Prison
Cat open, YOI
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Thorn Cross
IMB Annual Report 2024 · Published 15 August 2024
HMP/YOI Thorn Cross, an open prison for Category D and YOI prisoners, reported a safe environment with extremely low violence and self-harm incidents. The Board noted positive staff-prisoner relationships and good healthcare provision. Key challenges include the Government's lack of progress on IPP re-sentencing, staffing shortfalls impacting training and education, and inadequate kitchen facilities. The report highlights the need to develop mental health provision and improve outcomes in education courses.
Positive Findings
The Board found Thorn Cross to be a safe establishment with extremely low violence and use of force levels. Relationships between staff and prisoners are positive, and healthcare provision, including dental services and drug and alcohol support, is good. The employment hub and vocational training provide excellent rehabilitation opportunities, supported by strong family ties and effective resettlement planning. The chaplaincy is welcoming, and the library is well-stocked and used.
Key Concerns
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
To look again at the re-sentencing of IPP prisoners
Estate/Conditions
To develop more robust ways of monitoring building projects.
Safety
To ensure that body worn video cameras, with pre-record function, are used in every instance where force is used and that the footage continues to be reviewed as part of ongoing training.
Staffing
To reduce the number of staff who are overdue control and restraint training.
Substance Misuse
To monitor any benefits to the men and the prison from the introduction of the ISFL unit.
Food/Catering
Repeated
To provide better facilities for those men who wish to cook their own meals and allow men to use the kitchen facilities on unit 8.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
To improve the completion of adjudication records, especially where the sanction given falls outside those recommended.
Estate/Conditions
To establish a planned programme of decoration for residential units.
Equality/Diversity
To interrogate the data collected by the equalities action team more thoroughly and use it to inform future planning.
Healthcare
To continue to reduce the number of men who do not turn up for their healthcare appointments.
Mental Health
To develop mental health provision.
Education/Purposeful Activity
To improve outcomes for those following English and mathematics courses.
Resettlement/Release
To develop more opportunities for men working in the community to work in construction /painting and decorating.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staffing shortages impact service delivery in areas such as control and restraint training and education, with approximately one-third of staff overdue C&R training. The Offender Management Unit is understaffed, though caseloads are currently managed effectively, and plans are in place to increase staffing. Healthcare also relies on agency staff due to recruitment struggles.
Healthcare
Healthcare provision is generally good, with a seamless transition to a new provider, Practice Plus Group, for most services, while mental health remains with GMMH. Challenges include reduced GP sessions, a low mental health caseload that doesn't reflect prisoner needs, and persistently high DNA rates for appointments. Evening and weekend mental health provision are under negotiation to improve access.
Regime & Daily Life
The daily regime supports purposeful activity, with attractive grounds for outdoor exercise and a popular, well-utilised gym offering varied activities. However, accommodation units lack a planned decoration programme, making some look tired. Food quality varies due to an undersized kitchen and broken equipment, and there are insufficient opportunities for prisoners to cook their own meals, hindering rehabilitation.
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 | 2 | 1 | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogues | 0 | 1 | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions | 0 | 1 | |
| Equality | 0 | 0 | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 2 | 2 | — |
| Food and kitchens | 1 | 0 | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 4 | 1 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection, restrictions | 5 | 1 | |
| Miscellaneous | 0 | 0 | |
| Property during transfer or in another facility | 2 | 3 | |
| Property within the establishment | 0 | 0 | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, time out of cell | 0 | 1 | |
| Sentence management, including HDC (home detention curfew), ROTL (release on temporary licence), parole, release dates, re-categorisation | 18 | 9 | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 1 | 1 | — |
| Transfers | 0 | 3 |
Recommendations (24)
Other: 2
HMPPS: 4
Governor / Director: 18
6 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
To look again at the re-sentencing of IPP prisoners
Other
(minister)
Resettlement
Response
The Government’s view is not to accept the recommendations of the Justice Select Committee, which recommended this. An Action Plan has been put in place, which should enable IPP prisoners to move towards release more quickly.
Recommendation 2
To develop more robust ways of monitoring building projects.
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 3
Repeated
Prev. addressed
To ensure that body worn video cameras, with pre-record function, are used in every instance where force is used and that the footage continues to be reviewed as part of ongoing training.
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 4
To reduce the number of staff who are overdue control and restraint training.
Governor / Director
Staffing
Recommendation 5
To monitor any benefits to the men and the prison from the introduction of the ISFL unit.
Governor / Director
Substance Misuse
Recommendation 6
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
To provide better facilities for those men who wish to cook their own meals and allow men to use the kitchen facilities on unit 8.
Governor / Director
Food
Response
A review has been completed but not yet implemented.
