Source · IMB Annual Report
Preston
Year: 2023
Published: 26 Oct 2023
Type: Prison · Cat B
Population: 670
Recommendations: 6
Key concerns
Positive findings
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.
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 4 | — |
| ACCT cases opened | 580 | — |
Positive findings
The 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
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
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.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
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.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
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.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Time out of cell for those prisoners not in work or education should be increased.
Resettlement/Release
To provide more family engagement in preparation for prisoner’s release.
Staffing
The key worker programme should be increased so as to operate at its designed level.
Recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. Repeated | Other | |
| 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. | Other | |
| 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. Repeated | HMPPS | |
| 4 | Time out of cell for those prisoners not in work or education should be increased. | Governor / Director | |
| 5 | To provide more family engagement in preparation for prisoner’s release. | Governor / Director | |
| 6 | The key worker programme should be increased so as to operate at its designed level. | Governor / Director |
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
7 Mar 2023
HMIP · Unannounced
Safety 3
· Respect 3
· Activity 3
· Release 2
Other reports for Preston
Report details
- Establishment
- Preston
- Type
- Prison · Cat B
- Report year
- 2023
- Published
- 26 October 2023
- Responsible body
- HMP Preston
- Recommendations
- 6
- MoJ rating (2024/25)
- 3 — Good
Population
| Population | 670 |
| Operational capacity | 680 |
| CNA (designed for) | 433 155% |
Service providers
Dental services
NHS England
Employment Hub
Career Connect
Escort contractor
GEOAmey
Healthcare
Spectrum Community Health CIC (Spectrum)
Library Services
Lancashire County Council
Mental health
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
Organisation supporting families of prisoners
Partners of Prisoners (POPS)
Prison education framework provider
NOVUS
Works contractor
Amey