Prison
Cat C
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Coldingley
IMB Annual Report 2024 · Published 3 October 2024
HMP Coldingley, a Category C resettlement and training prison, faced a challenging year marked by significant increases in violence, staff shortages, and poor living conditions for many prisoners. A third of the population continues to lack in-cell sanitation, relying on an unreliable night system, while staffing issues have led to more unplanned lockdowns and a decline in key work and purposeful activity. The Board also highlighted concerns about the rising demand for mental health services, the ineffectiveness of the ISFL wing, and the lack of progress for IPP prisoners.
Positive Findings
The Board noted improved communication from the Governor, including his visibility and use of Wayout TV, and well-attended staff and prisoner meetings. Reception processes and the Listener scheme provide good support for new arrivals and those in distress. Healthcare staff and CSU staff are commended for their compassionate care. Improvements were seen in kitchen PPE compliance and the quality of food provided. The new CCTV on B wing is functioning well, and the Turning Lives Around peer-led initiative is a positive development.
Key Concerns
Safety
Levels of violence have increased. Serious prisoner-on-prisoner assaults rose by fifty percent; staff assaults rose by forty percent; the use of force was up forty-five percent.
Safety
Population pressures weaken the checking of arrivals, leading to more debt and gang-related assaults on the wings, particularly on the induction wing.
Safety
Despite the Governor’s efforts, there is little increase in staff visibility on the landings, making the more vulnerable prisoners open to bullying and debt, and illicit items easier to trade.
Substance Misuse
Easy availability of illicit items could pose a risk to stability and safety.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
A third of prisoners in Coldingley have no in-cell sanitation; it is unacceptable in the UK prison estate in 2024 that men cannot relieve and wash themselves as necessary and even, on one occasion, going without a drink for 26 hours.
Food/Catering
Repeated
The kitchen staff provide a decent standard of food in a working environment largely unfit for purpose; the floors are nearly always wet, poorly drained and unsafe; there are delays in mending old equipment.
Equality/Diversity
There has been an increase in the number of discrimination incident reporting forms (DIRFs) submitted. There is no external independent auditing of DIRFs.
Mental Health
Repeated
Often men on assessment, care in custody and teamwork (ACCT) plans, or with other vulnerabilities are held in segregation in the CSU; despite compassionate staff care, this is not a suitable environment.
Staffing
Repeated
Staff shortages have undermined key work, training and staff and prisoner relationships; by the end of the year a quarter of prisoners in Coldingley had no key worker.
Mental Health
Despite improving staff numbers in the healthcare unit, demand for mental health services is rising, leading to higher caseloads for staff and longer waiting times for prisoners.
Substance Misuse
Repeated
The incentivised substance free living (ISFL) wing is too big and overcrowded. It is unfit for its intended purpose; use of illicit substances is widespread.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Time out of cell has been hit by staff shortages, with three times as many unplanned lockdowns as last year; those with no in-cell sanitation are the worst affected.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Repeated
Until the last quarter less than half the education course capacity was being used. Industries has a shortage of instructors and the long-term attendance decline continues.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
The number of IPP (imprisonment for public protection) prisoners is rising; Government changes to IPP sentences have little benefited those in prison; many feel ‘stuck’, having completed all the required courses and struggle with their mental well-being.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
Minimal movement between category C prisons creates blockages in the system: men cannot transfer to prisons where the courses required for their sentence plans are offered. Rehabilitative family contact suffers.
Board Commentary
Staffing
HMP Coldingley faced significant staffing challenges this year, with high rates of turnover and attrition among uniformed staff, particularly frontline band 3/4 officers. Two-thirds of band 3 officers have less than three years' experience, leading to a less experienced workforce and reduced staff availability. These shortages impacted regime delivery, time out of cell, staff visibility, and the crucial key worker scheme, with a quarter of prisoners lacking a key worker by year-end. Management is attempting to address key work quality and allocation issues.
