Prison
Cat C
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Ranby
IMB Annual Report 2024 · Published 5 July 2024
HMP Ranby, a Category C training prison, faces persistent challenges including high levels of violence and illicit substance use. The Board noted overcrowding, significant staffing shortages, and a high proportion of inexperienced officers, impacting regime delivery and prisoner services like healthcare applications and escorts. Concerns were also raised about lost property during transfers and the difficulty in moving prisoners with complex mental health needs to external facilities.
Positive Findings
The Board observed that prisoners are generally treated fairly and humanely, with good staff-prisoner relationships, especially noted in the CSU and drug & alcohol rehabilitation unit. Improvements were seen in food quality and the complaints system was reported to be working well after a review. Reception processes were professional and caring, and the chaplaincy and library services were well-run and popular. The Board also noted good cooperation and working relationships with the resettlement team.
Key Concerns
Safety
There was a high number of prisoner-on-prisoner assaults during the reporting year. From its observations, the Board believes that, generally, there is a high level of violence in the prison.
Substance Misuse
Repeated
Illicit substances are still able to get into the prison, despite the extra searches carried out on people coming into the establishment, and the availability of illegal substances remains high. The use of drones to drop illicit items into the grounds and illegal packages thrown over the fence continue to be a problem from time to time.
Estate/Conditions
Bedbugs have been a constant problem this year. They are very difficult to eradicate. The prison is training people to help to deal with this in-house as much as they can, affecting cell availability.
Overcrowding
Repeated
Overcrowding continues to be an issue in the prison, with two people sharing cells designed for one.
Healthcare
Prisoners are complaining about not getting answers to their applications to healthcare due to staff shortages and a vacant deputy matron role, and there are very long waiting times (in excess of 28 days) for the transfer of prisoners to appropriate mental health facilities.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
HMP Ranby, designated a Category C training prison, continues to receive a large number of prisoners with very short sentences, hindering their ability to complete courses and limiting progression and resettlement opportunities.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
The churn of prisoners on short-term sentences continues to increase, leading to issues with resettlement and progression.
Staffing
The proportion of inexperienced staff has continued to increase, and there continues to be a shortage of operational staff, impacting key worker duties, escorts to activities, and overall management of vulnerable prisoners.
Food/Catering
Repeated
The prisoners’ canteen has, on many occasions, not been delivered in accordance with what was ordered, and delays in refunds have an adverse effect on the attitudes and morale of prisoners.
Other
Repeated
Loss of property is one of the biggest issues reported by prisoners, especially during transfers, leading to frustration and anger. Prisoners also have difficulty claiming compensation for lost items.
Complaints/Property
Prisoner complaint forms are not freely available to prisoners in all locations.
Board Commentary
Staffing
HMP Ranby continues to experience a shortage of operational staff, with a high proportion of new and inexperienced officers. The Board observed that many younger staff lack the life skills or empathy needed for vulnerable or manipulative prisoners. Key workers are often redeployed due to shortages, impacting their designated duties. Staffing challenges are exacerbated by long security vetting processes, particularly affecting healthcare and leading to regime restrictions like delayed chapel unlocks.
Healthcare
HMP Ranby provides 24-hour healthcare on-site, including GP, dental, optometry, podiatry, physiotherapy, and pharmacy services, with comprehensive reception screening. However, staffing shortages, prolonged security vetting, and a vacant deputy matron role have led to delays in processing prisoner healthcare applications and a lack of complaint records. Significant concerns persist regarding very long waiting times (over 28 days) for mental health transfers to external facilities, despite the mental health team providing timely internal care.
Regime & Daily Life
Overcrowding remains a persistent issue, with cells designed for one often holding two prisoners. While part-time working and associated pay loss caused initial dissatisfaction, the prison is addressing this by creating 100 new full-time jobs, which prisoners prefer for social reasons and better earnings. Gym facilities operate at full capacity, though staffing levels are below complement. Significant frustration is caused by staff shortages leading to a lack of escorts, impacting prisoners' access to education, the library, and chapel services.
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 | 24 | 12 | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogues | 23 | 27 | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions | 13 | 7 | |
| Equality | 3 | 1 | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 7 | 6 | |
| Food and kitchens | 1 | 2 | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 26 | 12 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection, restrictions | 11 | 14 | |
| Miscellaneous | 0 | 0 | |
| Property during transfer or in another facility | 39 | 0 | |
| Property within the establishment | 25 | 52 | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, time out of cell | 13 | 8 | |
| Sentence management, including HDC (home detention curfew), ROTL (release on temporary licence), parole, release dates, re-categorisation | 33 | 53 | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 4 | 33 | |
| Transfers | 7 | 18 |
Recommendations (13)
Other: 1
HMPPS: 7
Governor / Director: 5
7 repeated
Recommendation 1
Prisoners have been constantly located in the CSU due to their complex and challenging behaviour and mental health issues. Why is it taking so long to transfer these prisoners to an appropriate medical establishment?
Other
(minister)
Mental Health
Recommendation 2
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The prison continues to be overcrowded. What steps will the Prison Service take to reduce the operational capacity of the prison?
HMPPS
Overcrowding
Recommendation 3
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The churn in the prison continues to increase. This has led to issues with resettlement and progression. What will the Prison Service do to address this problem?
HMPPS
Resettlement
Recommendation 4
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
How will the Prison Service reduce the proportion of prisoners with short sentences coming to the prison?
HMPPS
Regime
Recommendation 5
The proportion of inexperienced staff has continued to increase. How does the Prison Service plan to improve the training of inexperienced staff?
HMPPS
Staffing
Recommendation 6
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The level of illegal substances in the prison has remained high. What measures will the Prison Service take to tackle this situation?
HMPPS
Substance Misuse
Recommendation 7
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The prisoners’ canteen has, on many occasions, not been delivered in accordance with what was ordered. The delays in refunds have an adverse effect on the attitudes and morale of prisoners. It is apparent that the delay in many instances is unwarranted and is a cause for concern that can only be dealt with by much better contract management at a higher level.
HMPPS
Food
Response
As a result of this, the prison is working hard with the canteen supplier to rectify the situation.
Recommendation 8
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Loss of property is one of the biggest issues reported by prisoners during the reporting year. Belongings often seem to go missing during transfers from other establishments. There is often a long wait for prisoners to be reunited with their property. When property is finally deemed as lost, it would appear that prisoners are having difficulty in claiming compensation. How does the Prison Service plan to solve this problem?
HMPPS
Property
Recommendation 9
There continues to be a shortage of operational staff in the prison. What further steps will the Governor take to address the problem?
Governor / Director
Staffing
Recommendation 10
There continues to be a high proportion of new staff with limited experience. What further steps will the Governor take to ensure these officers receive further appropriate training to enable them to carry out their duties effectively?
Governor / Director
Staffing
Recommendation 11
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
There continues to be a problem with the availability and use of illegal items in the prison. What further steps can the Governor take to address these problems?
Governor / Director
Substance Misuse
Recommendation 12
What plans does the Governor have to reduce the levels of violence in the prison?
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 13
What will the Governor do to ensure all prisoner complaint forms are freely available to prisoners in all locations?
Governor / Director
Complaints
Other IMB Reports for Ranby
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.