Recommendation 1
To prioritise opportunities for men to re-engage with learning, employment and training to mitigate the disadvantages of the lockdowns and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on preparation for release.
Source · IMB Annual Report
Northumberland
AI-generated report summary HMP Northumberland, a Category C prison, successfully managed the Covid-19 pandemic during 2021, maintaining a safe and humane environment with commendable staff dedication. While the regime was restricted, efforts were made to provide in-cell activities and gradually reopen purposeful activity. Key concerns remain around the lasting impact on prisoner mental health, insufficient opportunities for rehabilitation, and the unacceptable issue of prisoners being released into homelessness.
Year: 2021
Published: 26 May 2022
Type: Prison · Cat C
Population: 1,338
Recommendations: 3
Key concerns
Positive findings
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 6 | — |
| Self-harm incidents | 312 | — |
| ACCT cases opened | 314 | — |
| Prisoner assaults | 120 | — |
Positive findings
AI-generated summaryThe Board commends HMP Northumberland for successfully managing the Covid-19 pandemic, maintaining a safe and humane environment with commendable staff dedication. Staff are praised for their care, knowledge, and positive relationships with prisoners, especially in the segregation unit. Significant improvements in cleanliness and reductions in violence and self-harm incidents were noted. The chaplaincy team's exceptional work and the successful blended approach to education, resulting in higher uptake and lower drop-out rates, were also highlighted. The prison made commendable efforts to expand work opportunities post-restrictions and prioritized staff wellbeing.
Key concerns
Limited opportunities for men to re-engage with learning, employment and training to mitigate the disadvantages of the lockdowns and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on preparation for release.
The full effect on prisoner mental health has yet to be seen. The Board would like assurance from the minister that a fully funded infrastructure of support is available to the entire prison estate to support adequate opportunity for mental health support, along with adequate education and employment opportunities on release.
Men are released into homeless situations and the Board finds this unacceptable. The Board would seek confirmation from the minister that those agencies charged with the responsibility of housing men on release are doing just that and, more importantly, that there is adequate appropriate housing stock available.
The Board continues to have concerns regarding the shortage of places on specialist units in the area, for those with significant mental health needs.
Recommendations
Recommendation 2
Whilst we are aware the prison has managed the pandemic very effectively, we are concerned that the full effect on prisoner mental health has yet to be seen. We would like assurance from the minister that a fully funded infrastructure of support is available to the entire prison estate to support adequate opportunity for mental health support, along with adequate education and employment opportunities on release.
Recommendation 3
Additionally, the full effect of the transition to the new probation service has yet to be evaluated, but we are aware that men are released into homeless situations and we find this unacceptable. We would seek confirmation from the minister that those agencies charged with the responsibility of housing men on release are doing just that and, more importantly, that there is adequate appropriate housing stock available.
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation, including laundry, clothing, ablutions | 4 | 3 |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 3 | 4 |
| Discipline, including adjudications, IEP, sanctions | 1 | 3 |
| Equality | 3 | 3 |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 5 | 12 |
| Food and kitchens | 2 | 2 |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 28 | 26 |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 4 | 6 |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 8 | 18 |
| Property within this establishment | 20 | 17 |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 1 | 19 |
| Sentence management, including HDC, release on temporary licence, parole, release dates, recategorisation | 20 | 32 |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 23 | 21 |
| Transfers | 5 | 12 |
Related inspections & investigations
Safety 3
· Respect 3
· Activity 3
· Release 3
John Reay · Natural causes
Khaled Hassan · Other non-natural
Vincent Oliver · State Custody related deaths
Other reports for Northumberland
Population 1,194
· Concerns
Population 1,213
· Concerns
Population 1,339
· Self-harm 463
· Concerns
Population 1,327
· Self-harm 314
· Concerns
Population 1,222
· Self-harm 423
· Concerns