Moorland

Can the minister ask cabinet colleagues in the Department of Health and Social Care and the Treasury to address this shortage of beds?

I understand the Board’s ongoing concerns about the availability of secure hospital beds for prisoners suffering with severe mental ill health. The Government published the draft Mental Health Bill in June 2022 which includes the provision to introduce a statutory time limit of 28 days for transfers to hospital as proposed in the Reforming the Mental Health Act (MHA) White Paper published in January 2021. This time limit, together with operational improvements, will help reduce unnecessary delays and ensure people in the criminal justice system receive swift access to treatment. The Bill also commits to ending the use of prison as a place of safety for defendants and convicted people requiring assessment and treatment under the MHA. The overall strategic direction of NHS England continues to be the maintenance of existing secure hospital bed capacity with improved geographical distribution, not an increase. It is worth noting that throughout the Covid-19 pandemic there were closures within the secure hospital estate due to Covid-19 cases resulting in many patients experiencing admission delays. The Ministry of Justice, HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), NHS England and health partners are fully committed to the 28 day timeframe and are focused on working together to improve efficiency across the pathway. This includes improving the transfer and remission process and proactively managing cases to reduce waiting times. Since NHS England published the new Transfer and Remission Guidance in June 2021 which promotes timely transfers, an implementation programme has been undertaken by NHS England to ensure staff understand the changes, the key dates being monitored and escalation routes. A new process for collecting and monitoring data on transfers has also been developed to identify trends and areas where further improvement is needed allowing targeted work to be carried out with regional health teams where required.

Can the minister review and prioritise the progression and release (where appropriate) of IPP prisoners?

I understand the Board’s concerns about prisoners serving indeterminate sentences for public protection (IPP). As the Board will be aware, the IPP sentence was abolished in late 2012 by the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act. This abolition was not applied retrospectively as the Government at the time took the view it would not be right to alter sentences that had been lawfully imposed prior to abolition. There are no current plans to change the legislation on the IPP sentence, including the licence period. HMPPS does remain committed to doing all it can to support their progression towards a safe release and these efforts are continuing through the IPP action plan. Despite the challenges that Covid-19 presented, the latest published national figures at the end of June 2022 show the unreleased IPP population standing at 1,492. This is a reduction from 1,722 at the end of June 2021 demonstrating that opportunities remained available to IPP prisoners wishing to progress. Following the publication of the Justice Select Committee report into the IPP sentence, HMPPS will review the IPP action plan so that resources and efforts are focused on the right aspects of progression. It is also important to note, that as the number of IPP prisoners who have never been released continues to decrease the proportion of those that remain in prison who have committed more serious offences and whose cases are complex grows. The risks and needs of these prisoners must be addressed before the independent Parole Board consider that they can be safely managed in the community, which is why some prisoners spend a number of years in custody after completing their tariff. Every effort also continues to be made to locate an IPP prisoner to a prison best placed to meet their sentence planning needs as promptly as possible. Locally at HMP/YOI Moorland the implementation of the IPP ideals is part of the prisons current and future planning. All IPPs are monitored, have allocated Key Workers and Prison Offender Managers who, during supervision, are discussing appropriate support to enable risk reduction which will allow prisoners to work towards release. The prison also recognises that there is further work to do in educating and upskilling staff in understanding the behaviours and risks associated with this cohort of prisoners as well the impact the IPP sentence can have on the prisoner. The Board’s focused work on IPP prisoners is also welcomed and the Offender Management Unit at HMP/YOI Moorland are working on how to get the best for these prisoners following the results of the Board’s survey of IPP prisoners. However, it is recognised that the sample size of seven is small and may not reflect the views of the wider IPP population across the estate, I therefore look forward to the IMB reporting further on a national level on this matter.

Can consideration be given to the implementation of the 2019 HMPPS nine ‘priority’ and four ‘key’ ideals, suggested as best practice in working with IPP prisoners, to ensure a consistent and humane offer to this cohort of prisoners?

