Whitemoor

Response
I appreciate the Board’s continued interest about in-cell telephony. Further to last year’s response from HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), at present there is no funding agreed for the in-cell telephony project at HMP Whitemoor. A site survey has been conducted to understand the cost of installation more accurately and HMPPS will continue to work with the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) on supporting installation at the earliest opportunity. Further funding decisions are due to be made during the next financial year 2022-2023.

Response
I am pleased to confirm that the Secure Social Video Calling service will continue to be available to ensure prisoners are able to communicate with their family via video calls, both in the UK and overseas. The MoJ has recently completed a re-procurement process to identify the best available provider to continue the service at the end of the initial contract with Made Purple. This is a two-year contract and has been awarded to Phone Hub, an established provider of secure video calls, who already provide their service to HMP Huntercombe. We are anticipating the completion of a transition period from the incumbent provider, Made Purple, to the new supplier, Phone Hub in early 2022. This will ensure a continued social video calling service.

Response
Specialist units within the Long Term and High Security Estate (LTHSE) provide a range of services to meet the needs of complex prisoners. Specialised Units have individual criteria, referral and assessment processes in order to ensure that the service is appropriate for the needs of the individual prisoner and that the operational stability of the unit is maintained. HMP Whitemoor has four specialist services at the establishment which represents a significant range of options to meet the needs of individual prisoners. Most specialist units within Long Term and High Security Estate custody require consent from the prisoner to facilitate any move. Prisoners that elect to remain segregated, despite being able to locate in the main location at HMP Whitemoor, may not need specialist intervention at all and the Multi-Disciplinary team attached to the segregation unit is able to undertake motivational work and employ resources from other departments at the prison, including mental health and psychological services, to support prisoners in an appropriate progressive pathway.

Response
For approximately two years new arrivals at HMP Whitemoor have been routinely subject to body scanning. A Rapiscan itemiser is used for incoming post to detect illicit contents. It is believed a significant route of ingress might be Rule 39 legal correspondence which can be difficult to detect. The Security Investment Programme (SIP) is currently working to develop a national maintenance, training and consumables contract for all Rapiscan trace detection equipment in prisons, which includes HMP Whitemoor. The aim of the contract is to leverage a higher quality of service, better value for money and improved consistency regarding this equipment’s maintenance including regular drug library updates and further training options. HMPPS is currently on schedule to deliver this piece of work with a view to having a national contract in place by early 2022. SIP will be in touch with prisons in due course to advise how prisons can access this contract. The Risk and Capabilities Unit (RaCU) provide bespoke support to prisons through a range of risk management and capability building products. A team of Risk Managers are available to conduct on site assessments of identified vulnerabilities, where highest need is identified and in agreement with operational support group seniors, to act as a critical friend to offer guidance and targeted support. The RaCU also offers a wide spectrum of support and intervention products designed to enhance security capability. This includes (but is not limited to), numerous technological and physical advances to detect and prevent the usage of illicit items, formal training and skilling sessions, clear and constant learning communications as well as security procedures and practice improvement advice to enable our staff to perform their duties consistently well. The Drug strategy and delivery team offer bespoke support regarding illicit substances including updates and briefings with shared good practice to restrict substances gaining entry but also regarding demand reduction and access to effective treatment and recovery services.

Response
The Board may be aware there was a pause in the development of the new Prisoners’ Property policy framework due to Covid-19. Following the pause, a meeting with IMB representatives took place in August 2020. Feedback from all stakeholders was then considered and HMPPS has now circulated the draft framework with all internal and external stakeholders, including the IMB Secretariat and the IMB representatives previously consulted. The large number of comments received is being considered and consequently the framework is now expected to be published early next year. The framework will provide greater direction and standardisation on a national basis and has been designed with procedural justice at its core. It strengthens guidance on known problem areas such as volumetric control and seeks to ensure prisoners’ property is managed efficiently, effectively, consistently and with care and respect.

Response
Complications as a result of Covid-19, followed by difficulties in security clearance and Ramadan, impacted contractors’ access to the kitchen area. Consequently the sub-contractors moved onto projects where security clearances were not an issue. This has been escalated to the contractor’s senior management to resolve and work is expected to recommence in the near future. Regarding security clearances, to work in High Security prisons all staff and contractors are required to undertake various checks aligned to the Government Baseline Personnel Security Standard and National Security Vetting (NSV) at Counter-Terrorism Check (CTC) level. Two Government agencies are involved in conducting these clearances and one has informed HMPPS that currently there are no delays being faced with the HMPPS Enhanced Baseline check. The NSV is a process that has no defined timescales and although expectations are set that it typically takes around two months, applications can take a significant amount of time to complete. Whilst this can be frustrating, these checks are a necessary part of the process in ensuring the safety of the applicant, staff, and individuals in HMPPS care. Steps have been taken to review the recruitment procedure within HMPPS to look at what further can be done to improve the process going forward. The LTHSE is also working with the Service Delivery Manager to request that security clearance forms part of the specification requirements when a contract is being awarded.

Response
It was therefore encouraging to receive your comments that the prison’s commitment to a more rehabilitative culture was maintained during lockdown with a rehabilitation culture council being established involving prisoners.