Leicester

The Board is anxious to be reassured that when restrictions are eased there will be no loss of the planned capital improvement programme (see section 5.1.3), which will improve the decency and safety of the accommodation and allow more space to be brought into use for purposeful and rehabilitative activity. Similarly, the Board hopes that the planned additional security measures (see section 4.7), which will improve safety, will still go ahead.

When serious assaults on staff are referred to the police and the courts, the process is slow and the sentences awarded are variable (see section 5.2.6).

The Board believes that the present system of holding foreign national prisoners in prison for many months after their sentences have expired, under immigration powers on an IS91, is unfair (see section 5.4.3).

Although the numbers are small, and the Gatekeeping process has improved, the Board has still had to report that two prisoners were held for a long time in inhumane conditions with deteriorating mental health while waiting for secure hospital accommodation (see section 6.2.1).

During 2019 the Board was pleased to see the rapid response of the local Amey team to urgent repairs, but other aspects of the service remained unsatisfactory (see section 5.1.2). The Board would like the minister to be aware that there are still ongoing concerns.

The delays in improving the accommodation in the segregation unit have been of great concern to the Board in this reporting year (see section 5.2.1).

Loss of prisoner property between establishments continues to occur (see section 5.7).

The Board would welcome a re-invigoration of the ‘equality and diversity’ function.

The Lambert unit seemed to lose direction during 2019, with prisoners unsure of their progress and lacking sufficient purposeful activity. Management and staff training were to be strengthened, and the progress of prisoners and outcomes against a clear exit strategy were to be better defined and evaluated.

Recommendation 1

Although outside the reporting period, the Board wishes to inform the minister that the restrictions imposed by the measures to combat COVID-19 were carried out in a fair and humane manner, with prisoner welfare the first concern. There was a consistent regime, allowing daily telephone contact with the family and regular exercise for each prisoner. It is to the credit of all concerned that during the first six weeks of the public lockdown (to the time of submitting this report) the prison was settled and prisoners accepting of the situation. The Board is anxious to be reassured that when restrictions are eased there will be no loss of the planned capital improvement programme (see section 5.1.3), which will improve the decency and safety of the accommodation and allow more space to be brought into use for purposeful and rehabilitative activity. Similarly, the Board hopes that the planned additional security measures (see section 4.7), which will improve safety, will still go ahead. Is the minister able to offer reassurance on these matters?

Ministry of Justice Estate, Safety

Recommendation 1

The delays in improving the accommodation in the segregation unit have been of great concern to the Board in this reporting year (see section 5.2.1). The Board asks that the Prison Service regard this as a priority for investment during 2020.

HMPPS Estate, Segregation

Recommendation 2

When serious assaults on staff are referred to the police and the courts, the process is slow and the sentences awarded are variable (see section 5.2.6). The Board asks if the minister is satisfied that the management of those prison officers subjected to assault is fair, and comparable to that for other public servants.

Ministry of Justice Safety, Staffing

Recommendation 2 Repeated

Loss of prisoner property between establishments continues to occur (see section 5.7). The Board raised this last year and was told that a Ministry of Justice-led project was taking place during summer 2019 to review existing property processes, with the expectation that a new prisoners’ property policy framework would be published later in 2019. The Board wonders if the new framework is available, and if so what difference it will make to the prisoner who asks the Board to help him when his complaints about loss of property, submitted through the usual establishment channels, have not been successful?

HMPPS Complaints, Other

Recommendation 3

The Board believes that the present system of holding foreign national prisoners in prison for many months after their sentences have expired, under immigration powers on an IS91, is unfair (see section 5.4.3). The Board asks the minister to consult with the Home Office minister to review this process.

Ministry of Justice Equality, Resettlement

Recommendation 4 Repeated

Although the numbers are small, and the Gatekeeping process has improved, the Board has still had to report that two prisoners were held for a long time in inhumane conditions with deteriorating mental health while waiting for secure hospital accommodation (see section 6.2.1). In his reply to the Board’s previous report, the minister stated that ‘NHS England and NHS Improvement are currently working with the Quality Surveillance Team internally to provide assurance as to the quality of the prison mental health services. National audits have now been undertaken to review the processes and gain a better understanding of issues. The Prison Transfer and Remission Guidance (2011) has been reviewed and will go out to public consultation…..A patient consultation has also been commissioned’. The Board would like to know if the outcome of this work is available and whether it has led to any increase in secure mental health provision.

Ministry of Justice Mental Health

Recommendation 5 Repeated Prev. unaddressed

Last year the Board reported the problems with Amey Facilities Management, and the minister’s response acknowledged the problems and indicated that changes had been made to the company’s management structure and resourcing and that there would be a positive approach to the first-time fix of reactive repairs. Planned changes in the commercial department would produce an improvement in receiving estimates for reactive tasks and project work. During 2019 the Board was pleased to see the rapid response of the local Amey team to urgent repairs, but other aspects of the service remained unsatisfactory (see section 5.1.2). The Board would like the minister to be aware that there are still ongoing concerns.

Ministry of Justice Estate

Recommendation 8

The Board would welcome a re-invigoration of the ‘equality and diversity’ function.

Governor / Director Equality