Prison
Cat Category B, Local, YOI
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Preston
IMB Annual Report 2024 · Published 12 September 2024
HMP/YOI Preston is a Category B local prison for men, with an average population of 670 and an operational capacity of 680. The prison recorded four deaths in custody and opened 736 ACCT cases, reflecting high self-harm rates, while violence remained an issue. Positive developments include increased time out of cell and a fully operational key worker scheme. However, key concerns include the poor state of the Victorian estate, inadequate kitchen maintenance, and gaps in resettlement support from external agencies, especially for remand prisoners.
Positive Findings
The IMB commends staff in reception and the safer custody team for their efficiency and cooperation, noting that ACCT procedures are well-implemented and taken seriously. The incentivised substance-free living regime on F wing and new laundry arrangements are highlighted as excellent initiatives significantly improving decency for prisoners. The healthcare unit and employment hub are well-managed, and the OMU is now fully staffed. The Board also acknowledges the professionalism of many prison officers and the positive impact of the new activities lead.
Key Concerns
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The national contract for kitchen maintenance is not well delivered at HMP/YOI Preston. The main issue is faulty equipment: the repair of crucial equipment is constantly delayed for weeks, and the subsequent costly hiring of temporary replacement equipment eats into the prison budget.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
There are serious problems with the fabric of this Victorian prison. The reception area and the gate house are not fit for purpose and the offender management’s unit’s (OMU) prefabricated structure was condemned 15 years ago.
Resettlement/Release
The policy whereby the NHS Reconnect service rejects some prisoners as not being suitable for their support on release is a gap in provision, which potentially results in early reoffending.
Staffing
The professionalism displayed by many prison officers in their interaction with prisoners is commendable. There are a small minority who treat prisoners in a disrespectful way, and this can be very damaging to prison and prisoner relationships.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Ongoing delays with PINs’ (personal identification numbers that prisoners use when they want to make phone calls) applications is causing prisoners and wing staff continual frustration and needs to be addressed.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
Prisoner property continued to be a major source of concern for prisoners, as evidenced in the number of IMB applications (prisoners’ written representations) we received. Whilst there were improvements, the handling of prisoners’ property should continue to be an important focus for the prison. More effective management of the cell-clearance process has the potential to considerably reduce instances of loss and, therefore, the number of complaints.
Staffing
The OMU has one senior probation officer (SPO). Other prisons typically have two SPOs to undertake these roles. We feel this issue should be a consideration in future planning.
Mental Health
During the reporting year, the post-holder [mental health nurse assigned to the CSU] left and was not replaced, which seems a retrograde step.
Safety
The prevalence of debt and its implications for bullying and good order remains a concern for the Board. Prisoners are often placed in difficult positions as early as the first night centre, where limited funds make them vulnerable to ‘helpful’ approaches from other prisoners.
Complaints/Property
The main issue with the complaints’ system is the lack of acknowledgement of the receipt of a complaint. The prisoners are supposed to receive an acknowledgement as soon as the complaint is logged on to the system. This has not been happening.
Resettlement/Release
There is some concern that remand prisoners, who account for the 80% of the population, do not always have this level of support and guidance [from POMs].
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
it is acknowledged that family support is a vital positive factor for a prisoner’s release, but there appears to be a need for more family engagement by the OMU.
Board Commentary
Staffing
HMP/YOI Preston has been able to recruit above target establishment levels, though staffing numbers have fluctuated, with new recruits sometimes cross-deployed awaiting training. The key worker programme is now fully operational, and the number of probation officers has returned to full capacity, though the OMU still relies heavily on Band 4 prison officers. A concern was noted regarding the OMU having only one Senior Probation Officer compared to two in other prisons.
Healthcare
The healthcare contract is transitioning to Practice Plus Group, with most staff retained and the department currently well-managed. Urgent care needs are met promptly, and there is a GP presence five days a week with no concerns about waiting times. The fully staffed mental health team provides a seven-day service, and no prisoners waited excessively for mental health transfers. However, concerns persist regarding the NHS Reconnect service rejecting some prisoners on release and difficulties handing over care to community mental health teams for homeless individuals.
Regime & Daily Life
Significant efforts have been made to increase time out of cell, with a new activities lead contributing to this success, resulting in an impressive 505 daily activity places. An incentivised substance-free living regime on F wing offers improved facilities for those committing to drug-free lives. While work and education attendance averages over 60%, the high turnover of prisoners impacts issues like debt, which affects prison good order.
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 | 17 | 12 | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogues | 5 | 5 | — |
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions | 6 | 3 | |
| Equality | 3 | 4 | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 11 | 12 | |
| Food and kitchens | 21 | 9 | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 44 | 30 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection, restrictions | 40 | 38 | |
| Miscellaneous | 47 | 37 | |
| Property during transfer or in another facility | 46 | 4 | |
| Property within the establishment | 7 | 22 | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, time out of cell | 13 | 15 | |
| Sentence management, including HDC (home detention curfew), ROTL (release on temporary licence), parole, release dates, re-categorisation | 15 | 17 | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 22 | 21 | |
| Transfers | 7 | 7 | — |
Recommendations (9)
Ministry of Justice: 2
NHS / Healthcare Provider: 1
HMPPS: 1
Governor / Director: 5
4 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The national contract for kitchen maintenance is not well delivered at HMP/YOI Preston. The main issue is faulty equipment: the repair of crucial equipment is constantly delayed for weeks, and the subsequent costly hiring of temporary replacement equipment eats into the prison budget. What does the Minister plan to do about this?
Ministry of Justice
Estate
Recommendation 2
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
There are serious problems with the fabric of this Victorian prison. The reception area and the gate house are not fit for purpose and the offender management’s unit’s (OMU) prefabricated structure was condemned 15 years ago. How will the Minister address this problem?
Ministry of Justice
Estate
Recommendation 3
The policy whereby the NHS Reconnect service rejects some prisoners as not being suitable for their support on release is a gap in provision, which potentially results in early reoffending. What steps will the Minister take to rectify this issue?
NHS / Healthcare Provider
Resettlement
Recommendation 4
The Board recommends reviewing the refresher training and mentoring with regard to pro-social modelling, de-escalation and neurodiversity awareness.
HMPPS
Staffing
Recommendation 5
Ongoing delays with PINs’ (personal identification numbers that prisoners use when they want to make phone calls) applications is causing prisoners and wing staff continual frustration and needs to be addressed.
Governor / Director
Regime
Recommendation 6
Repeated
Prisoner property continued to be a major source of concern for prisoners, as evidenced in the number of IMB applications (prisoners’ written representations) we received. Whilst there were improvements, the handling of prisoners’ property should continue to be an important focus for the prison. More effective management of the cell-clearance process has the potential to considerably reduce instances of loss and, therefore, the number of complaints.
Governor / Director
Regime
Recommendation 7
The OMU has one senior probation officer (SPO). Other prisons typically have two SPOs to undertake these roles. We feel this issue should be a consideration in future planning.
Governor / Director
Staffing
Recommendation 8
An increase in the accommodation allocated to this project [F wing initiative (incentivised substance free living)] has the potential to increase the number prisoners that could benefit.
Governor / Director
Substance Misuse
Recommendation 9
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
There appears to be a need for more family engagement by the OMU.
Governor / Director
Resettlement