Source · IMB Annual Report
Stafford
AI-generated report summary 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.
Year: 2023
Published: 4 Oct 2023
Type: Prison · Cat C
Population: 743
Key concerns
Positive findings
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
AI-generated summaryHMP 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
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.
Source wording under review
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.
Source wording under review
There were two significant security concerns during the reporting period
3. the number of gates/doors found unlocked across the prison, due to staff not
checking them properly
4. the percentage of staff wearing body worn cameras
both of which have been/are being addressed.
Sadly, in August 2022, the prison experienced its first self-inflicted death for a long time. The prisoner concerned was on an IPP (Imprisonment for Public Protection) sentence. Therefore, the question must be raised as to whether the Justice Select Committee and subsequent Ministerial response at that time, into the appropriateness of such a sentence, and the impact it can have in removing any form of hope from a prisoner, played a part in his death.
Library services were reduced due to staffing vacancies and this had a detrimental effect on their ability to offer their normal comprehensive support and extended opening hours to prisoners. The library staff still offered much for the prisoners including inductions, Storybook Dads sessions for prisoners to record stories for their children, and general opening hours for access to books, CDs, and audio books. The library was well supported by the prisoners and attendance was usually high.
Unfortunately, the same level of service had not been delivered during the first months of the new contract and it was hoped that this was quickly resolved due to the stress it placed on everyone when not working as it should.
The main issue that caused (and still causes) the biggest upset is the number of “out of stock” catalogue items, which can add considerably to the ordering process and time for all involved.
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
Safety 4
· Respect 4
· Activity 3
· Release 3
Malcolm Ball · Self-inflicted
Colin Bell · Natural causes
Dave McKillop · Self-inflicted
Mark Bradley · Self-inflicted
Other reports for Stafford
· Self-harm 66
· Concerns
Population 746
· Self-harm 131
· Concerns
Population 741
· Concerns
Population 693
· Self-harm 116
· Concerns
Population 734
· Self-harm 101
· Concerns