Safety
Rise in violence and self-harm associated with drugs, bullying and debt.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The continued appalling state of the showers and toilets on A and B wings and the increased use of ‘doubling up’ in cells that are not suitable for two. The Board considers that it is inhumane that some prisoners must eat their meals sitting on their bed or their toilet because the cells are not big enough to accommodate two chairs.
Other
Repeated
Prisoner poverty is another issue of great concern. Prisoner pay has remained static whilst the price of essential canteen items has rocketed. Many prisoners do not have any external source of money and are unable to pay for the basics. This is a recipe for bullying and debt.
Healthcare
Healthcare has continued to struggle with inadequate accommodation to run primary care clinics and carry out mental health interventions. Shortage of both nursing and pharmacy staff has hampered the delivery of services to the wings.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
The Board remains concerned about the number of prisoners serving indeterminate sentences for public protection (IPP) being held at Wymott... The Government’s refusal to offer these men a sentence review means that there is little incentive or opportunity for them to progress. Those who do manage to gain release are often vulnerable to recall, sometimes for relatively minor breaches.
Staffing
Repeated
Many of the issues raised in this report can be linked to the shortage of staff, particularly experienced officers.
Other
Repeated
Missing property, both within Wymott and on transfer, remains a big issue for prisoners, and compensation rates are inadequate.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The prison desperately needs a new kitchen that can cater for the 50% increase in prisoner numbers. The kitchen frequently struggles to deliver the menu with the large amount of equipment out of commission.