Prison
Cat closed female
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Send
IMB Annual Report 2020 · Published 10 July 2020
HMP Send is considered a safe and humane prison, with decent living conditions and staff demonstrating kindness, though it handles challenging prisoners with complex needs. There has been an increase in violence and self-harm, partly attributed to drug usage. The Board is concerned about the prolonged detention of IPP prisoners, staff shortages affecting the regime, and issues with the canteen service and property transfers. Positively, dental waiting times have improved, and resettlement into accommodation is notably successful.
Positive Findings
The Board considers HMP Send a safe and humane prison, with decent living conditions and staff demonstrating kindness and high levels of personal attention, particularly during crises. Ongoing maintenance is improving the estate, and there is a high rate of successful resettlement into accommodation, with the 'Making Connections' program commended. Dental waiting times have significantly improved, and staff efforts to enhance weekend activities and celebrate diversity, alongside a new positive incentives policy, are also praised.
Key Concerns
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
The Board continues to have concerns about the unjust detention of IPP prisoners who are all many years past their tariff date (7.3).
Resettlement/Release
The Board is concerned about the failure to provide enough probation officers to give prisoners the support to which they are entitled (7.3).
Resettlement/Release
The Board is concerned that fewer prisoners benefit from ROTL in preparation for their release, despite the implementation of the 2019 ROTL policy framework (7.5).
Safety
Prisoners should have the new Integrity Hotline added to the national permitted PIN phone numbers (4.4).
Food/Catering
The Board is concerned that the canteen contract operated by DHL is unsatisfactory (5.1).
Staffing
Repeated
The prison continues to have difficulty in recruiting staff. Staff shortages can have an impact on the regime and thus on the prisoners (5.3).
Complaints/Property
Repeated
Prisoners’ property regularly continues to be left behind when they are transferred to Send (5.8).
Substance Misuse
The prison is not preventing illegal drugs from entering the establishment. This is having a negative impact on stability and the safety of prisoners (4.3, 4.6).
Resettlement/Release
There needs to be better support for prisoners from OMU, with more timely responses to applications (7.3).
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
Regular incorrect roll checks have continued to disrupt the regime (7.1).
Equality/Diversity
Repeated
Prisoner equality focus groups should be held regularly and actions taken forward more consistently (5.4).
Board Commentary
Staffing
HMP Send faces significant difficulties in recruiting operational support grade (OSG) staff due to its location and uncompetitive salaries, leading to shortages and cross-deployment that negatively impact the regime. The Offender Management Unit (OMU) is severely understaffed, with only one probation officer instead of three and a half, denying prisoners entitled support. Furthermore, the national delay in implementing Offender Management in Custody (OMiC) means prisoners have not benefited from key workers.
Healthcare
Most physical and mental healthcare needs are met, with GP appointments readily available and dental waiting times significantly reduced to six weeks. However, many prisoners have complex mental health issues, with about a third of the population needing support; assessments are typically within two weeks, leading to appropriate therapies and two established PIPE programmes. Some prisoners express dissatisfaction with doctors' clinical decisions or nursing staff's demeanor.
Regime & Daily Life
Prisoners typically spend 9-10 hours daily out of their cells, with some wings having unlocked status until 10 pm. However, staff shortages, especially at weekends, contribute to increased violence. Purposeful activity is generally available, but some prisoners are classified as 'not required' or unemployed, and incorrect roll checks frequently disrupt education and work schedules. The Board regrets the decline in Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL), limiting opportunities for community work and family reconnection.
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) | 17 | 7 | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 15 | 6 | |
| Discipline (including adjudications, IEP, sanctions) | 21 | 17 | |
| Equality | 5 | 9 | |
| Finance (including pay, private monies, spends) | 16 | 15 | |
| Food and kitchens | 12 | 8 | |
| Health (including physical, mental, social care) | 35 | 37 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 24 | 15 | |
| Miscellaneous (including complaints system) | 10 | 6 | |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 14 | 20 | |
| Property within this establishment | 22 | 11 | |
| Purposeful activity (including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell) | 10 | 16 | |
| Sentence management (including HDC, release on temporary licence, parole, release dates, recategorisation) | 22 | 29 | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns (including bullying) | 28 | 21 | |
| Transfers | 3 | 3 | — |
Recommendations (11)
Other: 1
HMPPS: 6
Governor / Director: 4
5 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
The Board continues to have concerns about the unjust detention of IPP prisoners who are all many years past their tariff date (7.3).
Other
(minister)
Resettlement
Recommendation 2
The Board is concerned about the failure to provide enough probation officers to give prisoners the support to which they are entitled (7.3).
HMPPS
Resettlement
Recommendation 3
The Board is concerned that fewer prisoners benefit from ROTL in preparation for their release, despite the implementation of the 2019 ROTL policy framework (7.5).
HMPPS
Resettlement
Recommendation 4
Prisoners should have the new Integrity Hotline added to the national permitted PIN phone numbers (4.4).
HMPPS
Safety
Recommendation 5
The Board is concerned that the canteen contract operated by DHL is unsatisfactory (5.1).
HMPPS
Food
Recommendation 6
Repeated
The prison continues to have difficulty in recruiting staff. Staff shortages can have an impact on the regime and thus on the prisoners (5.3).
HMPPS
Staffing
Recommendation 7
Repeated
Prisoners’ property regularly continues to be left behind when they are transferred to Send (5.8).
HMPPS
Complaints
Recommendation 8
The prison is not preventing illegal drugs from entering the establishment. This is having a negative impact on stability and the safety of prisoners (4.3, 4.6).
Governor / Director
Substance Misuse
Recommendation 9
There needs to be better support for prisoners from OMU, with more timely responses to applications (7.3).
Governor / Director
Resettlement
Recommendation 10
Repeated
Regular incorrect roll checks have continued to disrupt the regime (7.1).
Governor / Director
Regime
Recommendation 11
Repeated
Prisoner equality focus groups should be held regularly and actions taken forward more consistently (5.4).
Governor / Director
Equality
Other IMB Reports for Send
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
17 Mar 2025
Unannounced
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.