Source · IMB Annual Report
Stafford
Year: 2023
Published: 4 Oct 2023
Type: Prison · Cat C
Population: 743
Key concerns
Positive findings
HMP Stafford, a Category C training prison, generally provides safe and humane treatment, with significant improvements in medicines management. However, the report highlights critical issues, including the long-standing and hazardous state of prison roadways, which poses a serious safety risk. Persistent staff shortages continue to disrupt the regime, leading to lost activities, and a self-inflicted death involving an IPP prisoner raised serious questions. Additionally, concerns were noted regarding security compliance, reduced library services, and service delivery from the new visits management contractor.
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 12 | — |
| Self-harm incidents | 99 | 116 |
| ACCT cases opened | 150 | — |
| Prisoner assaults | 16 | — |
| Assaults on staff | 8 | — |
| Use of force | 81 | 66 |
| Drug finds | 41 | — |
Positive findings
HMP Stafford is recognised as a very safe establishment, where prisoners are treated humanely and their health and wellbeing needs are met. Critically, long-standing issues regarding medicines management have finally been addressed. Staff are commended for managing prisoner frustration well during periods of lockdown, preventing disturbances. The establishment is notably clean and tidy, and food receives consistent praise. Positive initiatives like RESTART, supporting 'hard to reach' prisoners, are having a tremendous impact on reintegration, and most prisoners are leaving with accommodation arranged.
Key concerns
Safety
Repeated
The critically poor and hazardous state of roadways and walkways within the prison, which has been an unaddressed issue for 18 years and poses a significant risk of serious injury to prisoners and staff.
Staffing
Ongoing staff shortages, caused by illness, bed watches, emergency hospital visits, and detached duty directives, leading to frequent lost activities, wing closures, and prisoner frustration.
Safety
Significant security concerns regarding the number of gates/doors found unlocked due to staff not checking properly, and the percentage of staff not wearing body-worn cameras.
Safety
The prison experienced its first self-inflicted death for a long time, involving an IPP prisoner, raising questions about the appropriateness and impact of such sentences.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Reduced library services and extended opening hours due to staffing vacancies, detrimentally affecting prisoner support.
Resettlement/Release
Inconsistent and unsatisfactory service delivery from the new visits management contractor (PACT) during its initial months, causing stress to all involved.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Persistent issues with 'out of stock' catalogue items, causing considerable upset and delays for prisoners.
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation, including laundry, clothing, ablutions | 4 | 9 |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 13 | 3 |
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives schemes, sanctions | 7 | 5 |
| Equality | 1 | 4 |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 9 | 3 |
| Food and kitchens | 7 | 1 |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 34 | 72 |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 20 | 5 |
| Miscellaneous, including complaints system | 25 | 19 |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 5 | 13 |
| Property within this establishment | 25 | 19 |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 20 | 5 |
| Sentence management, including HDC, release on temporary licence, parole, release dates, recategorisation | 12 | 12 |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 25 | 16 |
| Transfers | 3 | 2 |
Related inspections & investigations
19 Nov 2024
HMIP · Unannounced
Safety 4
· Respect 4
· Activity 3
· Release 3
Other reports for Stafford
Report details
- Establishment
- Stafford
- Type
- Prison · Cat C
- Report year
- 2023
- Published
- 4 October 2023
- Responsible body
- HMP Stafford
- MoJ rating (2024/25)
- 3 — Good
Population
| Population | 743 |
| Operational capacity | 753 |
Service providers
Canteen
DHL
Education
Novus and Acorn/Prospects Training
Escort contractor
GEOAmey
Facilities management
Amey plc
Library
Staffordshire County Council
Mental health
Practice Plus Group: subcontracted to Inclusion and MPFT (Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust)
Physical health and social care
Practice Plus Group (PPG)
Visits management
Barnardo’s/PACT