Recommendation 1
The use of short sentences should be examined critically in terms of their effectiveness versus the impact on families and society.
Source · IMB Annual Report
Peterborough (Women)
AI-generated report summary The reporting year was dominated by the Covid-19 pandemic, during which HMP Peterborough (Women) managed the emergency well, leading to significant improvements in safety outcomes. However, the restrictive regime severely impacted women's wellbeing and rehabilitation. Key concerns remain regarding national support for complex needs women, the effectiveness of the key worker system, and the need to adapt the regime better to women's specific needs.
Year: 2021
Published: 11 Oct 2021
Type: Prison · Cat Women's, YOI
Recommendations: 4
Key concerns
Positive findings
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 0 | — |
| Self-harm incidents | 1,014 | 1,676 |
| Prisoner assaults | 28 | 69 |
| Assaults on staff | 53 | 100 |
| Use of force | 279 | 315 |
Positive findings
AI-generated summaryThe prison deserves considerable credit for the way in which the Covid-19 emergency has been managed. Strong leadership, flexibility, good communications and concerted effort have led to good safety outcomes for residents. The Board welcomes the significant improvements in safety during this period and an improved focus on diversity and inclusion. The improved medical triage process has led to reduced waiting times and non-attendance for appointments, improving outcomes for women.
Key concerns
The Board continues to see no evidence of proactive support from the national team for some complex residents (see section 4.4)
The Board would like to see the restitution of a robust key work system whereby women are aware of this support and know their assigned key worker.
The Board would like to see further progress on adapting the prison’s regime and practice to suit the needs of women better.
Concerns continue about the lack of cells which meet the needs of prisoners with disabilities.
Five residents exceeded 42 days’ segregation, with one resident held for a total of 181 days. This case very much highlighted the lack of alternative secure accommodation as outlined in our previous year’s annual report.
The dental service was suspended until January 2021, resulting in complaints from residents having to tolerate painful conditions.
This reporting year, there has been a shortfall in the establishment of two nurses, one psychiatrist and one psychologist.
Recommendations
Recommendation 2
The Board continues to see no evidence of proactive support from the national team for some complex residents (see section 4.4)
Recommendation 3
The Board would like to see the restitution of a robust key work system whereby women are aware of this support and know their assigned key worker.
Recommendation 4
The Board would like to see further progress on adapting the prison’s regime and practice to suit the needs of women better.
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation, including laundry, clothing, ablutions | 17 | 23 |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 4 | 11 |
| Discipline, including adjudications, IEP, sanctions | 0 | 4 |
| Equality | 6 | 5 |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 7 | 15 |
| Food and kitchens | 2 | 4 |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 47 | 53 |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 16 | 57 |
| Miscellaneous, including complaints system | 1 | 25 |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 4 | 9 |
| Property within this establishment | 45 | 32 |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 8 | 25 |
| Sentence management, including HDC, release on temporary licence, parole, release dates, recategorisation | 13 | 23 |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 41 | 65 |
| Transfers | 0 | 9 |
Related inspections & investigations
Other reports for Peterborough (Women)
· Self-harm 1,154
· Concerns
· Self-harm 1,697
· Concerns