Recommendation 1
Will the Minister ensure that HMP Bure operates at its nominal accommodation level?
Source · IMB Annual Report
Bure
AI-generated report summary 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.
Year: 2022
Published: 28 Feb 2023
Type: Prison · Cat C
Population: 619
Recommendations: 6
Key concerns
Positive findings
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
AI-generated summaryThe 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
There are some double cells which are cramped and unsuitable for an establishment such as this – especially those on residential unit 7.
The position of imprisonment for public protection (IPP) prisoners who are imprisoned far beyond their tariffs at HMP Bure.
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.
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.
For a number of years the Board has been highlighting the need for in-cell telephony at HMP Bure to bring it into line with the majority of establishments nationally. The present system of telephones on landings makes it virtually impossible to hold a private conversation. In addition, calls can only be made during the daytime when often relatives are at work.
Will the Prison Service consider the introduction of national pay rates for prisoners across the whole of the estate? Pay rates differ between various establishments, even for similar jobs, but prisoners nationally have to pay the same amount for canteen and catalogue items. This does not seem reasonable or fair.
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.
Delays in prisoners getting to medication and medical appointments on time occur because wing roll checks are not always completed promptly.
The establishment is not able to offer palliative and end of life care. Prisoners requiring this are sent to HMP Norwich, local hospices or the local Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital. With an aging population, HMP Bure would benefit from such a facility.
The offending behaviour programme delivery suffers from delays, leading to a lack of progression through programmes and resulting in frustrations which have an impact on the wellbeing of prisoners and staff alike.
Although HMP Bure is not funded for resettlement, it continues to regularly release men into the community due to a lack of suitable places in resettlement prisons.
There is a limited resettlement pathway specifically designed to support men convicted of sexual offences.
Recommendations
Recommendation 2
Will the Minister act swiftly on this report?
Recommendation 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?
Recommendation 4
Could this now be given top priority so that the much-needed savings can be made?
Recommendation 5
Will HMPPS make funding available within the next financial year to enable work to start?
Recommendation 6
Will the Prison Service consider the introduction of national pay rates for prisoners across the whole of the estate?
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
Other reports for Bure
Population 639
· Self-harm 182
· Concerns
Population 641
· Self-harm 167
· Concerns
Population 643
· Self-harm 304
· Concerns
Population 618
· Self-harm 226
· Concerns
Population 586
· Self-harm 347
· Concerns