Source · IMB Annual Report
Buckley Hall
Year: 2023
Published: 6 Dec 2023
Type: Prison · Cat C
Population: 465
Recommendations: 7
Key concerns
Positive findings
HMP Buckley Hall, a Category C prison, reported a population of 465 against an operational capacity of 469 for the year ending July 2023. The Board observed positive staff-prisoner relationships, new mental health initiatives like 'The Hive', and an employment hub aiding resettlement. Key concerns included low establishment stability, delays in prison maintenance and transfers, the negative impact of the IPP resentencing decision, and persistent regime disruptions due to staffing shortages and roll call errors.
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 1 | — |
Positive findings
The Board observed staff treating prisoners well and building good working relationships. Use of force incidents are professionally carried out and scrutinised. The morning briefings are positively reviewed and observed by other establishments. A new neurodiversity service and a new psychologist have been introduced, and the mental health 'Hive' provides opportunities for learning and socialising. An employment hub has opened to assist with resettlement, and the prison visitors scheme has improved uptake significantly. The drug strategy has also improved with more prisoners engaging with DARS.
Key concerns
Safety
The stability at Buckley Hall is low throughout the establishment.
Safety
CCTV has still not been installed within the healthcare building, resulting in additional staff being allocated to manage the risk during the dispensing of medication.
Mental Health
The decision to reject the resentencing recommendation for IPP prisoners has had a very negative impact, especially on those men who have never been released.
Resettlement/Release
There is a long wait for recategorisation and signing off by the minister to enable those who are ready to progress to a category D prison.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
There is a great inconsistency across the prison estate for prisoners as to what they can and cannot have as property items and the quantity they can store/transfer.
Overcrowding
An increase in new prisoners arriving to Buckley Hall, who would not normally be placed there, is causing disruption.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
There has been very slow progress in both the maintenance of the prison, in particular the installation of new showers and repairs, as well as the delay in transfers taking place promptly as a result of the overcrowding within the prison population.
Healthcare
Issues with medication dosages being reduced too often, with changes not thoroughly explained to the patient.
Mental Health
Prisoners with severe mental health issues are kept in the segregation unit for far longer than they should be as places at secure hospitals are difficult to secure.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Roll call is too often wrong and needs recounting, leading to a stand fast which disrupts gym sessions, health appointments, and work.
Staffing
Wings are regularly locked down on rotation because of staffing levels and staff training.
Healthcare
There is a long waiting list for physiotherapy, as there was no service available for some time.
Safety
Concerns were raised about an elderly, stooped prisoner who needed a walking stick being handcuffed to an officer for a hospital visit.
Resettlement/Release
Parole board recommendations appear to be not implemented promptly if at all, with only 3 out of 9 recommended transfers granted as of July 2023.
Recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | When are these men (IPP) going to be allowed the opportunity to prove that they do not pose a risk to the public and what support will be put in place to assist their reintegration into society? | Ministry of Justice | |
| 2 | Is there a plan to improve the recategorisation and signing off by the minister to enable those who are ready to progress to a category D prison? | Ministry of Justice | |
| 3 | Are there any intentions of streamlining property policies and introducing a standard policy applicable to all prisons, given the significant issues during transfers due to inconsistency? | HMPPS | |
| 4 | When will CCTV be installed in Healthcare? | Governor / Director | |
| 5 | What measures are being implemented to review any poor performance with the Amey contract? | Governor / Director | |
| 6 | When will the handyman scheme be rolled out? | Governor / Director | |
| 7 | The Board would recommend that the existing configuration of chairs for prisoners and visitors is maintained. | Governor / Director |
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation, including laundry, clothing, ablutions | 36 | 35 |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogues | 4 | 2 |
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions | 24 | 24 |
| Equality | 5 | 6 |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 15 | 11 |
| Food and kitchens | 6 | 5 |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 53 | 32 |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection, restrictions | 42 | 38 |
| Miscellaneous | 5 | 0 |
| Property during transfer or in another facility | 31 | 52 |
| Property within the establishment | 41 | 50 |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, time out of cell | 29 | 21 |
| Sentence management, including HDC, ROTL, parole, release dates, re-categorisation | 48 | 77 |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 7 | 7 |
| Transfers | 10 | 7 |
Related inspections & investigations
12 Feb 2024
HMIP · Unannounced
Safety 3
· Respect 3
· Activity 2
· Release 4
Other reports for Buckley Hall
Report details
- Establishment
- Buckley Hall
- Type
- Prison · Cat C
- Report year
- 2023
- Published
- 6 December 2023
- Responsible body
- HMP Buckley Hall
- Recommendations
- 7
- MoJ rating (2024/25)
- 3 — Good
Population
| Population | 465 |
| Operational capacity | 469 |
| CNA (designed for) | 455 102% |
Service providers
Catering / Training
The Clink
Maintenance
Amey