Source · IMB Annual Report
Portland
Year: 2022
Published: 23 Nov 2022
Type: Prison · Cat C adult male, YOI
Recommendations: 10
Key concerns
Positive findings
HMP/YOI Portland, a Category C prison for adult males and young adults, navigated a challenging year dominated by Covid-19 restrictions. While perceptions of safety improved and the pandemic was handled effectively, significant concerns persist around inhumane conditions on Beaufort wing, protracted mental health transfer waits, and poorly managed resettlement service reforms. Staffing levels in key areas remain problematic, and the board highlighted issues with external service providers and the inconsistent use of body-worn cameras.
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 1 | — |
| Self-harm incidents | 262 | — |
| ACCT cases opened | 218 | — |
| Prisoner assaults | 102 | 300 |
| Use of force | 225 | 412 |
| Drug finds | 276 | 176 |
Positive findings
The Board found significant improvement in residents' perception of safety, particularly in areas like policing, supervision, resident conflict, personal safety, drugs, and exploitation. The Care and Separation Unit staff were commended for their sensitive handling of complex, challenging residents. Board members noted that residents felt 'safe' and 'well-cared for' by staff during the pandemic. The new Diversity and Inclusion lead significantly improved the efficiency and documentation of the Discrimination Incident Reporting Form (DIRF) process. Chaplaincy advocacy during lockdown and positive feedback on religious festivals were highlighted. Healthcare leadership improved staffing levels and successfully resolved missed appointment issues by providing dedicated escorts, with more services moving to the wings.
Key concerns
Estate/Conditions
The inhumane conditions that exist on Beaufort wing during spells of hot weather. (successive bids to address the issue are regularly turned down)
Mental Health
The transfer from Portland to secure mental health units proved to be unsatisfactory and needs to be improved. (protracted wait)
Resettlement/Release
It was clear to the Board that much of the reorganisation of resettlement provision, such as the replacement of Catch22 by HMPPS staff and the new housing accommodation contract with Interventions Alliance, had not gone smoothly. This led to an unacceptable increased burden on already overworked staff and the experience of residents with the resettlement process was entirely dependent upon the goodwill of staff already working under great pressure.
Staffing
Recruitment of operational support grades (OSGs) and staff for the health and education departments proved problematic, as pay and conditions were nowhere near attractive enough to compete with outside employment opportunities.
Other
There were problems with Serco, the transport service provider. There were problems throughout the year of late arrivals and lack of records or pertinent information, particularly property, for the new arrivals.
Safety
The use of body worn cameras (BWC) proved to be sporadic during the reporting period. Prison officers (POs) appeared reluctant to wear them on a daily basis.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Neurodiversity data collected by Weston College as part of the reception assessment was kept on file in the education centre and not shared more widely with prison staff.
Safety
The incidence of self-harm was high. It increased from 229 incidents in 2019/20 to 262 in the current reporting year. Much of this was attributed to several prolific self-harmers.
Recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Will the minister undertake to ensure that the government holds firm, in the face of much ill-informed pressure, to the principle of fair and humane treatment of all those deprived of their liberty by the criminal justice system by working to ensure that every possible measure is taken to maximise positive outcomes on release? | Ministry of Justice | |
| 2 | Will the minister address the serious shortcomings in the management processes within HMPPS particularly with reference to poorly planned reforms introduced to the service? | Ministry of Justice | |
| 3 | What steps will the minister take to ensure that the prison service is an attractive profession with competitive remuneration, training and professional development? | Ministry of Justice | |
| 4 | Will the minister undertake to work with other ministers to ensure an integrated system to allow the humane treatment of such residents? | Ministry of Justice | |
| 5 | Will HMPPS consider reverting to a properly-funded resettlement service based within each establishment? How will HMPPS ensure that the implementation of new policies and systems is well managed and delivered in a way that does not adversely impact on the safety, fair and humane treatment, health and wellbeing and progression towards a successful resettlement of all those entrusted to its care? | HMPPS | |
| 6 | What steps does HMPPS currently undertake a respond to poor service provided by external suppliers, with particular attention to the quality of service provided by SERCO with resident transport? | HMPPS | |
| 7 | Will HMPPS, as a matter of urgency, arrange for the necessary funding to be made available to address the inhumane conditions that exist on Beaufort wing during spells of hot weather? | HMPPS | |
| 8 | What efforts will the Governor make to ensure that all staff comply with the new regulations concerning the wearing of BWC? | Governor / Director | |
| 9 | What steps will the Governor undertake to ensure that all relevant information gathered during the induction process is shared appropriately across the prison to enhance each resident’s pathway to resettlement? | Governor / Director | |
| 10 | Will the Governor continue to pursue funding for the ventilation issues on Beaufort as a matter of urgency? | Governor / Director |
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation, including laundry, clothing, ablutions | 23 | 6 |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 6 | 16 |
| Discipline, including adjudications, IEP, sanctions | 5 | 2 |
| Equality | 4 | 4 |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 14 | 9 |
| Food and kitchens | 3 | 1 |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 20 | 27 |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 14 | 13 |
| Miscellaneous, including complaints system | 6 | 20 |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 37 | 49 |
| Property within this establishment | 24 | 31 |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 10 | 16 |
| Sentence management, including HDC, release on temporary licence, parole, release dates, re-categorisation | 41 | 55 |
| Staff/resident concerns, including bullying | 17 | 35 |
| Transfers | 15 | 19 |
Related inspections & investigations
Other reports for Portland
Report details
- Establishment
- Portland
- Type
- Prison · Cat C adult male, YOI
- Report year
- 2022
- Published
- 23 November 2022
- Responsible body
- HMP Portland
- Recommendations
- 10
- MoJ rating (2024/25)
- 3 — Good
Population
| Operational capacity | 530 |
Service providers
Accommodation/Resettlement
Interventions Alliance
Education
Weston College
Healthcare
Practice Plus Group
Resettlement
Catch22
Transport
Serco