Recommendation 1
We continue to urge the Minister to maintain efforts to get rid of what we consider to be an iniquitous sentence altogether.
Source · IMB Annual Report
Lindholme
AI-generated report summary HMP Lindholme continued to operate under COVID-19 restrictions, limiting regime and purposeful activity, yet saw the successful implementation of digital infrastructure and in-cell phones. While healthcare provision improved with reduced waiting times in most areas, significant concerns remain regarding persistent overcrowding, the high number of IPP prisoners, and the inadequate provision of resettlement services. Issues with the timely handling of prisoner complaints and property also need further attention.
Year: 2022
Published: 27 May 2022
Type: Prison · Cat C
Population: 925
Recommendations: 6
Key concerns
Positive findings
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 0 | 2 |
| Self-harm incidents | 362 | 401 |
| ACCT cases opened | 225 | 312 |
| Prisoner assaults | 84 | 93 |
| Assaults on staff | 60 | 53 |
| Use of force | 289 | 337 |
| Drug finds | 166 | 367 |
Positive findings
AI-generated summaryThe introduction of a digital infrastructure and in-cell phones was enthusiastically welcomed, significantly improving communication and preparation for release. The Board commends efforts in the Covid vaccination programme and the considerable funds spent on refurbishing accommodation. Healthcare provision showed improvements, with reduced waiting times in most areas (except dentistry), better staffing, and prompt attention to mental health referrals. The chaplaincy demonstrated dynamic support for prisoners, and initiatives to improve the handling of property complaints showed noticeable positive effects by year-end.
Key concerns
The number of men who remain in prison with indeterminate Imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentences, which the Board considers an iniquitous sentence.
We are aware that the problems of overcrowding are caused by a lack of capacity in the prison estate, however the problem remains a very real one which is causing difficulties for prison staff, as well as having a detrimental effect on the mental health of prisoners. More needs to be done in the short term to address the problem, rather than waiting for a long-term building plan to provide the necessary additional capacity.
Many buildings in the industrial area require significant investment for the prison to develop its role as a training prison.
There has been little progress towards improving successful resettlement over the past year. HMP Lindholme is not a designated resettlement prison and lacks the resource to provide a satisfactory resettlement service. It is of concern that 222 prisoners were released into the community last year without the full benefit of a structured pre-release programme (Paragraph 7.5).
A large proportion of prisoners reported that their complaints were not handled in a timely manner, undermining confidence in the complaints system.
A significant increase in complaints about the handling of prisoners’ property, particularly issues with accounting for property during transfers to and from other establishments.
Source wording under review
It is disappointing to note that only three prisoners have physically attended the library over the past year, and this was to record a story for Story Book Dads. While it is understood that Covid has restricted activities which were once taken for granted and has increased pressure on staff, there is much evidence that supports the importance of prison libraries. In order to improve literacy and reduce reoffending the Prison Service Instruction on libraries suggests a 30-minute period of library per week for prisoners. We consider that more could be done to achieve this and to reintegrate library attendance into the weekly regime.
The high number of organised crime group (OCG) prisoners (214 by January 2022) poses a constant threat to security and safety.
The high level of use of PS by prisoners remained a major challenge to day-to-day running and security of the prison and also to the substance misuse team and healthcare generally.
The proportion of cells designed for single occupancy that are authorised for double occupancy has not reduced, and there are no plans to reduce it in the foreseeable future.
More than half of prisoners (56.6% in previous survey, similar now) still express the opinion that it is not easy to access healthcare.
The processing of prisoners’ details on OASys has not improved, with a persistent backlog of 63 cases, diluting time for effective sentence management and prisoner engagement.
Source wording under review
HMP Lindholme transferred 238 men to category D open prisons during the year, and a further 48 men are on a waiting list. We are concerned at the continued shortage of spaces in the open prison estate, which is very frustrating to prisoners and may have a significant impact on their rehabilitation.
