Recommendation 1
The inadequacies of reception remain a concern. The purchase of the adjacent museum remains the only viable option to remedy to this situation, and to relocate the Offender Management Unit from its dilapidated temporary building.
Source · IMB Annual Report
Preston
AI-generated report summary HMP Preston, a Category B reception prison, continues to face challenges common to Victorian establishments, including chronic overcrowding (670 population vs. 433 CNA). Staffing levels are effectively low due to sickness and training, impacting key worker provision and regime. While some areas like self-harm incidents have reduced and in-cell phones installed, significant concerns remain regarding reception facilities, prisoner property management, and adequate budget for essential equipment. The Board made several recommendations to address these and other issues related to regime, family engagement, and staffing.
Year: 2023
Published: 26 Oct 2023
Type: Prison · Cat B
Population: 670
Recommendations: 6
Key concerns
Positive findings
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 4 | — |
| ACCT cases opened | 580 | — |
Positive findings
AI-generated summaryThe Board welcomes that self-harm incidents were the lowest in the past four years. Improvements to showers have continued, and mental health care is available seven days a week. The completion of in-cell telephone installation has reduced conflict and violent incidents. A new personal laundry system is being implemented. Healthcare provision generally meets community timescales, and the in-house mental health team is fully staffed. Education courses received a 96% satisfaction rating, and the Employment Hub and Support Hub for releasees are well-regarded and actively supported by external partners.
Key concerns
The inadequacies of reception remain a concern. The purchase of the adjacent museum remains the only viable option to remedy to this situation, and to relocate the Offender Management Unit from its dilapidated temporary building.
The property of prisoners is not always treated with the respect it deserves. Those prisoners who move about the prison estate do not necessarily have their property moved with them the same day. This leaves to prisoner’s distress, and loss of property. More investment is needed particularly in the transport facilities.
To adjust the prisons’ budget, so that minor capital items could be purchased during the year to ensure that more money is not spent on hiring essential items than the cost of purchasing them.
Time out of cell for those prisoners not in work or education should be increased.
To provide more family engagement in preparation for prisoner’s release.
The key worker programme should be increased so as to operate at its designed level.
Recommendations
Recommendation 2
The property of prisoners is not always treated with the respect it deserves. Those prisoners who move about the prison estate do not necessarily have their property moved with them the same day. This leaves to prisoner’s distress, and loss of property. More investment is needed particularly in the transport facilities.
Recommendation 3
To adjust the prisons’ budget, so that minor capital items could be purchased during the year to ensure that more money is not spent on hiring essential items than the cost of purchasing them.
Recommendation 4
Time out of cell for those prisoners not in work or education should be increased.
Recommendation 5
To provide more family engagement in preparation for prisoner’s release.
Recommendation 6
The key worker programme should be increased so as to operate at its designed level.
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation, including laundry, clothing, ablutions | 12 | 9 |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogues | 5 | 5 |
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions | 3 | 3 |
| Equality | 4 | 1 |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 12 | 9 |
| Food and kitchens | 9 | 0 |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 30 | 17 |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection, restrictions | 38 | 19 |
| Miscellaneous | 37 | 27 |
| Property during transfer or in another facility | 4 | 5 |
| Property within the establishment | 22 | 13 |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, time out of cell | 15 | 4 |
| Sentence management, including HDC, ROTL, parole, release dates, re-categorisation | 17 | 9 |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 21 | 17 |
| Transfers | 7 | 1 |
Related inspections & investigations
Safety 3
· Respect 3
· Activity 3
· Release 2
David Harrison · Natural causes
William Rogers · Natural causes
Paul Dixon · Natural causes
Thomas Moffett · State Custody related deaths
Christopher Talbot · State Custody related deaths
Other reports for Preston
Population 670
· Concerns
Population 670
· Concerns
Population 670
· Concerns
Population 675
· Concerns
Population 700
· Concerns