Littlehey

Response
Thank you for your comments about the resettlement provision. HMP Littlehey is a specialist training prison for men convicted of sexual offences, and there is a clear expectation that the cohort should progress from a specialist training prison to a resettlement prison ahead of their release, which in this instance includes HMP Five Wells. My officials have advised that there are currently some issues being felt across the prison estate with reconfiguration, which includes the transfer of men convicted of sexual offences into HMP Five Wells and is dependent on available spaces. For those men who require pre-release support but remain in HMP Littlehey until their release, East of England Probation Service are providing pre-release support in the prison. This will improve as HMP Five Wells increases its capacity levels and reconfiguration is successfully implemented across England and Wales. More broadly, there has been a transition period following the unification of Probation in June 2021 which has affected the delivery of resettlement services in some prisons. Regional Probation Directors are working to stabilise the Pre-Release teams (managed by or otherwise linked to a Probation Delivery Unit) and Commissioned Rehabilitative Service provision in their regions to improve service delivery to all people in prison.

Response
HMP Littlehey is monitored on timeliness of complaints and there is a metric on HMPPS Performance Hub. However, the Governor has no control over the timeliness of replies from other prisons. As mentioned in last year’s response, the Prisoner Complaints Policy Framework published in July 2019 specifically addresses complaints that relate to another prison or property lost in transit (see sections 5.3 and 5.4 of the framework).

Response
The Rapid Deployment Cell (RDC) project is a key part of the commitment to deliver 20,000 additional prison places to address the increasing demand. The RDC project team had to go through the appropriate processes before building could commence. This included a careful site selection process, feasibility studies of each site, designing the new units, completing a tender process and undergoing governance to secure approval and funding for the project. The RDC units are being built on the astro-turfed pitch (as the demolished G-Wing plot of land is not big enough to facilitate the units and deliver the required places). The location of the units was determined in consultation with the Governor as an under-used space. The RDC units have been designed to help meet current demand while permanent and long-term capacity is being built. They differ from the Covid-19 temporary units in several ways meaning they are constructed to resemble traditional houseblocks and can be either single or double stacked accommodation. The design also allows the cells to be moved from one prison to another if needed and they have a longer lifespan of 15 years. Regarding adequate roofing, an exercise took place to explore the necessity of canopies. It was concluded these were not seen as value for money, instead it was agreed to maintain the original design. Construction work has started at HMP Littlehey to prepare the ground for installing the units. It is anticipated the units will be ready for occupancy by the end of March 2023.

Response
£150,000 has been allocated to replace the freezer units on site, which is currently being tendered by the Ministry of Justice Project team. The work is expected to be completed this financial year 2022/23 and will see the removal of all temporary freezers.

Response
Given the problems encountered with the communal phones over the reporting year, we recognise the importance of having in-cell telephones implemented across prison estate and this technology allows better access to family, friends, and support frameworks. To install in-cell infrastructure into the prison environment is complex and can often take up to 12 months to complete. There are seven closed public sector prisons within England and Wales that require funding for telephony which includes HMP Littlehey. Surveys are currently taking place at HMP Littlehey to establish the detailed costs for the implementation of services and once completed will be evaluated.