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Durham

AI-generated report summary HMP Durham, a reception and resettlement prison, housed 976 prisoners at year-end, with 61.6% on remand, operating above its certified capacity. The Board commends staff for managing a challenging environment, noting that 93% of prisoners feel safe. Key concerns include persistent overcrowding, the increasing time unsentenced prisoners spend on remand due to court backlogs, and inadequate access to dentistry and certain induction processes. The report highlights improvements in staff attendance at key meetings and UoF monitoring, but also calls for better embedding of BWVC use and addressing regime limitations affecting education and resettlement.

Year: 2022 Published: 31 Mar 2023 Type: Prison · Cat reception and resettlement prison for adult men an Population: 976 Recommendations: 14 Key concerns Positive findings
Original IMB report page ↗ Ministerial response · 28 Apr 2023 ↗

Safety statistics

Incidents during reporting year
IndicatorThis yearPrevious
Deaths in custody33
Self-harm incidents486589
ACCT cases opened1,0481,306
Prisoner assaults225144
Assaults on staff5549
Use of force555515
Drug finds69283

Positive findings

AI-generated summary
The Board commends the Governor and staff for their positive approach to managing changes in prison function and for their effective management of Covid-19 outbreaks. HMP Durham generally feels a safe environment, a view ratified by 93% of prisoners surveyed. NEPACS provides good support to prisoners and families, and the kitchens deliver an excellent, culturally diverse service. The chaplaincy team offers outstanding support, and prisoners speak highly of healthcare staff. The mental health team operates a valuable regional integrated support unit (ISU), and the Board is pleased with qualifications awarded and the library's support. The prison has made progress in ensuring cell checks and managing use of force monitoring.

Key concerns

22 items
Overcrowding Repeated prison overcrowding (5.1.3) and its persistent impact on prisoner dignity.
Regime/Time Out of Cell Repeated the increase in time that unsentenced prisoners are spending in HMP Durham due to backlog in criminal cases.
Estate/Conditions The refurbishment of A wing was initiated at the beginning of November 2022. At best it is estimated to take two years. It would be speeded up considerably if the population management unit allowed the prison to decant prisoners.
Regime/Time Out of Cell Social video calls have been reduced to one per month per prisoner.
Resettlement/Release remand prisoners access to probation services prior to release.
Healthcare Repeated the dire issue of access to dentistry.
Regime/Time Out of Cell ensure that first night and first day inductions are delivered to those who move directly from reception to the SACU e.g., those under moved under the secreted items policy.
Healthcare ensure that all prisoners in reception receive healthcare screening before moving to first night centres.
Safety The Board regularly reviews ACCT documents and is concerned at the number of them that do not have supervisors’ daily checks completed.
Safety Repeated embed the use of BWVC in the prison.
Complaints/Property The prisoner consultation meeting is valued by prisoners, however, often it is cancelled at the last minute.
Food/Catering Since the contractual arrangement for running the tea bar in the visit’s hall changed there has been a significant deterioration of the refreshments available.
Resettlement/Release The contract for early days in custody comes to an end in March 2023. The Board views this as an essential service.
Resettlement/Release The implementation of the short sentence framework is now overdue.
Estate/Conditions cells remain inappropriate for disabled or aged prisoners; basic showering arrangements and issues with heat control remain endemic.
Regime/Time Out of Cell Repeated men held under Immigration Act powers remaining for too long a period in HMP Durham.
Equality/Diversity the number of foreign national prisoners (FNPs) in HMP Durham and ‘out of area’ prisoners who do not receive social visits because of distance from family.
Resettlement/Release the community rehabilitation service (CRS) provision excludes remand prisoners from support for accommodation on release.
Education/Purposeful Activity Repeated The backlog of personal learning plans has been a concern as has the allocation and low attendance of prisoners to education and work.
Safety Repeated Use of force is disproportionate in the age groups 18–21 and 22–29.
Complaints/Property Repeated the length of time it takes for actions to be enacted in the minutes of prison meetings, e.g. DIAT and use of force.
Regime/Time Out of Cell Repeated prisoners are working as cleaners before checks are completed and they are not receiving back-pay. Source wording under review

Recommendations

14 items · 4 repeated

Recommendation 1

Addressee: Ministry of Justice

by prison overcrowding (5.1.3) and its persistent impact on prisoner dignity. We ask again what, specifically for HMP Durham, can be done to alleviate this problem?

Repeated Source text verified

Government response
Generic response re the national position. Comments specific to Durham were: Whilst the average number of prisoners living in crowded conditions at HMP Durham and across the prison estate did fall during 2020/21, as a local prison there has been a need for HMP Durham to continue to operate in excess of its certified normal accommodation level. The challenge for HMP Durham remains in the turnover of the prisoner population and ensuring that cells are maintained to required standards. In recognition of the condition within cells, the prison has implemented the CRED programme which is making improvements to the prison environment.

