Source · IMB Annual Report
Bure
Year: 2022
Published: 28 Feb 2023
Type: Prison · Cat C
Population: 619
Recommendations: 6
Key concerns
Positive findings
HMP Bure maintained fair and humane treatment for prisoners and managed the Covid-19 pandemic effectively, with high vaccination rates and low violence. However, persistent issues such as double cells, delayed maintenance for the heating system and solar panels, and the absence of in-cell telephony remain. The Board also highlighted concerns about IPP prisoners, the lack of palliative care, and the unfunded resettlement provision.
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 3 | — |
| Self-harm incidents | 347 | 226 |
| ACCT cases opened | 585 | — |
| Prisoner assaults | 20 | — |
| Assaults on staff | 10 | — |
| Use of force | 83 | — |
| Drug finds | 5 | — |
Positive findings
The Board believes HMP Bure managed the Covid-19 pandemic and its restrictions very well, commending all staff for their efforts. The healthcare department was fully staffed, providing services comparable to the local community. Relationships between staff and prisoners were generally good, fostering a rehabilitative culture. The chaplaincy team is respected, and the Covid vaccination programme was highly successful. There was an improvement in managing prisoner incentives and a significant reduction in property-related applications.
Key concerns
Overcrowding
Repeated
There are some double cells which are cramped and unsuitable for an establishment such as this – especially those on residential unit 7.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
The position of imprisonment for public protection (IPP) prisoners who are imprisoned far beyond their tariffs at HMP Bure.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The heating system on residential unit 7 was in need of replacement, and despite a sum of money being allocated pre-pandemic, the work was never carried out.
Estate/Conditions
Solar panels installed on the kitchen and residential unit 7 have not worked since early 2022 due to technical problems, preventing much-needed energy savings.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
The lack of in-cell telephony at HMP Bure means prisoners cannot hold private conversations and calls are limited to daytime hours when relatives may be at work.
Other
Prisoner pay rates differ significantly across establishments for similar jobs, while canteen and catalogue item costs are national, leading to unfairness.
Equality/Diversity
With only four accessible cells available, disabled prisoners in normal cells face significant difficulties, including basic issues like easy access from cell door to bed.
Healthcare
Delays in prisoners getting to medication and medical appointments on time occur because wing roll checks are not always completed promptly.
Healthcare
HMP Bure cannot offer palliative and end of life care, necessitating transfers to other facilities despite an aging population that would benefit from such a provision within the establishment.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Delays in offending behaviour programme delivery impede prisoner progression and cause frustration, negatively impacting the wellbeing of both prisoners and staff.
Resettlement/Release
HMP Bure, despite not being funded for resettlement, regularly releases men into the community due to a lack of suitable places in designated resettlement prisons.
Resettlement/Release
There is a limited resettlement pathway specifically designed to support men convicted of sexual offences.
Recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Will the Minister ensure that HMP Bure operates at its nominal accommodation level? Repeated | Ministry of Justice | |
| 2 | Will the Minister act swiftly on this report? Repeated | Ministry of Justice | |
| 3 | Could HMPPS explain why this work was never carried out and reallocate funding as a matter of urgency so that it can be completed? Repeated | HMPPS | |
| 4 | Could this now be given top priority so that the much-needed savings can be made? | HMPPS | |
| 5 | Will HMPPS make funding available within the next financial year to enable work to start? Repeated | HMPPS | |
| 6 | Will the Prison Service consider the introduction of national pay rates for prisoners across the whole of the estate? | HMPPS |
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation, including laundry, clothing, ablutions | 12 | 5 |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 0 | 0 |
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions | 7 | 3 |
| Equality | 0 | 8 |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 4 | 6 |
| Food and kitchens | 3 | 3 |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 8 | 9 |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 9 | 19 |
| Miscellaneous, including complaints system | 0 | 0 |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 5 | 5 |
| Property within this establishment | 12 | 16 |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 5 | 4 |
| Sentence management, including home detention curfew, release on temporary licence, parole, release dates, recategorisation | 8 | 8 |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 6 | 5 |
| Transfers | 7 | 3 |
Related inspections & investigations
2 Oct 2023
HMIP · Unannounced
Safety 4
· Respect 4
· Activity 1
· Release 3
Other reports for Bure
Report details
- Establishment
- Bure
- Type
- Prison · Cat C
- Report year
- 2022
- Published
- 28 February 2023
- Responsible body
- HMP Bure
- Recommendations
- 6
- MoJ rating (2024/25)
- 3 — Good
Population
| Population | 619 |
| Operational capacity | 624 |
| CNA (designed for) | 604 102% |
Service providers
Catering suppliers
Bidfood & Hovis
Education and skills
PeoplePlus
Escort contractor
Serco
Family support services
Ormiston
Maintenance
Gov Facilities Services Ltd
Physical and mental healthcare
Practice Plus Group
Substance misuse treatment
Phoenix Futures