completed their sentence; too many prisoners are released from Rochester to become homeless rough sleepers. The recent initiative for prisons to refer those at risk of homelessness to local authorities, as referred to by the Minister in replying to previous reports, does not seem to be producing any improvement.
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 3
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Property losses on transfer: As raised on previous reports, there appears to have been no progress in resolving the problems which occur when a prisoner and their property are transferred from other establishments. Frustratingly items are still going missing and unnecessary delays occurring. This is a transport issue, not one of volumetric control. Is there any likelihood of a revised framework for ensuring transferring prisoners’ property is handled more effectively?
HMPPS
Property
Recommendation 4
When a prisoner is re-categorised from C to B, they are retained in the CSU awaiting transfer. This year transfers have taken too long to arrange due mainly to lack of co-operation from receiving prisons. It means the individual is kept in confined conditions rather than returning to normal location in a Cat B prison. Can this be addressed so there is more co-operation between prisons managers about these kinds of transfers?
HMPPS
Segregation
Recommendation 5
Similarly there were too many Category D prisoners in Rochester awaiting transfer to Category D conditions. The creation of the Annex has mitigated this during the lockdown period, but it is a temporary fix and more Category D accommodation needs to be resourced.
HMPPS
Overcrowding
Recommendation 6
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The Board strongly recommends more effective control is required over cell checks on all wings.
Governor / Director
Property
Recommendation 7
Roll Count Difficulties: The change in procedure has been difficult to implement at Rochester with its open estate. Obviously the whereabouts of prisoners must be known, but prior to lockdown this was causing unnecessary stress and disruption to many parts of the prison. As lockdown restrictions relax, can this situation be addressed so that the disruption experienced in January and February 2020 does not return?
Governor / Director
Regime
Other IMB Reports for Rochester
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
2 Jun 2025
IRP
30 Aug 2024
Urgent Notification
12 Aug 2024
Unannounced
Safety: 2
Respect: 1
Activity: 1
Release: 1
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.