Low Newton

Response
I share the Board’s concern about the number of women with acute mental health difficulties who enter the prison system. Women being sent to prison as a place of safety can occur via two routes - the Mental Health Act or the Bail Act. It is important to note that the review of the Mental Health Act (MHA) sought to avoid prisons from being used as a place of safety, where the court can send a person to be temporarily held for their own or others protection whilst awaiting an assessment or transfer under the MHA (authorised currently by power in the MHA). Separately, the Bail Act 1976 allows courts to remand people to prison for their own protection including under the grounds of mental health. There are many factors to be considered before a change in legislation. The use of the Bail Act power and impact of amending it is currently being reviewed. As the Board were made aware in my predecessor’s letter sent August 2020, a review has also been undertaken by HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) to look at this issue in a numbers of prisons in both the women’s and male estate. The review has been completed and is being considered given that this has wider implications across the Criminal Justice System. A multi-agency working group has been set up to take this work forward. Additionally, there is a review of health and social care across the women’s estate jointly commissioned by HMPPS and NHS England and NHS Improvement. The review includes consideration of mental health across the estate and aims to ensure equity and a better understanding of the current ability of the existing women’s estate, to enable delivery of high-quality care, treatment, and management of women in custody in England. The review is expected to be completed in spring 2022. Locally at HMP/YOI Low Newton, staff work closely with Health and Justice partners to reduce the number of women sent to Low Newton as a place of safety and find suitable spaces within the secure mental hospital estate as soon as practicable.

Response
Whilst there is no additional funding to facilitate the Board’s request, the Governor and his team are working with external organisations within current funding to change the activity profile and provide fewer non-stereotypical and a broader range of activities and opportunities.

Response
Additionally, there is a review of health and social care across the women’s estate jointly commissioned by HMPPS and NHS England and NHS Improvement. The review includes consideration of mental health across the estate and aims to ensure equity and a better understanding of the current ability of the existing women’s estate, to enable delivery of high-quality care, treatment, and management of women in custody in England. The review is expected to be completed in spring 2022. Locally at HMP/YOI Low Newton, staff work closely with Health and Justice partners to reduce the number of women sent to Low Newton as a place of safety and find suitable spaces within the secure mental hospital estate as soon as practicable. Due to the infrastructure of the prison and significant capital funding required to build a new purpose-built facility, it is not possible to create a bespoke mental health unit.