Prison
Cat C
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Buckley Hall
IMB Annual Report 2024 · Published 6 November 2024
HMP Buckley Hall, a Category C training prison, has seen improvements in healthcare provision and staff-prisoner relationships. However, the report highlights significant concerns including persistent security weaknesses, frequent regime disruptions due to staff shortages, and the deteriorating state of the prison’s infrastructure. The Board is particularly worried about the high levels of self-harm, inadequate support for IPP prisoners, and the restrictive nature of social video calls.
Positive Findings
The IMB notes improved healthcare provision and the positive impact of the Hive's therapeutic initiatives. Staff maintain excellent relationships with prisoners, particularly through key workers and in the segregation unit. The prison has also seen an increased focus on IPP prisoner releases and support. The transformed visits centre and family contact events are welcomed.
Key Concerns
Safety
Security weaknesses identified by audit and at the prison gate remain a concern.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Frequent regime disruptions and wing lockdowns due to staff shortages impact daily life.
Estate/Conditions
The fabric of the building is in a poor condition and too often the heating and showers are not working.
Safety
Self-harm incidents and ACCTs are at a concerning level.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
IPP prisoners' problems regarding support and release remain unaddressed, alongside a general lack of funding for resettlement.
Resettlement/Release
Restrictive timing of social video calls hinders family contact.
Equality/Diversity
Lack of specific support networks for older prisoners.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Buckley Hall has experienced management changes and faces challenges with staff shortages and the inexperience of newer staff, leading to some regime disruptions. While most staff are professional, occasional confrontational behaviour has been observed. Four specialist key workers provide valuable support for specific prisoner groups. The board notes positive staff-prisoner relationships fostered by events like sports days.
Healthcare
Healthcare provision has improved during 2024, with nurse-led clinics assisting triage. Waiting times are three weeks for a doctor and dentistry, and one to two days for a nurse. The mental health team manages 38 active cases and runs the therapeutic Hive unit. The DARS team has seen 260 referrals, with 169 engaging in support, and is developing digital pre-release support and naloxone training for staff and releasees.
Regime & Daily Life
The regime at Buckley Hall is frequently disrupted by staff shortages, leading to wing lockdowns. The new national regime aims to provide at least one hour out of cell daily, one keywork session weekly, and activity sessions of over two hours. The Governor has reduced out-of-cell time for unemployed men to encourage engagement in work. Evening regimes offer additional time for activities on alternate nights, though the time for men to return from work, eat, and shower before lock-up is tight.
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 | 23 | 36 | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogues | 2 | 4 | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions | 25 | 24 | |
| Equality | 6 | 5 | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 10 | 15 | |
| Food and kitchens | 25 | 6 | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 47 | 53 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection, restrictions | 35 | 42 | |
| Miscellaneous | 29 | 5 | |
| Property during transfer or in another facility | 32 | 31 | |
| Property within the establishment | 43 | 41 | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, time out of cell | 26 | 29 | |
| Sentence management, including HDC, ROTL, parole, release dates, re-categorisation | 41 | 48 | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 8 | 7 | |
| Transfers | 8 | 10 |
Recommendations (5)
Other: 2
HMPPS: 1
Governor / Director: 2
2 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The problems faced by men serving IPPs are still not being addressed. Can the money, which is used to keep them in prison, not be used to provide support, accommodation and employment on release. We have witnessed the upturn in a man’s chances of succeeding once he is released by the extensive work which was carried out here prior to his release. He had never been released, served 16 years over his tariff for a relatively minor offence and has virtually grown up in prison. He is doing well some three months after release and is still being supported in an approved premises. Alongside the early release schemes currently being processed, is consideration being given to early release of men who have served long sentences, completed the courses they were asked to do and have proved themselves to be trustworthy whilst in prison? Many of them having only ever committed a single offence, albeit a very serious one.
Other
(minister)
Resettlement
Response
IPP Release. The number of IPP prisoners being released from Buckley Hall has definitely increased. The level of support for these prisoners has also improved.
Recommendation 2
The general lack of funding of HMPPS has led to a huge failing in preparing prisoners for release and their continued progress in society, which has far too often seen men returning to custody.
Other
(minister)
Resettlement
Recommendation 3
The contracts given to outside agencies, such as the maintenance contract given to AMEY, often do not provide the level of service which anyone would find acceptable. They are slow to progress, expensive, often do not cover the required repairs and the quality of the work is not always good. Is it not possible to look more closely at what is being paid for and what is actually being provided?
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 4
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Last year, it was proposed to introduce a handyman scheme, allowing some of the men to undertake minor repairs around the prison. It is noted that the men are now employed in painting on the wings, but has the scheme been abandoned?
Governor / Director
Regime
Recommendation 5
Concerns have been raised about the restrictive timing of the social video calls, which impact on a family’s ability to utilise them.
Governor / Director
Resettlement
Other IMB Reports for Buckley Hall
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
12 Feb 2024
Unannounced
Safety: 3
Respect: 3
Activity: 2
Release: 4
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.