Source · IMB Annual Report
Wymott
Year: 2021
Published: 8 Oct 2021
Type: Prison · Cat C
Recommendations: 8
Key concerns
Positive findings
HMP Wymott largely maintained safety during a challenging Covid-19 reporting year (June 2020-May 2021), seeing reductions in self-harm and violence. While staff efforts and some initiatives were commendable, the pandemic exacerbated long-standing issues, particularly with healthcare provision, the prison estate's infrastructure, property loss, and complaints handling. The restricted regime severely limited opportunities for purposeful activity, education, and resettlement, causing significant frustration among prisoners.
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 7 | — |
| Self-harm incidents | 224 | — |
| ACCT cases opened | 228 | 480 |
| Prisoner assaults | 40 | — |
| Assaults on staff | 11 | — |
| Use of force | 169 | 280 |
Positive findings
The Board found that prisoners were relatively safe, noting that no prisoners died from Covid-19 thanks to staff efforts. Self-harm, violence, and reported drug use decreased during the restricted regime, and prisoners reported feeling safer in smaller groups. The chaplaincy team was commended for sustained individual support and faith packs, and healthcare staff for the efficient Covid-19 vaccination rollout. Improvements were noted in use of force report completion, kitchen service quality, and reduction in food waste. The 'buddy' system for older prisoners, upgraded IT in education, and successful video calling and Storybook Dads programs were also highlighted.
Key concerns
Substance Misuse
Repeated
There remain some serious concerns around drug-related deaths. The apparent ease by which prisoners can get hold of drugs in Wymott, and the importance of staff carrying out welfare checks when unlocking prisoners, are issues that have been raised in previous PPO reports.
Complaints/Property
Repeated
Significant issues relating to poor handling of prisoners’ complaints, with many not being responded to within designated timeframes or logged at all.
Other
Repeated
Serious concerns about the amount of property that goes missing when prisoners are transferred from one prison to another, with no improvement observed.
Healthcare
Repeated
Certain long-standing problems remain in healthcare, notably the distribution of medication, inadequacy of premises (too small, badly ventilated), and extensive waiting times for dental services (up to 79 weeks for treatments).
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Limited opportunities for progression and purposeful activity during 2020/21, causing frustration and anxiety for many prisoners due to suspended programs and remote offender management.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
Wymott still holds a significant number of prisoners serving indeterminate sentences for public protection (IPP), with little incentive or opportunity for these prisoners to progress.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The infrastructure of A and B wings continues to be a concern, lacking in-cell sanitation, having inefficient windows, and communal shower blocks that do not provide privacy. One prefabricated wing failed a fire safety inspection and closed.
Food/Catering
Repeated
The kitchen, built in 1979, continues to struggle to cater for the population, with much of the cooking equipment old and frequently out of use, and an unreliable air filtration system.
Staffing
Repeated
Staffing shortages in mental health services, an over-reliance on agency pharmacy staff leading to medication distribution issues, and frequently only one care assistant on I wing severely impacted service provision.
Resettlement/Release
Prisoners due for release are often not informed in a timely manner about the arrangements in place for them, causing anxiety, particularly regarding accommodation.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Concerns about the impact of the limited daily time out of cell (45 minutes, twice daily) on prisoners’ physical and mental health.
Recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wymott still holds a significant number of prisoners serving indeterminate sentences for public protection (see paragraph 7.3.3). Are there any plans to give these prisoners some cause for optimism? Repeated | Ministry of Justice | |
| 2 | One wing in Wymott has already been lost because of failing to meet health and safety legislation. Other wings have been in a dire state for many years. Is funding to be made available to replace the lost accommodation? What plans are in place for the other two wings that the Board has highlighted for a number of years (see paragraph 5.1.3)? Repeated | HMPPS | |
| 3 | Can Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) give any indication of a timescale for kitchen improvements at HMP Wymott (see paragraphs 5.1.9 and 5.1.10)? Repeated | HMPPS | |
| 4 | Can HMPPS provide assurance that the prisoners’ property framework is having any impact on the amount of property still going missing across the estate (see paragraph 5.8.1)? Repeated | HMPPS | |
| 5 | Is it anticipated that there will be an increase in the budget for prisoners’ pay very soon (see paragraph 7.2.5)? | HMPPS | |
| 6 | The Board seeks reassurance that prisoners’ complaints will be dealt with in a timely and effective manner (see section 5.7) Repeated | Governor / Director | |
| 7 | How does the prison intend to ensure that the actions identified in the action plan following Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) reports into deaths in the prison are implemented effectively (see paragraph 4.2.3)? Repeated | Governor / Director | |
| 8 | The Board would like to see the prison ensure that prisoners due for release are informed in a more timely manner about the arrangements in place for them (see paragraph 7.5.1). | Governor / Director |
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation, including laundry, clothing, ablutions | 4 | 12 |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 4 | 3 |
| Discipline, including adjudications, IEP, sanctions | 8 | 23 |
| Equality | 2 | 3 |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 7 | 13 |
| Food and kitchens | 1 | 7 |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 29 | 42 |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 32 | 45 |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 13 | 31 |
| Property within this establishment | 11 | 29 |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 17 | 37 |
| Sentence management, including home detention curfew, release on temporary licence, parole, release dat | 21 | 48 |
Related inspections & investigations
11 Dec 2023
HMIP · Unannounced
Safety 3
· Respect 2
· Activity 2
· Release 4
Other reports for Wymott
Report details
- Establishment
- Wymott
- Type
- Prison · Cat C
- Report year
- 2021
- Published
- 8 October 2021
- Responsible body
- HMP Wymott
- Recommendations
- 8
- MoJ rating (2024/25)
- 3 — Good
Population
| Operational capacity | 1,035 |
| Time out of cell | 1.5h/day |
Service providers
Buddy system support
Recoop
Community resettlement company
Sodexo
Drug and alcohol recovery service
Delphi Medical
Education
Novus
General maintenance
Amey
Healthcare
Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust (GMMHT)
Older prisoners activities centre (CAMEO)
Salvation Army
Through-the-gate services
Achieve North-West
Visitors centre management
Phoenix Futures