Recommendation 1
A speedier response from the Department as to whether or not to approve a recommendation for a prisoner’s move to open conditions.
Source · IMB Annual Report
Buckley Hall
AI-generated report summary HMP Buckley Hall, a Category C training prison, has seen a positive trajectory post-pandemic, with an improved mood among prisoners and the return of full education and activity regimes. While generally safe with strong staff-prisoner relationships, the prison faces significant challenges including staff shortages impacting key work and daily routines, and an unsettled healthcare provision following a change in provider. Key concerns include administrative delays, insufficient funding for vital infrastructure, and a need to improve attendance at activities and equality and diversity initiatives.
Year: 2022
Published: 25 Nov 2022
Type: Prison · Cat C
Recommendations: 12
Key concerns
Positive findings
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 0 | — |
| Self-harm incidents | 132 | — |
| Prisoner assaults | 12 | — |
Positive findings
AI-generated summaryThe Board judges that the prison has generally been on a positive trajectory during the reporting year, with an improved mood among prisoners, and the return of various activities such as sports day and family days. Education and workshops are now full-time. Buckley Hall remains a safe environment, and staff-prisoner relationships are a notable strength. The administration of the offender management unit (OMU) received a regional award, and prisoners continued their commendable charity work. Significant improvements include the installation of in-cell telephones, new showers on A wing, and the replacement of boilers. Segregation unit staff are praised for their calm and empathetic approach, and the quality of work in equality and diversity, chaplaincy, and social care provision is high. The appointment of a drug strategy healthcare lead is commended, and the gym is back to full numbers. The prison and education department are working purposefully together, with improved relationships and a calm, respectful atmosphere in classes.
Key concerns
A speedier response from the Department as to whether or not to approve a recommendation for a prisoner’s move to open conditions.
Prioritise a further reduction in the number of prisoners serving an imprisonment for public protection sentence.
Reduce the time taken to transfer prisoners’ monies when they relocate from private to public sector prisons.
Provide the funding to install CCTV in the healthcare building.
Ensure that prisoners recategorised as category B are moved more promptly to an appropriate prison.
Provide additional funding for the prison’s new incentivised substance free living unit.
Ensure an effective and valued healthcare provision.
Improve the accuracy of the daily roll checks.
Improve prisoner attendance at and allocation to activities.
Introduce a range of social activities during prisoners’ evening association.
Restore an emphasis on equality and diversity within the prison.
Raise the number of key work sessions delivered per week.
Recommendations
Recommendation 2
Prioritise a further reduction in the number of prisoners serving an imprisonment for public protection sentence.
Recommendation 3
Reduce the time taken to transfer prisoners’ monies when they relocate from private to public sector prisons.
Recommendation 4
Provide the funding to install CCTV in the healthcare building.
Recommendation 5
Ensure that prisoners recategorised as category B are moved more promptly to an appropriate prison.
Recommendation 6
Provide additional funding for the prison’s new incentivised substance free living unit.
Recommendation 7
Ensure an effective and valued healthcare provision.
Recommendation 8
Improve the accuracy of the daily roll checks.
Recommendation 9
Improve prisoner attendance at and allocation to activities.
Recommendation 10
Introduce a range of social activities during prisoners’ evening association.
Recommendation 11
Restore an emphasis on equality and diversity within the prison.
Recommendation 12
Raise the number of key work sessions delivered per week.
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (including transfers) | 45 | 38 |
| Adjudications | 4 | 5 |
| Discrimination | 7 | 3 |
| Food | 11 | 12 |
| General prison administration | 29 | 19 |
| Immigration (IRC only) | 0 | 0 |
| Medical, dental and healthcare | 43 | 26 |
| Privileges and incentives | 19 | 15 |
| Property | 75 | 40 |
| Release on temporary licence | 0 | 0 |
| Requests, personal problems and welfare | 215 | 223 |
| Security (including categorisation) | 3 | 2 |
| TOTAL | 465 | 495 |
| Uncategorised applications | 0 | 0 |
| Visits | 12 | 7 |
| Work and education | 2 | 5 |
Related inspections & investigations
Safety 3
· Respect 3
· Activity 2
· Release 4
Arron Hamer · Self-inflicted
Russell Trelore · Natural causes
Terence Townsend · Natural causes
Brennan, Ryan · Self-inflicted
Individual at Buckley Hall · Self-inflicted
Other reports for Buckley Hall
Population 460
· Concerns
Population 444
· Concerns
Population 465
· Concerns
· Concerns
· Self-harm 105
· Concerns