Standford Hill

We continue to be dissatisfied with the performance of Gov Facilities Services Ltd (GFSL). In previous reports we have highlighted the slowness of dealing with maintenance issues. This has continued into this year. The Governor reviews performance regularly but in the view of the IMB the system continues to be unresponsive and slow. As part of our monitoring, we have reported on the problems with machinery in the laundry. The response has been generally very unsatisfactory, and repairs have been very slow considering the laundry provides daily services to prisoners. Some of the machines are domestic and not commercial, meaning they are not suited to the level of use they get. We find GFSL to be bureaucratic and slow in its procedures and simple requests can take a significant time to resolve. The processes of GFSL need to improve as do response times.

The Temporary Presumptive Recategorisation Scheme (TPRS) could result in a dilution of the resettlement work undertaken by Category D prisons and a reduction in prisoners involved in the Working Out Scheme (WOS).

Currently the prison has no scanning equipment, and this lack of a sophisticated deterrent is a problem. We are informed that spare scanners exist within the prison estate but the funds for the transfer, installation and maintenance of such equipment are not available.

The monitoring of prisoners on Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) and the Working Out Scheme (WOS) could be made much more effective by commercially available technological solutions, which are not yet approved by the Prison Service.

Although there is some information sharing between Category D prisons there is a lack of comparatives. Standard comparative information would be a benefit to all as this would allow best practice to be shared more easily. We believe that Standford Hill has achievements and procedures that could benefit the Category D estate more widely.

Food is supplied by Swaleside prison and is brought in twice daily. The food is of a basic standard, but the quality fluctuates. Under the plans for the creation of additional accommodation a kitchen facility will be built on site. After so many years we strongly support this development. Some prisoners prefer to use the microwaves to cook their own recipes and these are extensively used. IMB members sample the food from time to time and regularly discuss the quality with prisoners. It must be said that there is a lot of dissatisfaction with the quality of food and some prisoners have been quite vociferous about the standard of the catering provision. While portion size is generally considered adequate the quality and variety of the food is regularly criticised. The ability to produce food at Standford Hill will be a big step forward but plans to achieve this have been set back by the failure of the previously assigned contractor shortly before commencement of work. The project has now been re-tendered.

We reported on sporadic internet facilities. There has not been an improvement in the year.

Although maintenance has been carried out, the condition of much of the property is the same.