Source · IMB Annual Report

Isle of Wight

AI-generated report summary HMP Isle of Wight experienced a challenging 2022, marked by a population increase and the gradual easing of Covid restrictions, which allowed for a return to some normal regime activities. However, chronic staff shortages significantly hampered access to work, education, and healthcare, leading to prisoners spending considerable time locked up. The Board raised serious concerns regarding the inadequacy of mental health provision, the impact of staff shortages on all aspects of prison life, and the need for clarity and funding for the estate and the management of the Category C prisoner population.

Year: 2022 Published: 28 Sep 2023 Type: Prison · Cat B Population: 995 Recommendations: 10 Key concerns Positive findings

Original IMB report page ↗ Ministerial response · 1 Nov 2023 ↗

Safety statistics

Incidents during reporting year

Indicator	This year	Previous
Deaths in custody	7	—
Self-harm incidents	967	1,308
Prisoner assaults	66	59
Assaults on staff	79	56
Use of force	230	—

Positive findings

AI-generated summary

The regime gradually returned to some normality following Covid restrictions, allowing more regular work and reduced cases. The IMB remained focused, with members playing an important role and new members recruited during the year. Pro-active steps were taken to recruit staff and encourage overtime. There were purposeful efforts to improve safety systems and processes, and the reception and induction process was found to be efficient, well-managed, and empathetic. The Listener Service benefited from reduced Covid restrictions, with additional Listeners recruited, and the standard of food prepared by the kitchens was good. Significant refurbishments took place, and equality issues were dealt with thoughtfully, including the establishment of new forums. The chaplaincy team provided support, and a new IEP forum was successfully established. Excellent support for older prisoners was provided by AGE UK, and the training of Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) mentors was a positive development.

Key concerns

7 items

Staffing However, the anticipated benefits of this were severely limited by chronic staff shortages. This resulted in prisoners remaining locked up for considerable periods of time limiting their access to association, work, education, opportunities for progression, exercise and health care, including mental health services. Outcomes for prisoners (and their successful resettlement) are unlikely to improve significantly without addressing this issue matched by steps to improve the confidence and competence of many new staff replacing the more experienced who have left the prison service.

Mental Health Repeated Urgent need to strengthen mental health provision and to carefully consider decisions about the relocation of individuals with complex mental health conditions from secure locations to mainstream prisons. Mental Health Department needs to be brought up to establishment strength and staffing prioritised for health care appointments.

Estate/Conditions Repeated Importance of early funding decisions to support key infrastructure work, as many buildings remain in poor condition and the laundry remained out of action.

Overcrowding Need for an early decision on whether the prison will continue to hold a significant number of Category C prisoners, and on the location of Category C and B prisoners within the establishment.

Safety Repeated Need to ensure timely and full compliance with requirements of ACCTs, CSIPs and Use of Force reviews, as performance in completing these records was patchy.

Regime/Time Out of Cell Repeated Key Worker targets in terms of their frequency need to be met and their quality assured, as the objective was not consistently met.

Education/Purposeful Activity Repeated Need for a new focus on meeting literacy targets and improving the availability of programmes. Restoring regular library access is key.

Recommendations

10 items · 7 repeated

Recommendation 1

Addressee: Other — minister

This was another difficult year with the prison continuing to face Covid challenges while managing an increasing population of Category C prisoners. Welcome progress was made towards a more normal regime as Covid restrictions were relaxed. However, the anticipated benefits of this were severely limited by chronic staff shortages. This resulted in prisoners remaining locked up for considerable periods of time limiting their access to association, work, education, opportunities for progression, exercise and health care, including mental health services. Outcomes for prisoners (and their successful resettlement) are unlikely to improve significantly without addressing this issue matched by steps to improve the confidence and competence of many new staff replacing the more experienced who have left the prison service.

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Staffing, Regime, Resettlement

Recommendation 2

Addressee: HMPPS

the importance of an early decision on whether the prison will continue to hold a significant number of Category C prisoners. Time and resources are being put into making the necessary adjustments to support the accommodation of these prisoners which may prove nugatory should the prison revert to primarily holding Category B prisoners

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Overcrowding, Regime

Recommendation 3

Addressee: HMPPS

the urgent need to strengthen mental health provision and to carefully consider decisions about the relocation of individuals with complex mental health conditions from secure locations to mainstream prisons

Repeated Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Mental Health

Recommendation 4

Addressee: HMPPS

the importance of early funding decisions to support key infrastructure work.

Repeated Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Estate