Prison
Cat B, C, YOI, local
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Winchester
IMB Annual Report 2024 · Published 26 September 2024
HMP/YOI Winchester has shown progress in certain areas, particularly in leadership and reducing complaints, but continues to face significant challenges. Overcrowding and dilapidated infrastructure, coupled with severe staff shortages in healthcare and increased prisoner churn from early release schemes, exacerbate safety concerns, including a sharp rise in self-harm and assaults. The prison struggles to provide adequate purposeful activity and timely mental health transfers, impacting overall prisoner welfare and rehabilitation.
Positive Findings
The Board commends HMP/YOI Winchester for its overall progress and leadership in improving conditions. Positive developments include reduced complaints, improved property handling, and expanded family services by Spurgeons. The chaplaincy and volunteer programs are delivering outstanding support, and kitchen staff are praised for successfully serving 2,100 meals daily. The prison has also seen an increase in library visits and effective initiatives like the pop-up library and dedicated book week.
Key Concerns
Overcrowding
Repeated
Overcrowding is a constant problem. HMP/YOI Winchester’s cells were designed for single occupancy, but they now house two occupants. With beds, basin, toilet, cupboard and only one chair, conditions are cramped, resulting in challenging living conditions. Parts of the prison accommodation, in particular on the main wings, continue to be a concern to the Board, as there are clear signs of dilapidation. This includes leaking roofs and ceilings, erratic heating and water systems, rat infestation and degraded brickwork.
Resettlement/Release
The number of prisoners arriving and leaving the establishment has increased and this issue is exacerbated by the end of custody supervised licence (ECSL) early release schemes. Men have been released without adequate preparation and are returned to the prison after breaching their licence. ECSL has increased the workload for all staff involved in rehabilitation, resettlement and the offender management unit (OMU). Between January and May 2024, 124 prisoners were released under the end of custody supervised licence (ECSL) scheme. Of these, 32% were raised as risk concerns; 21% breached their licence and were recalled; and 38% were released as homeless because no accommodation could be arranged in the timeframe.
Safety
There were 795 incidents of self-harm, representing an increase of 47% on the last reporting period; 405 prisoners self-harming, representing an increase of 25%; and an increase in the gravity of self-harm of 34% (measured by needing hospital treatment). There were 232 prisoner assaults on staff, an increase of 85% since the last reporting period. Prisoner-on-prisoner assaults have also increased by 35%, with 284 incidents. There were 1,039 occasions during the reporting year when force had to be used to control or restrain prisoners, which was an increase of 43% compared with the previous year.
Staffing
Repeated
Staff levels are now higher than in recent years. However, this has brought its own challenges, with further mentoring and coaching required from the more experienced staff and external resources. High staff turnover has led to the recruitment of younger officers, with a lack of experienced staff on the wings to guide them. Staff shortages continued to be identified as an issue within Practice Plus Group (PPG) In May 2024, the overall staff vacancy rate was running at 46.89%.
Mental Health
Once a mental health patient is assessed for transfer, the mental health team psychiatrist reports that ‘the vast majority’ exceed the 28-day time limit, due to limited availability in specialist facilities. The Board has observed, on at least four separate occasions, the impact of the CSU being used to manage prisoners with significant mental health challenges... CSU staff have reported feeling overwhelmed by the responsibility (they receive little or no specialist training), and elements of the CSU accommodation used to locate vulnerable prisoners were identified by the mental health practitioner as unsafe.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
Only 55% of prisoners have a regular session with a key worker. What can be done to ensure all prisoners can access purposeful activity more quickly with all the benefits purposeful activity brings? Those who do not yet have or refuse the opportunities get around 1.5 hours out of their cell each day.
Healthcare
The Prisons Act requirement for a GP to visit the CSU every 72 hours was not met several times throughout the reporting period. The Board’s monitoring revealed that this included a whole week in September and the entire month of November 2023.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
What can be done to support and reduce the high number of men on remand who are released immediately from court on bail, licence or as time served? These prisoners do not receive any direct support to re-engage in the community and may be at high risk of reoffending.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staffing levels have increased due to successful recruitment, but the influx of new, inexperienced officers requires significant mentoring from experienced staff. High turnover persists, particularly in healthcare where the vacancy rate is nearly 47%, impacting GP cover and timely access to care. Despite these challenges and increased workloads from early release schemes, the dedication of prison staff is commended.
Healthcare
Healthcare provision by Practice Plus Group faces significant challenges due to severe staff shortages, with a 47% vacancy rate impacting GP cover, management, and timely access to care. Waiting lists for GP appointments have lengthened, and the mandatory 72-hour GP visit to the CSU was frequently missed. Despite a drop in healthcare complaints, mental health services struggle with caseloads and delays in transfers to specialist facilities, and are not commissioned to diagnose neurodiversity.
Regime & Daily Life
The daily regime is hampered by overcrowding, leading to cramped cell conditions and boredom for prisoners, exacerbated by a high percentage (38%) lacking purposeful activity. Many prisoners only get around 1.5 hours out of cell daily, falling short of the 4.5-hour target, and key worker sessions are not consistently provided to all. This restricted regime, alongside drug use and inexperience of some officers, contributes to challenging behaviors and an unsafe environment.
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) | 45 | 38 | |
| Activities/Work/Education | 31 | 29 | |
| Healthcare | 70 | 79 | |
| Legal | 12 | 18 | |
| Money | 10 | 12 | |
| Other | 13 | 14 | |
| Property | 48 | 64 | |
| Segregation | 10 | 15 | |
| Staff care | 5 | 7 | |
| Total | 244 | 276 |
Recommendations (7)
Ministry of Justice: 2
HMPPS: 3
Governor / Director: 2
3 repeated
Recommendation 1
When will further resources be provided to prison and probation services to lessen the effect on staff and prisoners of the administration, as well as the lessen the impact of ECSL and any further short-notice capacity management initiatives?
Ministry of Justice
Resourcing, Staffing, Resettlement
Recommendation 2
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
What can be done to support and reduce the high number of men on remand who are released immediately from court on bail, licence or as time served?
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 3
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
When will the much-delayed construction of the new CSU restart?
HMPPS
Estate, Segregation
Recommendation 4
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
When will the funding for the construction of a new emergency control room and modernised CCTV system be approved?
HMPPS
Estate, Safety
Recommendation 5
What can be done to further hold to account Practice Plus Group's activities for the purposes of monitoring delivery of healthcare services under terms of contract and PSO1700?
HMPPS
Healthcare
Recommendation 6
What are the plans to reduce the level of violence in the prison as it appears to be an unsafe environment for both prisoners and staff?
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 7
What can be done to ensure all prisoners can access purposeful activity more quickly with all the benefits purposeful activity brings?
Governor / Director
Regime, Purposeful Activity
Other IMB Reports for Winchester
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
23 Oct 2024
Urgent Notification
7 Oct 2024
Unannounced
Safety: 1
Respect: 1
Activity: 1
Release: 3
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.