RESOLVE Thinking Skills (TSP) Prisoners starting course 21 5 Prisoners completing course 10 4 Waiting list 122 107 We have recently learned that the RESOLVE course has stopped running and prisoners are to be reassessed for TSP. We understand that there are to be six TSP courses run next year, but this may be insufficient to reduce the backlog of prisoners waiting to address their offending behaviour. As of the end of the reporting year there were 38 indeterminate sentence for public protection (IPP) prisoners in HMP Lindholme, of whom 22 had been recalled back to prison. We welcome the reduction in numbers from 53 last year. The Board is concerned about the lack of opportunities that this group of prisoners have with regard to reducing their risk to the public. Currently there is only one OBP run in the prison (six courses a year).
The Board appreciates the efforts made this year to enable men to maintain social contact with their families. However, given the current prison population at HMP Lindholme and the fact that visits at weekends are always fully booked, the Board considers that efforts should be made to increase the visits capacity at weekends.
From answers to the questions in the survey, the Board is concerned that more than a third of prisoners are not aware of the role of the IMB, and 41% find it difficult to contact the IMB. Both figures are an increase since the survey of 2019. Furthermore, more than half are not aware of the IMB 0800 applications telephone number (Appendix 2 – question 8a, 8b and 11a). This may be as a result, in part, of the fact that more than half of prisoners questioned in the survey stated that they had not been given an induction in their first week in the prison and also because there was less opportunity for prisoners to see Board members during their routine visits.
A constant demand to replace privacy curtains in double occupancy cells due to damage or disappearance.
Prisoners arriving are not being allowed early access to their own clothing held in reception.
There have been a number of complaints that men are unable to wash their personal clothing on the wings because the washers and driers have been unserviceable. While it is appreciated that broken machines do take time to repair, we consider that every effort should be made to provide some alternative arrangements.
On the whole, the food is of an acceptable standard although men do complain about the size of portions and the fact they find it unappetising. From our survey, 53% of men questioned considered the food unsatisfactory (Appendix 2 - question 3b).
In the reporting year, 34 were not completed in the correct timescale. This mirrors similar lateness in replying to other complaints, and such delays have led to prisoners becoming frustrated.
Recommendations
Recommendation 2
More needs to be done in the short term to address the problem [overcrowding], rather than waiting for a long-term building plan to provide the necessary additional capacity.
Recommendation 3
The initiative to provide a satisfactory resettlement service should be continued until such time as men can be transferred to resettlement prisons before the end of their sentence.
Recommendation 4
We recommend that the matter be reviewed in order to improve prisoners’ confidence in the complaints system.
Recommendation 5
We would urge that this initiative is reinforced in order to further reduce the dissatisfaction that arises amongst prisoners.
Recommendation 6
Consider ways to reintegrate library attendance into the weekly regime.
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation, including laundry, clothing, ablutions | 7 | 10 |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 7 | 4 |
| Discipline, including adjudications, IEP, sanctions | 36 | 14 |
| Equality | 18 | 4 |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 19 | 14 |
| Food and kitchens | 3 | 3 |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 40 | 34 |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 34 | 14 |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 48 | 13 |
| Property within this establishment | 49 | 14 |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 21 | 3 |
| Sentence management, including HDC, release on temporary licence, parole, release dates, recategorisation | 75 | 41 |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 55 | 46 |
| Transfers | 33 | 6 |
Related inspections & investigations
Safety 2
· Respect 3
· Activity 1
· Release 1
Stephen Baddeley · Other non-natural
Daniel Bailey · Other non-natural
Michael Dawson · Natural causes
Daniel Akam · Mental Health related deaths; State Custody related deaths; Suicide (from 2015)
Anthony Fraser · State Custody related deaths
Other reports for Lindholme
Population 1,010
· Concerns
Population 946
· Self-harm 755
· Concerns
Population 926
· Self-harm 474
· Concerns
Population 926
· Self-harm 269
· Concerns
Population 944
· Self-harm 401
· Concerns
Population 984
· Self-harm 602
· Concerns