Source · IMB Annual Report
Wetherby
Year: 2021
Published: 4 Jan 2022
Type: Prison · Cat YOI
Population: 164
Recommendations: 8
Key concerns
Positive findings
This report highlights HMYOI Wetherby's effective management of the Covid-19 pandemic and positive staff-prisoner relationships, alongside significant improvements in facilities and family contact. However, it raises serious concerns, particularly the chronic shortage of secure mental health beds, delays in transferring young adults, and persistent issues with maintenance. The Board also notes challenges in staffing stability, ACCT application, and high levels of violence, urging action from the Minister, Youth Custody Service, and Governor.
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 0 | 0 |
| Self-harm incidents | 646 | — |
| ACCT cases opened | 216 | — |
| Prisoner assaults | 72 | — |
| Assaults on staff | 100 | — |
| Use of force | 1,583 | 1,679 |
Positive findings
The Board commends the seamless management of the transfer of young female prisoners and the ongoing building work to improve amenities. Positive interactions between staff and young people were noted, particularly in reception and induction, with staff receiving thanks for their care. The establishment successfully managed the Covid-19 pandemic, providing appropriate healthcare and achieving the highest vaccination rate in the YOI estate. Innovations like Purple Visits were introduced to maintain family links, and improvements in cleanliness, wing updates, and education facilities were welcomed. Segregation unit Anson also saw a more proactive regime, and Napier unit was highlighted for its well-run facility and tailored education programmes.
Key concerns
Mental Health
Repeated
Acute lack of secure mental health hospital beds.
Resettlement/Release
Unacceptable delay in transferring young people aged over 18 to the adult estate, causing heightened anxiety and difficulties in placement.
Equality/Diversity
Disquiet among male prisoners due to perceived preferential and different treatment of female prisoners (e.g., direct arrival, superior accommodation, own clothing).
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
Lengthy delays in maintenance work continue, including repairing out-of-order cells and the kitchen floor, and concerns about maintaining cleanliness standards.
Staffing
Lack of permanence and stability within the senior management team.
Complaints/Property
Insufficient visibility of Barnardo's advocacy service since the start of Covid-19, potentially limiting young people's access to support.
Safety
Repeated
Many completion errors and omissions remain in the new ACCT v6 document, indicating a lack of sufficient quality assurance and understanding among staff, and training is not mandatory.
Safety
Repeated
High levels of violence between young people and against staff, with a concerning number of weapons found and used in assaults.
Safety
Repeated
Routine activation of body-worn cameras (BWCs) during and leading up to use of force incidents is still not happening, leading to insufficient capture of evidence for reviews.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
Extremes of temperature in Anson and Benbow wings (too hot in summer, too cold in winter).
Food/Catering
Repeated
The breakfast pack on Anson (segregation unit) is delivered at 4:30 pm the previous day with the evening meal.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Time out of cell for vulnerable young people on Keppel unit remains unacceptably low, especially at weekends, and for new admissions on the RCU.
Other
Lack of information supplied by youth offending teams when young people arrive in reception means staff lack sufficient information to evaluate needs and behaviour during first few days.
Recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Each year we ask the Minister what is being done nationally to reduce the levels of violence amongst young people. With an ever-increasing number of victims and offenders, it would appear that what we have been told is being done is clearly not working. The figures for those young people held at Wetherby on remand, or sentenced for murder, including attempted murder and manslaughter, make stark reading. The Board would like to know what is being done to reduce the level of serious violence by young people in the community? Repeated | Other | |
| 1 | Many young people already held at Wetherby who are aged 18+ continue to experience delay while waiting to transfer to the adult estate. It is unreasonable for young people to have to endure a lengthy wait while negotiations take place between establishments. These are frequently complex young people with challenging behaviour, many of whom face long sentences. The heightened anxiety created by endless delay does little to help their behaviour. Can the Youth Custody Service reassure the Board that negotiations between establishments and subsequent transfers will take place expeditiously? | HMPPS | |
| 1 | The sudden and relatively unexpected arrival of young female prisoners at Wetherby has been well managed. However, the male prisoners are less than happy. They feel that the females are being treated not only differently, but favourably. They do not arrive via reception but directly on to their unit: the female accommodation is perceived as superior and they can wear their own clothing. There may well be justification for this practice, but in the eyes of the male young people it is unfair. What is being done to address their concerns? | Governor / Director | |
| 2 | The Board continues to be frustrated by the acute lack of secure mental health hospital beds and the inability of politicians to address the situation. For the sixth year running, we ask what is being done to increase the number of beds for those young people for whom prison is clearly not the right place? It is inhumane to place young people where their serious mental health needs cannot be met despite the best efforts of the staff who support them. Repeated | Other | |
| 2 | Until July 2021 Wetherby YOI was a YOI for young male offenders. The introduction of young female offenders was to many, not least the Board, a surprise. It appears that there has been significant financial investment in order to accommodate them. Is this to be a permanent arrangement? Is the future of Wetherby now as a mixed sex establishment? | HMPPS | |
| 2 | Lengthy delays in maintenance work continue: for example, delays in repairing out of order cells and the never-ending saga of the kitchen floor. This is unacceptable. Throughout Covid the standard of cleanliness at Wetherby was excellent. However, as the pandemic seems to be easing, there is slippage. It would be unfortunate if this is allowed to continue. Can the Governor reassure the Board that standards of cleanliness will be maintained, and that repair and maintenance is dealt with in a timely manner? Repeated | Governor / Director | |
| 3 | The lack of permanence within the senior management team is of great concern to the Board. Is the Governor able to offer reassurance to the Board that some level of stability will take place? Barnardo’s advocacy has an important role to play in supporting the young people. They hear of Barnardo’s role, along with that of many others, during the induction programme. However, since the start of Covid-19, Barnardo’s have been far less visible. How can the Governor make sure that all young people have an equal opportunity to access advocacy support? | Governor / Director | |
| 4 | The completion of the new ACCT v6 document presents, for many staff, a substantial challenge and too many completion errors and omissions still remain. Can the Governor reassure the Board that sufficient quality assurance procedures are in place to improve understanding of the ACCT document across the prison? Repeated | Governor / Director |
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (including transfers) | 45 | 38 |
| Discipline/adjudications | 14 | 11 |
| Food | 7 | 5 |
| General complaints | 22 | 16 |
| Health | 11 | 9 |
| Legal | 20 | 14 |
| Other | 3 | 3 |
| Property | 30 | 27 |
| Race | 3 | 1 |
| Regime (including purposeful activity and time out of cell) | 8 | 10 |
| Safety (bullying, gang issues, ACCT, self harm) | 5 | 4 |
| Staff behaviour | 24 | 17 |
| Total | 195 | 158 |
| Visits (social and professional) | 3 | 3 |
Other reports for Wetherby
Report details
- Establishment
- Wetherby
- Type
- Prison · Cat YOI
- Report year
- 2021
- Published
- 4 January 2022
- Responsible body
- YOI Wetherby
- Recommendations
- 8
Population
| Population | 164 |
| Operational capacity | 360 |
| Time out of cell | 5.8h/day |
Service providers
Escort service
GeoAmey
Healthcare (GP Services)
Wetherby medical practice
Healthcare (Mental Health Care)
South West Yorkshire NHS Foundation Trust
Healthcare (Primary Care)
Leeds Community Health Care NHS Trust
Independent advocacy
Barnardo’s
Learning and skills
Novus
Maintenance and repair
Amey
Mentoring/support
In2Out
Youth work
Kinetics Youth Work Services