Recommendation 7
Repeated
To improve the completion of adjudication records, especially where the sanction given falls outside those recommended.
Governor / Director
Regime
Response
The new Deputy Governor is reviewing tariffs and has identified areas for improvement. These will be shared with Governors who carry out adjudications.
Recommendation 8
To establish a planned programme of decoration for residential units.
Governor / Director
Estate
Recommendation 9
Repeated
Prev. addressed
To interrogate the data collected by the equalities action team more thoroughly and use it to inform future planning.
Governor / Director
Equality
Recommendation 10
To continue to reduce the number of men who do not turn up for their healthcare appointments.
Governor / Director
Healthcare
Recommendation 11
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
To develop mental health provision.
Governor / Director
Mental Health
Recommendation 12
To improve outcomes for those following English and mathematics courses.
Governor / Director
Education
Recommendation 13
To develop more opportunities for men working in the community to work in construction /painting and decorating.
Governor / Director
Resettlement
Recommendation 14
Prev. addressed
To return the transfer of prisoners with life sentences and IPP prisoners to previous levels, when over 90% of parole board recommendations were accepted as opposed to the 11% at the end of the reporting year.
Other
(minister)
Resettlement
Response
Criteria for assessment of IPP prisoners and those with life sentences changed in July 2023. There has been an increase in the number of IPP prisoners and over 80% of parole board recommendations are now being accepted.
Recommendation 15
Prev. addressed
To resolve the continuing issues with the transfer of property so that less of it goes missing; and, when it does, to ensure that there is a swift remedy.
HMPPS
Other
Response
The Prisoners’ Property Policy Framework should ensure property is handled correctly. Men are transferred with a maximum three bags of property and all other property is then sent at the earliest opportunity. There has been a marked decrease in complaints about property.
Recommendation 16
Prev. unaddressed
To provide limited internet access for men studying at university and college.
HMPPS
Education
Response
Restricted internet access is available that covers around 70% of the internet. Investment in additional education programmes is being considered. Further work is planned to improve internet access, but at present access remains the same and is a barrier to those men following university courses.
Recommendation 17
Prev. unaddressed
To provide mobile phone access for remote visits for those who would benefit.
HMPPS
Regime
Response
Mobile phone access/visits can be requested. This has not been provided. Some men have access to mobile phones when working in the community.
Recommendation 18
Prev. addressed
To review the guidance for the use of handcuffs.
Governor / Director
Safety
Response
The control and restraint co-ordinator will conduct a full review. The use of handcuffs is no longer mandatory when escorting a prisoner to segregation, also knowns as the care and separation unit, or CSU, and is replaced by a dynamic risk assessment.
Recommendation 19
To reconsider the current proposals for central food/dining.
Governor / Director
Food
Response
A full review of all food/dining options is to be done by the projects manager. Central dining is considered part of the proposal to increase the operational capacity. A new kitchen is to be provided as part of the increase in the number of prisoners, but the plans are not yet complete.
Recommendation 20
Prev. addressed
To make the Prison council a more effective means of consultation and communication.
Governor / Director
Regime
Response
A prisoner is employed to take minutes and create an action plan, which is circulated to managers. This is reviewed monthly by the Deputy Governor. The structure of prisoner consultation meetings has been overhauled, with meetings for different areas of the prison and an overarching meeting. Meetings are to be held regularly and at the same time.
Recommendation 21
To provide the Board with regular and timely evaluation of all aspects of the prison’s performance.
Governor / Director
Other
Response
Performance data will be emailed monthly. This data is now available and reviewed at the monthly performance meeting. However, there should be more robust questioning of what the data shows and what action is needed.
Recommendation 22
Prev. unaddressed
To make mental health provision available in the evenings and at weekends.
Governor / Director
Mental Health
Response
A new delivery model is being developed. Plans are still being developed.
Recommendation 23
To develop a suitable strategy for men transferred under the Temporary Re Categorisation Scheme (TPRS), to monitor its impact on the men and the prison as a whole.
Governor / Director
Regime
Response
Very few men have been transferred under this scheme. Provision for such men has been discussed with the prison council. A strategy will be developed if numbers increase.
Recommendation 24
Prev. addressed
To minimise disruption for the men attending education by reducing their requirement to be elsewhere during core day.
Governor / Director
Education
Response
The aim is to gradually increase the number of men working in the community, ensure all men are allocated a work area and that all are fully occupied. Efficiency in activities remains a performance target, which is monitored on a monthly basis. Men are not expected to attend anywhere else other than their allocated work/education placement. This is now fully monitored.
Other IMB Reports for Thorn Cross
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
2 May 2023
Unannounced
Safety: 4
Respect: 3
Activity: 4
Release: 4
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.