Source · IMB Annual Report
The Mount
Year: 2023
Published: 2 Aug 2023
Type: Prison · Cat C
Population: 1,025
Recommendations: 8
Key concerns
Positive findings
HMP The Mount faced a challenging year ending February 2023, marked by a severe drug crisis involving Fentanyl-laced Spice, resulting in nine deaths, five of which were drug-related. Persistent staffing shortages led to a restrictive regime, limiting prisoners' access to education, work, and purposeful activity. Key concerns included overcrowding from cell doubling, significant healthcare waiting times exacerbated by escort shortages, and a failure to deliver adequate resettlement and offending behaviour programmes, contributing to an increase in prisoner complaints.
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 9 | — |
| Self-harm incidents | 45 | 90 |
| ACCT cases opened | 298 | — |
| Prisoner assaults | 90 | — |
| Assaults on staff | 77 | 56 |
| Use of force | 333 | — |
Positive findings
The Board observed improvements in prisoner treatment as lockdown eased, noting good staff-prisoner relationships and the appreciation for in-cell technology aiding family contact. The estate was generally clean, with prisoner-painted murals and fresh produce from the farms and gardens. The quality of food was often complimented, and healthcare staff were noted for providing good care in the CSU. The Offender Management Unit consistently met deadlines for reviews and Parole Board hearings despite challenges.
Key concerns
Substance Misuse
The prison is in the midst of a crisis caused by the ready availability of a particularly pernicious form of Spice laced with Fentanyl. Code Blues are common and sadly there were nine deaths in custody, five of which were apparently of drug overdoses.
Staffing
Repeated
As last year, staffing levels are a major concern, particularly as the number of prisoners increases. The continued loss of experienced officers means that there are fewer opportunities for mentoring when new recruits arrive, and too often they have to go straight into the front line, due to staff shortages.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Education programmes have not improved during the reporting period, due to the lack of investment. Too few prisoners are enabled to access programmes to help them on release. During the year 50% of workshops stood empty due to the lack of instructors or any meaningful activities leading to qualifications to improve employment opportunities on release.
Overcrowding
A major concern is the conversion of single-person cells to two-person cells, and the total lack of any form of privacy and storage capacity for personal property.
Healthcare
Unfortunately, the cancellation of hospital appointments has got worse during the year. Appointments in healthcare are also now hugely affected by the lack of escorts. While the prison agrees that health should be a priority, they always seem to be asked to cancel escorts because of officer shortages.
Resettlement/Release
It is disappointing that, with the number of prisoners waiting for category D transfer, the prison still fails to provide release on temporary license (ROTL) opportunities, despite a number of local companies being interested.
Recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Board is concerned that, as a training and resettlement prison, the prison is failing to provide meaningful education, employment and training. This is made worse by the prison having a number of short-term prisoners arriving. Too many prisoners are released before completing their offending behaviour programmes and with no accommodation on release. | Ministry of Justice | |
| 2 | As last year, staffing levels are a major concern, particularly as the number of prisoners increases. The continued loss of experienced officers means that there are fewer opportunities for mentoring when new recruits arrive, and too often they have to go straight into the front line, due to staff shortages. Repeated | HMPPS | |
| 3 | Education programmes have not improved during the reporting period, due to the lack of investment. Too few prisoners are enabled to access programmes to help them on release. During the year 50% of workshops stood empty due to the lack of instructors or any meaningful activities leading to qualifications to improve employment opportunities on release. | HMPPS | |
| 4 | There needs to be a complete overhaul of the use of the workshops and how they can better serve the needs of prisoners in terms of training and future employment. | HMPPS | |
| 5 | Some free flow movement throughout the prison must be introduced to enable prisoners to access education, workshops and other activities. | Governor / Director | |
| 6 | The use of prisoners in helping to maintain the estate, like the decoration of some wings, was very successful and should be employed much more. | Governor / Director | |
| 7 | The conversion of single cells to doubles needs to be monitored to ensure that prisoners’ health and wellbeing are not adversely affected. | Governor / Director | |
| 8 | It is disappointing that, with the number of prisoners waiting for category D transfer, the prison still fails to provide release on temporary license (ROTL) opportunities, despite a number of local companies being interested. | Governor / Director |
Related inspections & investigations
11 Nov 2024
HMIP · Unannounced
Safety 3
· Respect 3
· Activity 1
· Release 3
8 Sep 2023
PFD
Kristopher Tilbury · State Custody related deaths | Alcohol, drugs medication related deaths
Other reports for The Mount
Report details
- Establishment
- The Mount
- Type
- Prison · Cat C
- Report year
- 2023
- Published
- 2 August 2023
- Responsible body
- HMP The Mount
- Recommendations
- 8
- MoJ rating (2024/25)
- 2 — Concern
Population
| Population | 1,025 |
| Operational capacity | 1,040 |
Service providers
Education
People Plus
Healthcare
Practice Plus Group
Substance abuse services
Forward Trust