Hull

Response
I appreciate the Board’s ongoing concerns around the use of double cells and overall estate capacity. Holding two men 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. Although there is overcrowding at HMP/YOI Hull and at some other prisons, across the estate annually published figures show that crowding reduced from 22.5% to 20.2% between 2018/19 and 2020/21. This is equivalent to approximately 4,000 fewer prisoners held in crowded conditions. HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) has recently published a revised framework for the certification of prisoner accommodation. Cells are only shared where a Prison Group Director has assessed them to be of an adequate size and condition. While most single cells in the prison system could physically hold two people, the determination of the maximum crowded capacity of a particular establishment is a matter of operational judgement, taking into account risks to safety and stability. In times of severe population pressure, establishments will be expected to hold as many prisoners as they can safely accommodate, but that number should be determined by the operational managers responsible for managing the prison and not by a central process or by wider supply and demand issues. Regarding capacity, as mentioned in last years’ response, we are investing £3.8 billion over the next three years to deliver 20,000 new, uncrowded prison places. There may be options in future to reduce crowding levels in the estate, for example if population growth is slower than projected and there is sufficient headroom in the estate, but it is not possible to commit to this based on the latest projected population. It is also difficult to forecast how these national trends will develop at a local level and the proportion of prisoners held in crowded accommodation at HMP/YOI Hull will ultimately depend on regional population levels and demand.

Response
Turning to resettlement provision at the prison, as part of the changes made for the unification of probation services in June 2021, contracts have been awarded in each Probation Region to providers of accommodation services for sentenced prisoners. These Commissioned Rehabilitative Service (CRS) providers are mandated to have a presence in the resettlement prisons in their region, including HMP/YOI Hull. Yorkshire and the Humber Probation Service, which covers HMP/YOI Hull, are developing their model which will ensure collaboration between the prison and community-based probation practitioners. Protocols are in place to ensure the prison-based pre-release team send 12-week discharge reports for any prisoner leaving HMP/YOI Hull to the relevant Community Probation Practitioners’ advising them that the prisoner is nearing release and to review the resettlement plan as well as submitting all relevant CRS referrals. A follow-up process is in place to ensure relevant referrals have been made, including escalation procedures if necessary. The Regional Yorkshire and Humber CRS Contract Management Team are working closely with Shelter, the accommodation provider, as well as the Community Integration Team based within HMP/YOI Hull to improve collaboration. Any identified concerns relating to accommodation delivery will be managed via formal governance procedures.

Response
The new Prisoners’ Property Policy Framework is currently going through the necessary clearance processes and will be published as soon as that is concluded. Development of the Framework was delayed due to COVID-19 and the adjustments required following the feedback and engagement process on the draft policy. The Framework aims to ensure that property is handled with efficiency, care and respect and that staff and prisoners are clear on the arrangements in place, including stronger guidance to ensure volumetric control limits are respected. Prisoner Escort and Custody Services (PECS) provide transportation for individuals and their property. The vehicle fleet is designed to carry the number of people it is intended for, together with their property in line with the volumetric limit which is governed by Prison Service Instruction 12/2011 Prisoners Property. The escort contractor will also transport a reasonable volume of legal documentation. As part of the planning for the new PECS contract that commenced in August 2020, it was agreed that the new vehicle fleet would have increased capacity to facilitate an additional half bag of property for consumables to the limit of 7.5kg. The introduction of digitally recorded Person Escort Records (PERs), including property tags, will assist with investigations for property that is lost in transit with PECS suppliers. Additionally, HMPPS is considering what more can be done to encourage prisoners to send out or dispose of excess items to reduce the amount of their property that cannot transfer with them. Steps are also being taken to ensure a consistent approach when prisons forward on any excess items to prisoners at their new establishments after transfers have taken place. PECS continue to monitor all aspects of the contractors' performance, and on occasions where it fails to meet the agreed levels this will be raised with the contractor for improvement.

Response
The initiative has continued, though some of the staff originally involved have not had the time available to continue. Discussions with prisoners and staff involved, and observation of the records of the discussions, show that the interventions are helping the young adults to reflect on their behaviour, thinking, and relationships, and giving them new targets for the future.

Response
The key worker support has remained limited due to the extensive pressures on the staff involved during the crisis.