HM Prison and Probation Service
AI-generated response summary
HMP Garth has reissued a Governor's Order reminding staff of mandatory instructions regarding prisoner wellbeing and blocked observation panels. They have also begun introducing daily knowledge check sessions for staff on ACCT processes and welfare checks, with plans to record attendance and implement an email acknowledgement function for staff notices.
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Dear Mr Long, Thank you for your Regulation 28 report of 29 June 2026 following the inquest into the death of Mr Johnpaul Digweed at HMP Garth on 13 April 2024. I am responding on behalf of His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) as the Interim Director General Prisons. I know that you will share a copy of this response with Mr Digweed’s family, and I would first like to express my condolences for their loss. Every death in custody is a tragedy and the safety of those in our care is my absolute priority. You have expressed concerns regarding the provision of Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) refresher training, and the assurance of notices to staff being read and understood including on welfare checks. As you are aware, whilst ACCT refresher training is not a mandatory requirement, all staff receive initial ACCT training as part of their induction package. I have received assurance from the Governor at HMP Garth that action is being taken to strengthen local arrangements to reinforce and assess staff knowledge of ACCT processes. The prison have begun introducing daily knowledge check sessions for both operational and non-operational staff, and additional staffing resources are being secured to support the delivery of this initiative. Attendance and completion of the knowledge check sessions will be required and formally recorded, with staff providing written confirmation they have attended a session, and that the content is understood. A training log will be maintained by the prison’s Learning and Capabilities Team to monitor attendance and completion rates.
[Page 2] These sessions will provide ongoing practical guidance on identifying and managing prisoners at risk, reinforcing key ACCT principles and processes as well as conducting welfare checks and action to be taken should a blocked observation panel be observed. Should any knowledge gaps be identified, targeted support and additional training if appropriate, will be provided to individual staff members. Furthermore, to reinforce local guidance a Governor’s Order has been reissued reminding staff of the mandatory instructions in place in line with PSI 75/2011, and the requirement to ensure the wellbeing of prisoners and action to be taken should a blocked observation panel be discovered. To ensure that staff notices are accessible to all operational staff, hard copies of current notices will be made available on each residential wing so they can be referenced by staff at all times and used by managers and supervising officers during staff briefings. In addition, all emails containing staff notices will include an acknowledgement function requiring recipients to confirm they have read and understood the content of the notice. This acknowledgement will be used to create a database to record which members of staff have responded, and aid the identification of those who have not thus enabling appropriate follow-up action where necessary. I hope the measures outlined above provide you with reassurance that learning and appropriate action has been taken from the circumstances of Mr Digweed’s death.
[Page 2] These sessions will provide ongoing practical guidance on identifying and managing prisoners at risk, reinforcing key ACCT principles and processes as well as conducting welfare checks and action to be taken should a blocked observation panel be observed. Should any knowledge gaps be identified, targeted support and additional training if appropriate, will be provided to individual staff members. Furthermore, to reinforce local guidance a Governor’s Order has been reissued reminding staff of the mandatory instructions in place in line with PSI 75/2011, and the requirement to ensure the wellbeing of prisoners and action to be taken should a blocked observation panel be discovered. To ensure that staff notices are accessible to all operational staff, hard copies of current notices will be made available on each residential wing so they can be referenced by staff at all times and used by managers and supervising officers during staff briefings. In addition, all emails containing staff notices will include an acknowledgement function requiring recipients to confirm they have read and understood the content of the notice. This acknowledgement will be used to create a database to record which members of staff have responded, and aid the identification of those who have not thus enabling appropriate follow-up action where necessary. I hope the measures outlined above provide you with reassurance that learning and appropriate action has been taken from the circumstances of Mr Digweed’s death.