I understand the Board’s concerns about prisoners serving indeterminate sentences for public protection (IPP). As the Board will be aware, the IPP sentence was abolished in late 2012 by the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act. This abolition was not applied retrospectively as the Government at the time took the view it would not be right to alter sentences that had been lawfully imposed prior to abolition. There are no current plans to change the legislation on the IPP sentence, including the licence period. HMPPS does remain committed to doing all it can to support their progression towards a safe release and these efforts are continuing through the IPP action plan. Despite the challenges that Covid-19 presented, the latest published national figures at the end of June 2022 show the unreleased IPP population standing at 1,492. This is a reduction from 1,722 at the end of June 2021 demonstrating that opportunities remained available to IPP prisoners wishing to progress. Following the publication of the Justice Select Committee report into the IPP sentence, HMPPS will review the IPP action plan so that resources and efforts are focused on the right aspects of progression. It is also important to note, that as the number of IPP prisoners who have never been released continues to decrease the proportion of those that remain in prison who have committed more serious offences and whose cases are complex grows. The risks and needs of these prisoners must be addressed before the independent Parole Board consider that they can be safely managed in the community, which is why some prisoners spend a number of years in custody after completing their tariff. Every effort also continues to be made to locate an IPP prisoner to a prison best placed to meet their sentence planning needs as promptly as possible. Locally at HMP/YOI Moorland the implementation of the IPP ideals is part of the prisons current and future planning. All IPPs are monitored, have allocated Key Workers and Prison Offender Managers who, during supervision, are discussing appropriate support to enable risk reduction which will allow prisoners to work towards release. The prison also recognises that there is further work to do in educating and upskilling staff in understanding the behaviours and risks associated with this cohort of prisoners as well the impact the IPP sentence can have on the prisoner. The Board’s focused work on IPP prisoners is also welcomed and the Offender Management Unit at HMP/YOI Moorland are working on how to get the best for these prisoners following the results of the Board’s survey of IPP prisoners. However, it is recognised that the sample size of seven is small and may not reflect the views of the wider IPP population across the estate, I therefore look forward to the IMB reporting further on a national level on this matter.

Can consideration be given to resourcing the backlog of programme provision, to allow progression towards a safe release for determinate-sentenced prisoners?

Further to last year’s response, HMP/YOI Moorland has successfully increased the group size of Offender Behaviour Programme (OBP) delivery as the pandemic restrictions relaxed and to date the prison has started 30 prisoners on Thinking Skills Programme (TSP), Resolve and Horizon this year. OBP provision has been reviewed and funding resources allocated based on population demands. However, it is recognised that resources are not the sole issue. Due to a healthy jobs market and attrition of programme staffing, maintaining a full complement of staff has been a challenge. Access to staff training was identified as a recruitment barrier during the pandemic and this is improving with quicker access to programmes now available. The prisons efforts are also continuing to recruit to vacancies. It should also be noted that the Resolve programme has been decommissioned and the prison is in transition expanding its TSP delivery in place of Resolve. Where prisoners are assessed as suitable and waiting for programmes the HMPPS Psychology Service Group Directorate Programme Manager is working with the prison to find alternative places at other prisons.

Can key worker sessions be prioritised?

Can relationships with local employers be established to provide a pathway into employment on release?

Can there be a general improvement in sentence progression and resettlement services for prisoners?

Can the 2019 HMPPS IPP ‘Ideals’ document be adopted and implemented in Moorland?

I understand the Board’s concerns about prisoners serving indeterminate sentences for public protection (IPP). As the Board will be aware, the IPP sentence was abolished in late 2012 by the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act. This abolition was not applied retrospectively as the Government at the time took the view it would not be right to alter sentences that had been lawfully imposed prior to abolition. There are no current plans to change the legislation on the IPP sentence, including the licence period. HMPPS does remain committed to doing all it can to support their progression towards a safe release and these efforts are continuing through the IPP action plan. Despite the challenges that Covid-19 presented, the latest published national figures at the end of June 2022 show the unreleased IPP population standing at 1,492. This is a reduction from 1,722 at the end of June 2021 demonstrating that opportunities remained available to IPP prisoners wishing to progress. Following the publication of the Justice Select Committee report into the IPP sentence, HMPPS will review the IPP action plan so that resources and efforts are focused on the right aspects of progression. It is also important to note, that as the number of IPP prisoners who have never been released continues to decrease the proportion of those that remain in prison who have committed more serious offences and whose cases are complex grows. The risks and needs of these prisoners must be addressed before the independent Parole Board consider that they can be safely managed in the community, which is why some prisoners spend a number of years in custody after completing their tariff. Every effort also continues to be made to locate an IPP prisoner to a prison best placed to meet their sentence planning needs as promptly as possible. Locally at HMP/YOI Moorland the implementation of the IPP ideals is part of the prisons current and future planning. All IPPs are monitored, have allocated Key Workers and Prison Offender Managers who, during supervision, are discussing appropriate support to enable risk reduction which will allow prisoners to work towards release. The prison also recognises that there is further work to do in educating and upskilling staff in understanding the behaviours and risks associated with this cohort of prisoners as well the impact the IPP sentence can have on the prisoner. The Board’s focused work on IPP prisoners is also welcomed and the Offender Management Unit at HMP/YOI Moorland are working on how to get the best for these prisoners following the results of the Board’s survey of IPP prisoners. However, it is recognised that the sample size of seven is small and may not reflect the views of the wider IPP population across the estate, I therefore look forward to the IMB reporting further on a national level on this matter.

Once again, the Board is requesting that the food budget is increased

HMPPS said that food budget is devolved to Governors. Recognised to be challenging, but ‘catering team continues to provide nutritionally balanced meals’.