Winchester

What measures can the minister outline to improve staff recruitment, motivation and retention?

I understand the Board’s concerns around staff recruitment and retention. Efforts to recruit prison officers is ongoing, however, this is against a position of much higher staff turnover. To aid recruitment, HMP Winchester was included in the Advance into Justice campaign earlier this year which sought to fast-track veterans and serving armed forces personnel into a second career as a prison officer. Since April 2022, HMP Winchester has been offering new prison officers and operational support recruits an incentivised travel to work scheme and continues to offer a local market supplement of £2,000. The prison was also included in the national prison officer first posting relocation scheme, providing first-time prison officer applicants the chance to start a rewarding career and gain valuable experience working at one of our larger prisons compared to smaller local sites.
The exit interview survey process allows for monthly analysis of data and insights, ensuring appropriate strategies and action plans are in place to respond. A Retention Oversight Process has also been established which focusses on the sites that have the biggest attrition risks, enabling local and national interventions to take place. The recently announced pay award reflects a significant investment to uplift and reform the prison pay structure. The 2022/23 pay award has delivered an increase in base pay of at least 4% for all staff between bands 2 to 11, alongside further targeted pay rises for our lowest paid staff of up to £3,000.

Would the minister agree that safety at Winchester is unsatisfactory and explain what other steps will be taken to ensure the recent positive trend is maintained?

HMP Winchester has made good progress in reducing prisoner-on-prisoner assaults, self-harming, and staff assaults in comparison to recent years, however, we recognise there is more work to do. Some of this work includes, but is not limited to: a new local safety strategy including data analysis to inform meaningful action; bespoke plans for violent individuals supported by a designated case manager; support for newly arrived prisoners to prevent debt and bullying that drives violence; and improved staff training to better equip them to manage violence.
In April 2022 HMP Winchester recorded the lowest number of incidents of self-harm in over three years. The prison has analysed the reasons for self-harming and steps have been taken to address the causes. This included the revision of the razor blade policy which is having a positive impact. The management have also increased the number of trained Listeners. This, together with the good working relationship with the Samaritans, are having a positive effect in reducing violence and self-harming.

There is still permanent cell overcrowding through the main prison, with most prisoners being required to share a cell that was built to house one person. What is the Prison Service’s plan to rectify this?

HMPPS acknowledges the Board’s ongoing concerns and recognises that accommodating two prisoners in a cell designed for one is never desirable but continues to be necessary across the estate in order to accommodate all those committed to custody by the courts. Annually published figures show that crowding across the prison estate reduced from 22.5% of the population to 20.6% between 2018/19 and 2021/22. At HMP Winchester the average number of prisoners living in crowded conditions reduced by approximately 130 in the same period.
HMPPS continues to deliver the Government’s pledge to invest £3.8 billion over the next three years to deliver 20,000 new, uncrowded prison places. There may also be options in future to further reduce crowding levels, for example targeted reductions of the least suitable prison places (including crowded places), but this is subject to estate capacity and projected population figures. As it is very difficult to predict how these national trends will play out at a local level, the proportion of prisoners held in crowded cells at HMP Winchester will ultimately depend on regional population levels and demand. In the meantime, HMPPS has recently published a revised framework for the certification of prisoner accommodation from which the useable operational capacity of the estate is derived. HMPPS establishments will be expected to hold as many prisoners as they can safely accommodate, however that number should be determined by local operational managers responsible for managing the prison and not by a central process or by wider supply and demand issues.

Given the safety and security concerns resulting from the inconsistent provision of CCTV facilities in and around the prison, when will the Prison Service supply the funds to install the modern, integrated equipment to rectify this?

Seven High-Definition Camera units have been replaced, several of which have had a wiring upgrade to Fibre Optic Cabling, and new control equipment has been installed in the Main Control room. The prison entrance CCTV has also been upgraded to Enhanced Gate Security level. Project managers are currently undertaking site surveys for further enhancement of cameras and associated equipment for completion by March 2023. For the longer term, a £1.1 million project to replace the CCTV site-wide at HMP Winchester has received financial approval and is proposed to be included in the programme of major capital maintenance works for the financial year 2023/24.

Given the high number of remand/unsentenced prisoners in Winchester, how does the Prison Service consider this policy treats prisoners whose length of stay is so short (12 weeks average) that they are unable to avail themselves of education or participation in workshops, and are thus locked behind their cell doors for over 22 hours per day?

All new arrivals at HMP Winchester receive a five-day induction programme before moving to the main location. At the main location, prisoners have the opportunity to engage in work, exercise/gym, education, chaplaincy, and the normal wing regime should they wish to do so.

As many cells still get very hot in summer and very cold in winter, and showers are often non-functioning due to an outdated fabric and design, what are the Prison Service’s plans for resolving these issues?

Investment has been made to the boiler systems on the site and this includes major works undertaken to the main plant room that supply accommodation areas. Last year, the two main boilers supplying B and C wings were replaced and the project is progressing to replace the boilers in the Hearn Unit.
Major improvements in controlling cell temperatures were made during last winter and none were found to be below 19-degrees celcius. All the cell windows on A, C and D wings have been replaced and B wing will follow shortly to help stabilise temperatures. The new cell windows have improved warmth, ingress of light, are safer and more secure, and prevent litter from being thrown out of the windows. Retrospective fitting of air handling or air conditioning systems to control temperatures is often not a viable option due to the age, design and construction of the buildings, and the prison was provided with as many portable fans as possible during the record high temperatures this year.
Shower recesses on A, B and D wings were replaced and have individual cubicles for privacy and decency. Each wing has had its own independent hot water supplies fitted within the roof spaces, making them more efficient and addressing the water supply issues. Fire Safety systems have also been replaced during the course of the past eighteen months. Additionally, there is a £100 thousand project to replace the main lift in Healthcare to ensure prisoners with mobility problems have access to services. This is due for delivery by the end of the current financial year.

How will HMPPS constructively support HMP Winchester’s efforts to help prevent prisoners getting into debt whilst they wait for their spend accounts to be set up?

Prisoners at HMP Winchester are now allowed an initial canteen order which they can then repay once all their finances are sorted. The prison has introduced a new induction programme, part of which is an offer to newly arrived prisoners of an advance to ensure their basic needs are met and avoid debt.

How can greater compliance with systems and procedures by staff be encouraged to ensure a more consistent delivery?

What measures can be taken to further reduce the supply of intoxicating substances, especially hooch, to prisoners?

I was further encouraged to note the prison’s countermeasures against substance misuse, the restructuring of financial incentives that led to an increased take-up of education, and the introduction of gym equipment on the exercise yards allowing for better physical and mental wellbeing of prisoners.

Given the continued impact of the vermin infestation, and the associated health and safety concerns, what more lasting and impactful arrangements can be made to resolve this issue?