Healthcare
Despite improved staffing in the healthcare unit, demand for mental health services is increasing, resulting in higher caseloads and longer waiting times for prisoners. A significant concern is the frequent placement of vulnerable men with mental health issues or those on ACCTs in the Care and Separation Unit (CSU), which is deemed unsuitable. Wait times for GP appointments average 5 days, and dental appointments 8 weeks, with mental health transfers averaging 120 days after assessment.
Regime & Daily Life
The regime at Coldingley continues to be impacted by staff shortages, leading to a threefold increase in unplanned lockdowns and reduced time out of cell, particularly affecting prisoners without in-cell sanitation. A third of the population still lacks in-cell sanitation, relying on an antiquated and unreliable night sanitation system that frequently malfunctions, sometimes leaving men without access to toilets or water for extended periods. This contributes to feelings of unsafety, exacerbated by poor CCTV coverage on older landings, which also hinders staff patrols and allows illicit activity. Purposeful activity is also low, with education and industries operating at less than half capacity.
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) | 182 | 132 | |
| Discipline and adjudications | 107 | 94 | |
| Education and purposeful activity | 95 | 97 | |
| Equality and diversity | 44 | 33 | |
| Food and canteen | 153 | 169 | |
| Healthcare | 147 | 154 | |
| Legal | 67 | 61 | |
| Offender management | 63 | 70 | |
| Other | 83 | 91 | |
| Property (internal) | 235 | 181 | |
| Property (on transfer) | 98 | 101 | |
| Safety and vulnerability | 111 | 122 | |
| Staff care and behaviour | 150 | 152 | |
| Visits | 77 | 71 |
Recommendations (11)
Ministry of Justice: 3
HMPPS: 2
Governor / Director: 6
8 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Does the Minister agree that it is unacceptable in 2024 for prisoners to live without in-cell sanitation? The refurbishment in Coldingley will not be completed for at least three years so, for at least two years, some men will continue to rely on an antiquated and unreliable sanitation system. What can be done to ensure these prisoners can relieve and wash themselves with decency in the meantime?
Ministry of Justice
Estate
Recommendation 2
Repeated
What plans and initiatives does the Minister have for the care and management of IPP prisoners? Their number is increasing at Coldingley.
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 3
Repeated
When will it become easier for prisoners to transfer between prisons to complete the courses required as part of their sentence plan, or be closer to their families?
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 4
Repeated
The kitchen in Coldingley has been unfit for purpose for a long time. The prison could house another 90 more prisoners in the next three years. Even if the kitchen was in a good state of repair, it would not meet the current required standards. When will the Prison Service make the necessary changes before this happens?
HMPPS
Food
Recommendation 5
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Does the Prison Service agree that segregated conditions are not appropriate for prisoners who are mentally unwell? What steps are being taken to address this?
HMPPS
Mental Health
Recommendation 6
Does the Governor agree that the large increase in the use of force and the number of assaults are a major and immediate concern? With only about half the staff up to date in the necessary training, what are the training plans?
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 7
Repeated
Does the Governor agree that a higher staff presence on the landings would make these places feel safer? The recent initiatives, including reinstallation of some CCTV, are important, but what further actions can be taken to improve safety on the older landings?
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 8
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Is the Governor concerned about the level of use of illicit substances on the ISFL wing? Does he consider the wing suitable for providing the specialised support for which it was designed? If not, what are his plans?
Governor / Director
Substance Misuse
Recommendation 9
The DIRF system must be seen as fair and independent so prisoners feel confident to use it. Will an external auditor be appointed as soon as possible?
Governor / Director
Equality
Recommendation 10
The threefold increase in unplanned lockdowns is very disappointing. What plans are there to rectify this? How can lockdown record keeping be improved to insure the fair treatment of each wing?
Governor / Director
Regime
Recommendation 11
Repeated
What more can be done to improve the disappointingly low number of men attending education and work?
Governor / Director
Education
Other IMB Reports for Coldingley
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.