IMB Annual Reports

bullet Levels of violence remained high linked to the prevalence of drugs, debt-related violence and gang activity.
bullet Current counter-drone measures are not fit for purpose.
bullet Education courses seem to be geared towards low-ability prisoners.
bullet Limited contact with offender managers due to high case-loads.
bullet Optician waiting times remain unacceptable.
bullet A move to half-day activity has negatively affected outcomes for the establishment.

- Levels of violence remained high in the reporting period, whether this concerned serious prisoner-on-prisoners assaults or, indeed, prisoner assaults on staff.
- There is a lack of meaningful rehabilitation, despite stabilised staffing numbers, a concern repeated from the previous report.
- Turnover of newly enrolled staff and their competency in the role, coupled with a lack of professionalism and inability to lead prisoners, creates significant challenges.
- Communication with some prison staff is difficult, hindering basic information requests from the IMB.
- The interaction between staff and the wider prisoner population, particularly those not complying with the regime, is a concern.
- Deerbolt lacks suitable facilities to deal with many prisoners with complex needs.
- The physical healthcare team has struggled due to an increase in the age profile of prisoners and staffing challenges, leading to numerous complaints and instances of unaddressed threats to healthcare staff.
- Prisoners are often locked up for too long, contributing to mental health issues and drug use.
- The rapid increase in the average age of prisoners without a corresponding change in educational and rehabilitative offerings hinders meaningful progression.
- The prison continues to struggle with short-notice cancellations of classes due to staff shortages or incidents, a concern repeated from the previous report.
- There is a stark deficiency in the ability to allocate senior resident prison officers to each wing, and new staff lack sufficient 'prison craft' experience.
- The IMB was not sent key information about individuals in the segregation unit, use of special accommodation, and incentive scheme status, as details were removed from daily reports.
- Immense frustration exists over the loss of personal possessions during transfers, leading to compensation costs and resolution expenses.
- Substance misuse remains an ongoing problem, with multiple 'code blue' medical emergencies due to drug use.
- Furnishings in residential wings are often damaged or old and in poor repair.
- Complaints data is not robust, especially for healthcare, where complaints are known to be made but responses are not forthcoming.
- Maintenance issues plague industrial workshops, including electrical and heating failures, leading to closures and frustrated prisoners.
- The relative remoteness of Deerbolt remains an issue for visitors, particularly those relying on public transport, and the external visitors’ centre is a low priority for maintenance.

- The impact of staff detachment to other prisons, leading to education cancellations and an inability to maintain a full operational regime.
- Persistent issues with drugs, violence, and debt making Deerbolt unsafe for some, exacerbated by regime limitations due to low staffing.
- The ongoing low level of key worker sessions (30%) for the third consecutive year, limiting one-to-one engagement and causing prisoner confusion.
- Significant delays in wing refurbishments and laundry upgrades, impacting staff resources, regime stability, and prisoner property handling, compounded by a lack of funding for new laundry equipment.
- The limited variety of educational opportunities for the increasingly older prison population and frequent short-notice cancellations of classes.
- Difficulties for IPP prisoners in understanding release requirements and the prison's capacity to support their progression, alongside a lack of in-house Kaizen courses.

- There is a lack of purposeful activity, with prisoners locked up for up to 22-23 hours a day.
- Staff shortages at Deerbolt are undeniably to blame for regime restrictions.
- Housing more complex prisoners with longer sentences and those up to age 29, with facilities tailored for 18-21 year olds, makes it difficult to meet diverse prisoner needs.
- Some prisoners feel under threat due to debts or inter-gang rivalries.
- The infrequent level of key worker sessions and low number of wellbeing checks remain a concern.
- There are difficulties in organising transfers for complex needs prisoners to more suitable establishments, compounded by population pressures and a lack of mental health beds.
- The education service focuses on quantity over quality, raising concerns about its rehabilitative impact.
- The refurbishment of A, D, and F wings has been delayed, costs increased, and all three wings closed simultaneously.
- I wing had only three working showers out of ten, with poor screening, although most were repaired.
- J wing has up to 16 cells out of use, including the only wheelchair accessible cell, mainly due to water leaks and poor maintenance.
- Most laundry equipment is old, and breakdowns are difficult to repair.
- Prisoners have raised concerns about the quality and portion size of food, often supplementing meals with canteen orders.
- Issues with catering orders continue, leading to late menu changes.
- The new incentives scheme's three-month good behaviour period for enhanced status is a challenge for some prisoners.
- There is an absence of complaint forms and IMB application forms on the wings.
- Personal possessions do not always arrive with prisoners transferred from other establishments.
- High vacancy rates due to long-term sickness in Humankind's DART team hinder group work sessions for drug and alcohol recovery.
- Education provision is frequently cancelled due to staffing or accommodation issues.
- Access to education and vocational training is limited, especially for prisoners aged 25+, with options unchanged despite the age range increase.
- Vocational training equipment is underutilised due to lack of servicing/repair.
- There is a persistent lack of dialogue between case managers and prison officers regarding prisoner sentence plans.
- Accredited programmes are limited, with a long waiting list for Kaizen, and prisoners struggle to discuss this with POMs.
- The 10-minute limit on telephone calls is a concern, particularly for those with children.
- A large portion of IMB applications are requests for transfers closer to home.
- More support for the management team is needed, including reviewing staff pay to be more competitive and improve retention.

- Persistent staff shortages continue to impact purposeful activity and regime progression.
- Lack of purposeful activity and severely curtailed time out of cell, with many prisoners locked up for 22-23 hours a day.
- Ineffective key worker sessions and inadequate recording of prisoner wellbeing checks.
- Delays and difficulties in securing transfers for prisoners with complex needs, including Mental Health Act transfers, and those needing moves for their safety.
- Increasing gang culture within the prison, leading to threats and prisoners feeling pressured to join for safety.
- Concerns over the effectiveness and quality of education provision, particularly basic skills, and slow development of in-cell learning.

- The loss of most rehabilitative interventions during lockdown and the need for planning to devise regimes and activities that both capture the benefits of lockdown (e.g., reduced violence) and restore targeted reoffending reduction activities.
- The lack of effort to develop remote learning systems and materials, given the extended suspension of classroom and one-to-one educational interaction.
- The need to develop video-link technology for regular use in future for visits and funerals, to build on its demonstrated benefits during lockdown.
- The absence of arrangements to identify gang issues immediately after sentencing to facilitate prisoner dispersion and avoid gang culture impacts on prisons like Deerbolt.
- The need for a national system for transferring vulnerable prisoners at risk due to gang issues or reputation, rather than relying on individual prison 'trades'.
- The repeated request for a larger room for Rule 45 and Rule 49 segregation reviews to ensure safe social distancing for all attendees.