Recorded status:

Topic: Overcrowding

Recommendation 2

Addressee: Ministry of Justice

by the increase in time that unsentenced prisoners are spending in HMP Durham. The Board awaits the Minister’s response on what else can be done to reduce the backlog in criminal cases and hence reduce time on remand (3.1/ 4.1.2).

Repeated Source text verified

Government response
Generic response acknowledging the national backlog on criminal cases. Investment over the next three years expects the Crown Court backlogs to be reduced to an estimated 53,000 by March 2025.

Recorded status:

Topic: Remand time

Recommendation 3

Addressee: HMPPS

The refurbishment of A wing was initiated at the beginning of November 2022. At best it is estimated to take two years. It would be speeded up considerably if the population management unit allowed the prison to decant prisoners. Why will they not do this (4.3.4 / 4.3.5)?

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Estate

Recommendation 4

Addressee: HMPPS

Social video calls have been reduced to one per month per prisoner. What can be done to increase access for those living out of area or from overseas (7.4.6)?

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Family ties

Recommendation 5

Addressee: HMPPS

What can be done to give remand prisoners access to probation services prior to release (7.5.2)?

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Resettlement

Recommendation 6

Addressee: NHS / Healthcare Provider

How does the Prison Service intend to address the dire issue of access to dentistry (6.1.2)?

Repeated Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Healthcare

Recommendation 7

Addressee: Governor / Director

How will you ensure that first night and first day inductions are delivered to those who move directly from reception to the SACU e.g., those under moved under the secreted items policy (4.1.5)?

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Regime

Recommendation 8

Addressee: Governor / Director

How will you ensure that all prisoners in reception receive healthcare screening before moving to first night centres (4.1.6)?

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Healthcare

Recommendation 9

Addressee: Governor / Director

The Board regularly reviews ACCT documents and is concerned at the number of them that do not have supervisors’ daily checks completed (see 4.2.10).

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Safety

Recommendation 10

Addressee: Governor / Director

What more can the Governor do to embed the use of BWVC in the prison (4.4.5)?

Repeated Source text verified

Government response
We will continue to encourage staff to wear them, numbers of cameras drawn are monitored daily at both the residential and senior managers meeting. The reminder from the ECR to activate body worn cameras will also remain in place. Interestingly we had a visit from the BWVC lead from HQ last week who advised us that Durham was the stand out performer in the whole estate for BWVC usage!

Recorded status:

Topic: Safety

Recommendation 11

Addressee: Governor / Director

The prisoner consultation meeting is valued by prisoners, however, often it is cancelled at the last minute. What can be done to ensure this meeting is held regularly (5.3.9)?

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Complaints

Recommendation 12

Addressee: Governor / Director

Since the contractual arrangement for running the tea bar in the visit’s hall changed there has been a significant deterioration of the refreshments available. What can be done to rectify this (7.4.9)?

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Food

Recommendation 13

Addressee: Governor / Director

The contract for early days in custody comes to an end in March 2023. The Board views this as an essential service; is there a possibility that the prison may decide to take this service in-house (7.4.11)?

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Resettlement

Recommendation 14

Addressee: Governor / Director

The implementation of the short sentence framework is now overdue; when will this be implemented (7.5.2)?

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Resettlement

Related inspections & investigations

6 Jan 2025 HMIP · IRP
30 Apr 2024 HMIP · Unannounced Safety 2 · Respect 2 · Activity 1 · Release 3
22 Nov 2021 HMIP · Unannounced
— PPO fatal incident Cain Todd
— PPO fatal incident Stanley Burnett
— PPO fatal incident Jamie Graham · Other non-natural
— PPO fatal incident George Taylor
— PPO fatal incident Robert Barry · Natural causes
21 Sep 2021 PFD Charlie Todd · State Custody related deaths | Suicide (from 2015)
14 Feb 2019 PFD Matthew Hamilton · Alcohol, drug and medication related deaths; State Custody related deaths
15 Dec 2015 PFD Derek Thomas · State Custody related deaths
22 Jul 2014 PFD Edward Devlin · State Custody related deaths

Other reports for Durham

2025 Published 20 Mar 2026 Population 961 · Self-harm 461 · Concerns
2024 Published 10 Apr 2025 Population 974 · Self-harm 798 · Concerns
2023 Published 13 Mar 2024 Population 981 · Self-harm 596 · Concerns
2021 Published 24 Mar 2022 Population 974 · Self-harm 589 · Concerns
2020 Published 24 Mar 2021 · Self-harm 522 · Concerns