Source · IMB Annual Report
Onley
Year: 2023
Published: 8 Aug 2023
Type: Prison · Cat C
Population: 740
Recommendations: 10
Key concerns
Positive findings
HMP Onley, a Category C training and resettlement prison, faced significant challenges primarily due to persistent officer staff shortages during the reporting year. These shortages severely impacted the daily regime, key work delivery, access to education and workshops, and overall purposeful activity, leading to prisoners spending prolonged periods in their cells. The Board also raised concerns about illicit substances, food quality, and delays in prisoner property, while commending positive staff-prisoner relationships and efforts in resettlement and employment on release.
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 0 | — |
| Self-harm incidents | 223 | 227 |
| ACCT cases opened | 185 | 188 |
| Prisoner assaults | 80 | 83 |
| Assaults on staff | 67 | 70 |
| Use of force | 343 | 332 |
Positive findings
The Board observed positive relationships between staff and prisoners, and cell bell response times improved during the reporting year. A full shower refurbishment was completed, and in-cell telephony was well received. The complaints process was managed well with 97% of complaints responded to within five working days. The Board commended the achievement of 16% employment on release, despite challenges. Accommodation repairs were effectively managed, and segregation reviews were conducted respectfully by experienced, professional staff. By the end of the reporting year, the kitchen was almost fully staffed.
Key concerns
Substance Misuse
Illicit substances were still prevalent in the prison despite enhanced security measures.
Safety
The enhanced gate security (EGS) was not always operational due to staff shortages. This meant staff and visitors were not always searched.
Mental Health
Poor mental health, frustration with the regime and debt issues were main triggers for self-harm.
Staffing
Repeated
The key work system was severely affected by officer staff shortages.
Food/Catering
Food supply chain issues and kitchen staff shortages raised concerns over food quality, healthy options, portion sizes and choices.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The Board was concerned about the amount of time prisoners remained in their cells.
Healthcare
Repeated
There was an absence of in-cell lockers for prisoners taking in-cell prescription (ICP) medicines.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Repeated
Access to education, library services and workshops was affected by officer staff shortages and a part-time working regime.
Staffing
Repeated
Instructor staff shortages contributed to a lack of available workspaces for the prison population.
Staffing
Repeated
Officer shortages on the wings meant that prisoners did not always receive regular key work sessions.
Staffing
Repeated
Staff shortages had an impact on all areas of the establishment and the daily life of the prisoners.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
Cell windows remain not fit for purpose and their replacement is needed.
Food/Catering
The food budget appears insufficient to ensure that prisoner meals are of a sufficient quality and quantity.
Complaints/Property
Repeated
The loss or delay of prisoner property is a problem and a main area of complaint despite the introduction of the Prisoners’ Property Framework.
Segregation
Repeated
Recategorised prisoners are still waiting in the CSU far too long prior to a transfer to a B category establishment.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
Still some delays in prisoners gaining access to TSP which is delaying D category eligibility.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The poor state of the windows in the older parts of the prison.
Mental Health
Repeated
Lack of access to professional counselling services or talking therapies.
Recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | What further assistance can be given to recruitment in an area where employment levels are high and salaries are slightly above the national average, to address staff shortages that have an impact on all areas of the establishment and the daily life of the prisoners? Repeated | Other | |
| 2 | Can a date be given for when the capital bid for replacement windows, approved in 2019, will be carried out? Repeated | HMPPS | |
| 3 | Will there be any review of the food budget, which appears insufficient to ensure that prisoner meals are of a sufficient quality and quantity? | HMPPS | |
| 4 | What additional support can be made available to increase the number of qualified instructors, given that a lack of instructors has had an impact on available workshop spaces? Repeated | HMPPS | |
| 5 | What further support can be provided to ensure key work is delivered consistently and to a high standard for all prisoners despite the shortage of prison officers? Repeated | HMPPS | |
| 6 | How will you ensure that the situation regarding the loss or delay of prisoner property is improved, given it remains a problem and a main area of complaint despite the introduction of the Prisoners’ Property Framework? Repeated | HMPPS | |
| 7 | When is it envisaged that a full and sustainable regime will be available to all prisoners in HMP Onley? Repeated | Governor / Director | |
| 8 | What action can be taken to ensure there is improvement in the management and processing of property and that it is issued to prisoners in a timely manner? Repeated | Governor / Director | |
| 9 | When will there be a return to full mandatory drug testing (MDT)? | Governor / Director | |
| 10 | What local actions are underway to improve officer staffing levels, given that prison officer shortages impacted on the daily life of prisoners and on the implementation of key work as intended in the offender management in custody (OMiC) model? Repeated | Governor / Director |
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation, including laundry, clothing, ablutions | 10 | 18 |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogues | 8 | 11 |
| Confidential Access | 8 | 12 |
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions | 3 | 10 |
| Equality | 0 | 0 |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 3 | 3 |
| Food and kitchens | 12 | 12 |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 34 | 44 |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection, restrictions | 17 | 17 |
| Miscellaneous | 87 | 52 |
| Property during transfer or in another facility | 107 | 146 |
| Property within the establishment | 33 | 24 |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, time out of cell | 11 | 22 |
| Sentence management, including HDC, ROTL, parole, release dates, re-categorisation | 49 | 67 |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 61 | 37 |
| Transfers | 24 | 34 |
Related inspections & investigations
Other reports for Onley
Report details
- Establishment
- Onley
- Type
- Prison · Cat C
- Report year
- 2023
- Published
- 8 August 2023
- Responsible body
- HMP Onley
- Recommendations
- 10
- MoJ rating (2024/25)
- 2 — Concern
Population
| Population | 740 |
| CNA (designed for) | 742 100% |
Service providers
Education
PeoplePlus
Escort contractor
Amey
Healthcare and pharmacy
Practice Plus Group
Library
PeoplePlus
Maintenance
Amey Estates
Opticians
Prison Optical Trust
Resettlement support
East of England
Substance misuse programme
Forward Trust
Visitors’ centre
Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact)