Resettlement/Release
The Board regrets the government’s responses to the Justice Committee’s report on indeterminate sentences for public protection (IPP sentences). Through our monitoring, we are aware of the historical inequitable treatment of, and the psychological harm to, those prisoners who have completed their sentence but have no identified release date. We therefore ask that the recommendations for change and the timeframe for implementation of support for these prisoners are reconsidered.
Other
Repeated
In spite of the revised framework, the loss or delay of prisoners’ property in transfer between establishments is still an issue of concern. The Board again asks for an urgent review into the handling of prisoners’ belongings.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The service provided by GFSL is still a major cause for concern. The Board requests an urgent review of the works maintenance contract to ensure it fully meets the ongoing needs of a challenging prison environment.
Staffing
Although the offender management team is efficient and hardworking, the allocated staffing levels result in high caseloads. This inevitably impacts the services and support provided for prisoners.
Safety
Repeated
The netting that blew down in a storm over two years ago at HMP Highpoint, and which has still not been mended or replaced, remains a security and safety issue. This prison is vulnerable to throwovers, and the increased opportunity for contraband to get into the prison has a negative impact on the health and wellbeing of the prisoners.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Whilst the Board is aware of successful and effective regime changes, we believe that restricted access to the library is negatively impacting on opportunities for prisoner education and progression. The Board therefore asks for consideration to be given to facilitating increased access to this area.
Safety
Repeated
The Listener scheme was actively promoted within Highpoint, with posters displayed on all units. Listener and peer mediator schemes were suspended during Covid and Listeners now need refresher training provided by the Samaritans. It was hoped that this would take place and that the Listener scheme would restart in 2021. The re-start was then delayed until 2022. Unfortunately, the Samaritans have lost some staff and it appears that the remaining staff and volunteers are unwilling to come into the prison to offer the training. HMP Highpoint was trying to rectify the position, but there was still no date for this scheme to restart. The IMB considers this training and provision to be imperative and hopes that arrangements can be made in the very near future.
Safety
There were 280 violent incidents recorded during 2022; this is a very unwelcome increase of 28% on the number recorded in the previous year.
Safety
The IMB remained concerned that during the reporting year body-worn video cameras were not always activated, or activated promptly, during a use of force incident, despite their use being directed.
Substance Misuse
Prisoner access to contraband items appears to be high. Whilst the discovery of such items is efficient, we support the need to cut off their routes of entry.