Source · IMB Annual Report
Peterborough (men)
Year: 2023
Published: 20 Oct 2023
Type: Prison · Cat B, local, reception/resettlement, YOI
Recommendations: 5
Key concerns
Positive findings
HMP/YOI Peterborough (Men) is generally well-led with a disciplined and fair regime and positive staff-prisoner relationships. However, the Board is extremely concerned about the inhumane treatment of prisoners with severe mental illness who are inappropriately held in prison. Other key issues include a near doubling of prisoner-on-prisoner fights, poorly integrated healthcare services, and challenges with key worker engagement and post-release accommodation.
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 11 | — |
| Self-harm incidents | 420 | 452 |
| Prisoner assaults | 166 | 175 |
| Assaults on staff | 82 | 77 |
| Use of force | 440 | 460 |
Positive findings
The Board found HMP Peterborough to be generally well led and managed, with a disciplined, structured, and fair regime where prisoners are treated with respect, care, and compassion. There was a maintained focus on safety, with improved multi-disciplinary working, and a decrease in self-harm incidents for the third consecutive year. Accommodation and facilities are generally good, segregation is well managed, and staff-prisoner relationships are positive. Education attendance has increased, and SEND provision is well embedded, with a good focus on maintaining family links and resettling prisoners into accommodation.
Key concerns
Mental Health
The Board is very concerned at the number of prisoners showing extreme symptoms of mental illness who are sent to HMP Peterborough, for whom treatment would be considerably more humane if they were diverted under the Mental Health Act. The suffering the Board witnesses is inhumane.
Safety
Prisoner on prisoner fights have nearly doubled in the last year, despite violence generally being well controlled.
Healthcare
Healthcare services, delivered via several different contracts, are often poorly integrated, leading to communication issues, misunderstandings about services, and delays in essential medication for new arrivals and hospital referrals.
Staffing
The key worker allocation and contact has been less than expected since the resumption of a normal regime, with insufficient time allocated to staff for tasks and many prisoners remaining unaware of the system's benefits.
Substance Misuse
Psychoactive drugs, such as spice, are prevalent despite measures implemented to control drug entry, with a continued problem via throw overs, passes during visits, and counterfeit legal mail.
Resettlement/Release
Securing ample post-release accommodation remains a significant challenge, with observed discrepancies between local data and probation records.
Equality/Diversity
There are insufficient disability-adapted cells or equipment, and resources are stretched due to an increase in elderly and disabled male prisoners, with examples like a bariatric prisoner housed in healthcare without a suitable hoist.
Recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Can the Minister continue to focus on reducing the time some men are held on remand?
Repeated
Response
Various measures taken to increase Court capacity and ensure priority given to appropriate cases. Outstanding Crown Court caseload reduced to 57,900 at March 2022. (Note: Progress in current year report states caseload increased again to 62,235 at March 2023 and median completion time increased by 8%.) |
Other | |
| 2 |
What steps is the Service taking to ensure that the Probation Service is adequately staffed, especially in respect of Community Offender Managers?
Repeated
Response
Providers of Accommodation services contracted. Development of Finance, Benefit and Debt service. Pre-Release teams embedded in all resettlement prisons. (Note: This refers to progress on a related previous concern). |
HMPPS | |
| 3 | What steps are being taken to contain prisoner on prisoner violence? | Governor / Director | |
| 4 | What steps are being taken to control drugs entering the prison? | Governor / Director | |
| 5 | Can the Director continue to focus on embedding quality key work? | Governor / Director |
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation, including laundry, clothing, ablutions | 20 | 23 |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogues | 13 | 5 |
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions | 9 | 11 |
| Equality | 9 | 8 |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 32 | 29 |
| Food and kitchens | 8 | 10 |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 87 | 94 |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection, restrictions | 33 | 45 |
| Miscellaneous | 39 | 4 |
| Property during transfer or in another facility | 12 | 22 |
| Property within the establishment | 42 | 63 |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, time out of cell | 21 | 25 |
| Sentence management, including HDC, ROTL, parole, release dates, re-categorisation | 38 | 48 |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 74 | 79 |
| Transfers | 11 | 18 |
Other reports for Peterborough (men)
Report details
- Establishment
- Peterborough (men)
- Type
- Prison · Cat B, local, reception/resettlement, YOI
- Report year
- 2023
- Published
- 20 October 2023
- Responsible body
- Peterborough (men)
- Recommendations
- 5
Population
| Operational capacity | 892 |
| Time out of cell | 7.5h/day |
Service providers
Accommodation Support
Seetec
Addiction Support
Alcoholics Anonymous
Community Healthcare Reintegration
Reconnect HMP Peterborough (NHFT team)
Employability Support
Jobcentre Plus
General Support
Christians Against Poverty
GP Service
Medco
Integrated Substance Misuse Service
Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Learning and Skills
Sodexo Justice Services
Legal Advice
Reeds Solicitors
Mental Health Support
Mind
Physical Healthcare
Sodexo Justice Services
Primary Mental Healthcare
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
Probation Services
Probation Service
Secondary Mental Healthcare
Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT)
Substance Misuse Support
Change Grow Live (CGL) Cambridgeshire
Supported Housing
Nacro in partnership with Sodexo
Veteran Support
Project Nova